Cambridge seeking historic Varsity win at Craven Cottage

Played at Craven Cottage, home of Premier League side Fulham, the football team will hope to act as an inspiration to the Cambridge crew taking part in the Boat Race later that afternoon by beating Oxford first and notching up their half-century of wins in the process.

And while worldwide attention will later focus on the River Thames running behind Craven Cottage, several thousand fans from both universities will cheer on the two sides before heading to the stadium’s Riverside Terrace for the Boat Race at 3.40pm.

The Varsity Football Match is thought to be the longest surviving annual match anywhere in the world.

Cambridge University moved to 49 Varsity victories with last year’s barnstorming 5-3 win. Oxford have 48 victories to their name with 27 draws between the sides. Cambridge also moved ahead in the goals tally last year with 197 to Oxford’s 196.

However, it is Oxford who will go into this year’s match as favourites, displaying the best current form between the two sides in a season that has seen them score at an average of almost three goals per game.

CUFC President John Little said: “Oxford are favourites because of their form in the run-up to the game and we’ll start the match as underdogs, but we’re still confident we can win.

“It might be a cliché, but anything can happen in a cup final and this is a cup final. We’re quietly optimistic.”

Cambridge may be hampered by fitness worries over influential midfielder Michael Johnson. Johnson is struggling to shake off the effects of an ankle injury in time for Sunday’s match.

Added Little: “Michael has had lots of physiotherapy. We’ll just have to see on Sunday. Whatever happens though, it’s usually a good day out. This year we have a jazz band playing and anyone watching the game from the Riverside stand can watch the Boat Race go past from there. Anyone else in the ground can wander onto the banks of the Thames afterwards if they like.”

Cambridge’s sixteen man squad for Sunday is: Stuart Ferguson (King’s), Chris Maynard (St John’s), Max Little (Trinity), Ali Hakimi* (Darwin), Jamie Brown (Christ’s), Eddie Burrows (Fitzwilliam), Mark Baxter* (Selwyn), Mike Stark (Selwyn), Matt Amos* (Queen’s), Michael Johnson* (Jesus), Jamie Rutt (c)* (Trinity), Matt Leung (Downing), Chris Ellis (Jesus), James Day (Jesus), Paul Hartley (Fitzwilliam), Stephen Harrison (Christ’s). * denotes returning Blue.

Match referee on Sunday is Premier League official Howard Webb. Tickets for Sunday’s match will be available on the gate, priced at £12 for adults, £8 concessions.