150 years of Varsity football

The 1893-94 season's team. The Varsity Match of 1894 was referred to as ‘the felt soles match’ after Cambridge put felt on their boots to grip on the frosty ground. The game was played at Queen’s Club where, unexpectedly, Cambridge won 3-1, changing their tactics from short passing to ‘kick and run’. Credit: Mark Box / Cambridge University Library.

The 1894-95 season's team. Cambridge lost the Varsity Match 0-3 this year despite being captained by Lewis Vaughan Lodge, the England international. After 50 years, this was the last season when all University and College home games would be played on Parker’s Piece, where anyone was able to walk across the pitch during the game - not the ideal setting to play teams such as Blackburn Rovers and the Corinthians. From 1895 Grange Road was used. Credit: Mark Box / Cambridge University Library.

The 1904 Denton's Match. Knowledge of who Denton’s was, as a team or individual, has been lost in the century since this was taken. Credit: Mark Box / Cambridge University Library.

The 1906-7 season's team. Credit: Mark Box / Cambridge University Library.

The 1924-25 season's team. Although Cambridge lost the Varsity Match 1-4 this year, they had also drawn 1-1 against a strong Chelsea XI playing at Stamford Bridge. Later in the season they played Arsenal at Highbury, and whilst they lost 3-5, this was considered a ‘very encouraging performance’. One character of interest in the team photograph is the person back right labelled Hayward, who is believed to be Daniel Martin Hayward, the Custodian of the Cambridge University Cricket and Football Grounds at the time. As a Hayward, Daniel was a member of a Cambridge Town’s impressive sporting family dynasty. Credit: Mark Box / Cambridge University Library.

Date unknown but it's suspected to be the early 1900s, as close inspection reveals the players are wearing the same style of shirts as photos taken in 1907. The individual second from the left (behind the goal with the step ladder) is believed to be Daniel Martin Hayward, who also features in five other photos from 1902, 1904, 1910, 1912 and 1925. Credit: Mark Box / Cambridge University Library.

A postcard of a team list for a Freshmen's Match on Parker's Piece in 1891. MH Stanbrough (centre forward for the white team) was later an England international. L.V. Lodge played for Small Heath (which later became Birmingham City) and five times for England, which he played for whilst still a student. Credit: Mark Box / Cambridge University Library.

Front cover and back page of a CUAFC season programme, 1891-92. Credit: Mark Box / Cambridge University Library.

The inside pages, listing the matches for the 1891-2 season. It's understood that in Christmas 1890 CUAFC went on tour playing Aston Villa, Bootle, Preston and Blackburn Rovers over the Christmas holidays. During this academic year, Cambridge won the Varsity Match 5-1, captained by MH Stanborough. Credit: Mark Box / Cambridge University Library.

The 2024 men and women football teams combined. Nowadays the teams play in sustainable kit made of recycled materials. Credit: Alissa Sattentau / Morven Knowles