In 1886, the very first game of association football was played at Durham University. To paint the picture, only two of the University’s 17 colleges existed, Queen Victoria was on the English throne, and the Statue of Liberty had recently been completed.
Fast forward 138 years, and the footballing landscape in this historic city has changed drastically: let me provide a brief summary to get you up to date. DUAFC now has 3 men’s teams and 3 women’s teams, as well as a thriving partnership with Durham United FC, the city’s largest grassroots football club, boasting over 40 teams. This partnership has provided the men’s side of the club with the opportunity to play in step 7 of the football pyramid for the past two seasons since the merge in July 2022 as well as more closely linking university students with the local community.
The inaugural season competing in the Wearside League saw the boys finish 6th with 53 points. A stellar effort, but more a platform to build from than a benchmark of where this ever-ambitious club wants to be. However, the 2023-24 season has been a different story. At the time of writing Durham United sit top of the league with 45 points, a fair reflection of their efforts this campaign. The busy schedule, characteristic of this level of non-league, has been added to by the now completed BUCS season but the boys have acquitted themselves superbly, playing up to 3 games a week at times (don’t ask me how my legs were feeling after that particular 7 days…).
As with any campaign, there have been ups and downs but there is overwhelming positivity among the dressing room and genuine belief in what is attempting to be achieved. Significant highlights include a gritty 1-0 victory to now-third placed Gateshead Leam Rangers to register the first 3 points of the season, and 18 (yes 18) goals with no reply in 180 minutes of football as Shotton Colliery, and then Willington AFC were beaten down at Maiden Castle in the space of 3 days.
However, it hasn’t all been plain sailing for the lads. January saw points dropped in games which very much could have been won, and 1st place in the league isn’t the whole story. Gateshead, along with Darlington Town and Norton and Stockton Ancients Youth all have games in hand on Durham and wins would see them go above this young, ambitious side. However, there are no easy games at this level and no three points are guaranteed. All of the top four still need to play one another and the permutations are almost endless. 2nd place Darlington travel to 4th placed Norton this evening (6th March), kicking off a tough few weeks of fixtures for all four sides with the league seemingly looking to backend the season with these big games. Box-office stuff, I know. Darlington and Norton must both visit Maiden Castle after the Easter break, and these are two games that are sure to be popular among groundhoppers and students alike. Meanwhile, Durham’s trip to Gateshead may prove to be their toughest test so far, in a replay of the first ever game played under this now well-established partnership.
While the experience of the competition is significant, Durham’s exciting brand of fast-flowing, brave football is more than a match for anyone when they get it right. The front line have filled their boots at times this season, with Fin Gwillim and Ned Ventham 1st and 3rd in the league’s scoring charts respectively and the rest of the lads chipping in in abundance also. The task ahead is large, and the challengers are strong, but the boys are daring to dream. If there is one thing the recent history of DUAFC teaches us, it is that even the most unlikely successes can be possible…
Wearside League Website: https://www.wearside-football-league.org.uk/
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