Alumni Sports Day 2018

Alumni Sports Day made its return on Saturday 28 April, and this year saw over 200 alumni compete against current students across 21 sports.

The annual event marks one of the biggest dates in Team Southampton’s calendar, in which they gather the best sportsmen and women from their student clubs to battle against University alumni.

Taking place across two sites, the all-day event brought together alumni of all ages, some of whom had travelled far and wide to attend. The schedule included everything from football and rugby to more obscure sports, such as tchoukball.

Despite the ominous clouds, the rain held off for the outdoor activities at Wide Lane Sports Ground; meanwhile, at Highfield Campus, the sports hall and swimming pool hosted the day’s indoor activities. The alumni teams’ experience played in their favour; they managed to win the majority of sports, including some undeniable victories in men’s rugby and ladies’ hockey.

See the gallery below for a selection of the day’s best photographs:

Thanks to generous donations from alumni and supporters, the Office of Development and Alumni Relations recently allocated £20,000 to Sport and Wellbeing at the University through the Student Experience Fund.

So far, £5,000 has gone towards a bursary that athletes can apply for to enable them to participate at competitions, both locally and internationally. Furthermore, several student clubs successfully bid for funding to support their activities and grow their participation. Matt Plant, Head of Sport and Wellbeing, explains:

“The bids have ranged from coach training funding that creates a sustainable legacy, to cameras enabling more effective coaching and tactics, to hosting an all-star basketball event at the Jubilee Sports Centre, including a brass band, cheerleaders, and street dance. These ventures demonstrate the diversity in our funding as we commit to encouraging participation and improving wellbeing across all levels of ability.”

Sport and Wellbeing are also looking into developing multi-use games areas within the halls of residence. The Student Experience Fund continues to have an incredible impact – not just on sport – and you can find out more about it here.