Find out what Team UOP has been up to this May and look back at the successful year.
Hi!
Well, here we are, the final edition of This Month with Team UOP for this academic year. I'm not entirely sure where the time has gone, because it feels like only yesterday I was sitting down to write the first one.
May has been a fitting way to round things off. We had the Staff vs Students Charity Match at Fratton Park, Varsity returned to Portsmouth, Sports Awards celebrated another fantastic year of sport, and clubs have been coming together for their end-of-year celebrations.
In this month's edition, you'll find:
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End of Year Celebrations
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The Year at a Glance
As both the academic year and my time as Widening Access Officer come to an end, I've found myself reflecting on just how much Team UOP packs into a year. From fundraising and awareness campaigns to BUCS fixtures, Varsity weekends and everything in between, it's been a real privilege to help share the stories behind it all.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to these blogs throughout the year, whether that was sending me updates, photos, quotes, or simply giving me something exciting to write about. It's been so much fun celebrating everything from massive BUCS wins to the smaller moments that make university sport what it is.
Emma Loe
Team UOP Widening Access Officer
Staff vs Students Charity Football Match
We kicked off May down at Fratton Park for the annual Staff vs Students Charity Football Match. Going into the game, the overall scoreline across the previous six years was locked at 3-3, so there was everything to play for.
Match day was a brilliant occasion, with family, friends and football fans all packing into the stands to support the teams. Before Easter, nearly 50 students attended a highly competitive trial session, which was eventually narrowed down to a final squad of 20. Student team managers Kate and Jay had been putting the team through their paces with twice-weekly training sessions, all aimed at reclaiming the trophy after the staff's narrow victory in 2025.
After a fiercely contested match, the final score stood at 2-1 to the staff. A reluctant congratulations go to them for taking the series lead! More importantly, the event raised an incredible £10,000+ for charity, making it a huge success both on and off the pitch.
Varsity
Next up came the biggest weekend in the Team UOP calendar - Varsity!
With the competition returning to Portsmouth this year, Ravelin was buzzing from start to finish. Varsity Village was back, the new Varsity T-shirts were everywhere, and the schedule was packed with over 80 fixtures across the weekend.
While Portsmouth narrowly missed out on bringing home the trophy this year, that certainly didn't take away from what was an incredible weekend of sport. From first fixtures to final whistles, the passion, determination and support on display summed up exactly what Team UOP is all about. A huge well done to everyone who competed, volunteered, officiated or came along to support.
Sports Awards
Not long after Varsity, it was time for one of the most anticipated evenings of the year, the Sports Awards.
For one night only, Team UOP swapped sports kit for suits, dresses and black-tie attire as everyone gathered at the Guildhall to celebrate another fantastic year of university sport.
The evening was an opportunity to recognise the achievements of individuals, teams, coaches and volunteers who have gone above and beyond throughout the year. Congratulations to all of our nominees and award winners, every achievement celebrated on the night was thoroughly deserved.
End of Year Celebrations
As the academic year draws to a close, clubs have been hosting their end-of-year celebrations and reflecting on everything they've achieved over the past nine months.
It's been lovely to see clubs coming together to celebrate successes, recognise committee members and thank everyone who has contributed throughout the year. From freshers joining their first training session in September to graduating members preparing for their next chapter, it's a reminder of just how much can happen in one year.
Students vs Staff Charity Football Match
Varsity 2026 - Basketball Men's 1
Varsity 2026 - Varsity Village
Sports Reception - Team UOP Exec
Sports Awards 2026: Climbing - Carrington West Club of the Year
The Year at a Glance
Before we all clear off, either for good or just for the summer, I thought it would be nice to take a quick look back at some of the moments that made this year such a memorable one for Team UOP.
September
Freshers arrived, clubs were out recruiting left, right and centre, and Team UoP burst back into life for another year of sport, socials and committee chaos.
October
Halloween events crept in, awareness campaigns got underway and BUCS fixtures returned, giving us our first glimpse of just how busy the year was going to become. We also hosted The Takeover and took over Ravelin for an evening full of positivity, confidence, support and activities.
November
Movember completely took over Team UoP, and honestly, we wouldn't have had it any other way. Bring-a-boy sessions, pub quizzes, Everest challenges, a 24-hour run and some rather impressive moustaches all helped us raise an incredible £13,500. We also celebrated reaching the amazing milestone of £100,000 raised for Movember over the years.
December
Yellow Week brought everyone together to support Sophie's Legacy, with Sportos once again stealing the show and raising over £10,000. We also got into the festive spirit with the Reverse Advent Calendar, Christmas tournaments and probably one too many mince pies before heading home for a well-earned break.
January
We eased ourselves back into university life with Blue Week, Brewlympics, Refreshers' Fayre and an action-packed weekend of BUCS Boxing. January also marked a very exciting milestone, as Team UoP officially welcomed its 35th club, Women's Cricket.
February
Pride Week brought colour, celebration and plenty of support across our clubs, while the We Care About Not Caring campaign highlighted the experiences of LGBTQ+ students in sport. Teams were also busy travelling the length and breadth of the country for BUCS Nationals and league fixtures.
March
March was absolutely jam-packed. Red Week, International Women's Day, Eating Disorder Awareness Week and the One World Festival all encouraged important conversations, while Pompey Compey lit up the Guildhall. We also waved goodbye to another BUCS season, with a few more promotions and medals in our pockets.
April
April may have been shorter thanks to Easter, but it certainly wasn't quieter. The Alumni Cup returned, Navy Varsity kept us on our toes and the excitement for Varsity really started to build.
May
Fratton Park hosted Staff vs Students, Varsity brought sport back home to Portsmouth, Sports Awards gave us an excuse to swap sports kit for suits, and clubs rounded off the year celebrating everything they've achieved. Not a bad way to finish another brilliant year of Team UoP.