King’s Women’s and Men’s football teams organised a charity football match, hosted on 22 October, against Queen Mary’s, to raise money for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
This article was originally published in the December print edition.
The teams managed to jointly raise over £8,700 through not only ticket sales but also initiatives outside of the football match, with KCLFC’s ‘egg a footballer’ initiative and QMUFC’s bake sale raising significant additional funds for the cause.
Despite the torrential rainfall and vicious winds that Storm Benjamin brought to London, fans flocked to the stadium to be a part of this memorable and meaningful event.
Any outsiders who happened to chance upon the London Stadium might have mistaken the second edition of the KCL and Queen Mary Football charity match as a cagey championship-determining finals-esque match. A sea of red and blue, a boisterous crowd of passionate supporters bellowing improvised chants and 22 players fiercely engaged in a scrappy and entertaining bout of football.
Credit to: Manna Phanjoubam, Instagram account: @chimera_of_manna
The first ten minutes were scrappy, with both sides working themselves into the game. Possession was frequently exchanged between the two sides, as the game was initially hindered by a series of fouls and errant passes.
Despite the basketball-esqe start to the game, the supporters, many of whom had already been waiting for close to an hour in a fully packed stadium, made their presence known with an onslaught of creatively adapted well-known football songs.
Credit to: Manna Phanjoubam, Instagram account: @chimera_of_manna
As both teams slowly grew into the game, they fought tooth and nail to bag the game’s opening goal, with QMUFC eventually taking control in the 15th minute with the first shot on target of the game. QMUFC followed this out with a bout of dominance, peppering KCLFC’s goalkeeper with waves of offence that eventually culminated in a second goal in the 43rd minute.
Credit to: Manna Phanjoubam, Instagram account: @chimera_of_manna
The first half was capped off by a spirited display of dazzling moves and well-coordinated dances by both KCL and QMU’s Cheerleading teams. In came the second half, where KCLFC made it known that their spirit did not waver despite being 2-0 down. They opened the half with a string of fluid and well-constructed passes, shifting the game’s momentum in their favour.
Their relentless fight saw them secure a 60th minute goal that added life and tension to the game. Eventually, QMUFC managed to hold on to their 2-1 lead despite constant pressure from KCLFC, capping off a second charity match win for the blues with impressive performances from both sides.
However, this event was certainly far more than the match itself. In an interview with Roar, KCLFC emphasised the importance of collaboration with other teams and unity through sports, without which this event would never have been a possibility.
“Whether it’s the Charity Match, Strictly Come Dancing or Fight Night, KCL has shown time and time again how willing we are to support one another. It doesn’t have to be a huge event, everything counts, and small efforts make a big difference.” – Conrad Stott Smith, President of KCL Men’s Football
They hope that other teams or individuals will draw from their event as inspiration to go out there and “organise projects that give back to the community”. KCLFC and QMUFC are also looking to expand the event in its next edition, such as hosting it at a venue with a greater capacity and more pre-match promotion events.
“Raising over £8,700 is nothing short of incredible, and seeing both the KCL and QMUL student bodies unite in support of UNHCR filled me with great pride.” – Marina Camblor Alperi, President of KCL Women’s Football
The charity match was a heartwarming display of a united inter-university effort to uplift society for a great cause and a wonderful showcase of bringing care, collaboration and compassion to the fore. Overall, a beautiful example of the wonderful impact that students stamp on the world.
Grace Holloway is Roar's editor-in-chief managing the editorial side of our operation as well. She has gained valuable experience from Bloomberg as well as writing for Breaking Media, the Non-League Paper and Politics UK.
