Name: Alastair Carroll
Team captained: Derwent 3rds
How have your team’s performances been in autumn and spring term?
Very encouraging, we came runners up in both terms and only lost one game all season. The 3G pitch also helped us to play, in general, a nice brand of attacking football.
What are your team’s strengths and weaknesses?
Weakness wise there have been times throughout the season where we have started slowly and subsequently made things difficult for ourselves. Our strengths come in the balance of players we have within the squad and our ability to come from behind to win.
How strong is your cup squad?
As strong as it could be keeping it independent from higher squads.
What are your thoughts on your team’s group draw? Which game are you most looking forward to?
It could be better but it could be worse. It wasn’t great to draw James as the other 3rds team given they are, on paper, the strongest 3rds side, although having said that our results against them this season were a win and a draw. I would also say that is the game which I am most looking forward to as they are a good side and our teams have been evenly matched in the last couple of games.
If you could beat any team in the final, who would it be and why?
Vanbrugh 3rds as they have been our bogey team this season.
What will you do to celebrate if you win the cup?
Streak.
If you could change one thing about the college cup, what would it be?
My knees would say the surface.
Who is your team ‘BNOC’ and why?
Come again.
Which team in world football are you most like?
Chelsea. Mighty and blue.
What are your expectations and ambitions for College Cup 2013?
Hopefully we can qualify for the vase, if we do, challenge to win it.
Vision says:
A tough draw for Derwent 3rds, being drawn with James 3rds; they are probably the two strongests 3rds sides in the university. Saying that, Derwent will be looking to provide a stern test for the 2nds teams from Alcuin and Wentworth in Group 1, and potentially cause an upset. While Plate qualification would be the best possible result for Derwent, it may be that the match with James decides who qualifies, and thus becomes favourites, for the Vase.