Name: Matt Darling
Team captained: Halifax 1sts
How have your team’s performances been in autumn and spring term?
It’s obviously been disappointing on a personal note, with the lack of games we have had over the year for one reason or another. However, there have been some very positive performances in the spring term which has given me tremendous confidence in the squad of players I have at my disposal for the college cup.
What are your team’s strengths and weaknesses?
We have strong players in every position and we have bag fulls of college cup experience in there! I think that’s a massive bonus over some teams that will be fielding a lot of freshers that may not be used to the tight JLD pitch and 60 minute games. I don’t really see us having any glaring weaknesses, and hopefully this will show throughout the tournament and into the later stages.
How strong is your cup squad?
I couldn’t be happier with the ability and attitude of the players in the squad. A lot of the lads have been involved in winning the college cup two years ago whilst also battling to the final last year. This experience is invaluable and I firmly believe we have a fantastic chance to go far again in this tournament as we are strong in all areas across the pitch.
Who would you call your ‘key player’ and why?
I have to say Matt Mawdesley. He has a fantastic engine in that midfield and is a massive player to us both going forward and defending. There is a bit of a new role for Matt this year which I think will bring the best out of him throughout this tournament and I know he is relishing the challenge of winning another college cup.
What are your thoughts on your team’s group draw? Which game are you most looking forward to?
There was a new format to the draw this year with no 1sts teams being seeded to separate the so called ‘bigger teams’. With that in mind, I’m clearly happy that we have avoided our big rivals in the group stages and we are confident of qualifying into the knockout rounds. However, there are no easy games on the JLD, as we have seen throughout previous tournaments, so we are not taking anything for granted.
If you could beat any team in the final, who would it be and why?
That’s a tough one! It would be a coin toss between Vanbrugh and Derwent, for completely different reasons! We are still hurting from the final last year in which we lost on penalties to Vanbrugh. So a revenge mission against them would be nice, especially against such top college cup players as Phil Taylor and John Gill. The rivalry between Derwent and Halifax has always been feisty throughout my time at university so to beat them in the final would be great.
If you could change one thing about the college cup, what would it be?
I genuinely don’t think I would change too much about the college cup in all fairness! The buzz around campus shows that there is not a lot wrong with the whole concept and I hope the format sticks around for a few years to come yet.
Who is your team ‘BNOC’ and why?
I think it would have to be Tom Day. He has been a fantastic UYAFC president this year and is a very popular guy on campus.
Which team in world football are you most like?
I would probably compare us to Italy. There is HUGE expectation going into every tournament, and although we are probably not out-right favourites this year, I do believe we will be there or thereabouts come the end of the tournament.
What are your expectations and ambitions for College Cup 2013?
I am expecting a fantastic tournament with the crowds flocking down once again to get a piece of the action! I’m sure it will be a very memorable tournament for everyone involved especially for the eventual winners! Ambitions for this CC has to be to go out there and regain the trophy for Halifax and I will put every effort into doing that this summer!
Vision says:
With a team littered with Uni 1sts and 2nds players, it’s hard to look past Halifax as one of the competition’s main contenders. They may have missed a term’s worth of football in autumn, but with a team unlikely to have much in common with that which took the field in spring, this shouldn’t have too much of an impact. The draw has been kind to them as well; it’s difficult to see any match where they are likely to drop any points, and of the favourites for the Cup, their path to the knockouts is the least hazardous.