Sports are the heart of universities in Sheffield, and luckily, there are countless ways to get involved – whether you’re on the sidelines with face paint or wearing black and gold on the pitch.
Our greatest annual tradition is Varsity, a head-to-head with our rivals Hallam in every sport the university has to offer, battling it out for points and the right to call ourselves the better Sheffield university. Varsity spans over three weeks of fierce matches and unbeatable celebration, all culminating in a final legendary ice hockey match. As someone who knew nothing about ice hockey before, trust me, this final showdown is not something you are going to want to miss.
While Varsity is the biggest event of the year, you don’t have to wait until April for the fun to start. Our sporting traditions start in fresher’s week with the sports fair where you can meet clubs and ask about trials. But the sports fair isn’t just for players: it’s a great place to scope out which teams you’ll want to follow, when their fixtures are and where the big matches are held. The real magic of supporting is in the crowd. Paint your face, learn the chants, and throw on a black-and-gold scarf! The energy in the stands can be just as important as the players on the pitch.
And of course, to best support our sports teams as players, committee members or simply fans, on Wednesdays we head to Roar (the nightclub in the SU) either to celebrate a big win or drink away the pain of a loss. Roar is usually accompanied by a theme, so be prepared to order yourself a tutu on Amazon Prime, and don’t be surprised when you run into a smurf in the bathroom.
The University of Sheffield is such an awesome community to be a part of, and one we take every opportunity to celebrate. Get stuck in. Being a supporter in Sheffield isn’t just about watching from the sidelines. It’s about showing up, making noise, and wearing black and gold with pride. And when your opponent is Hllm, the celebrations hit twice as hard.
