With thanks to Kate Elin Williams (1995, Jurisprudence) for sharing these wonderful memories and photographs from her time at Jesus.
“I loved my sporting life at Jesus, and was most often seen in lycra. I competed quite seriously in athletics, for which I won a half blue, and was part of the joint Oxford Cambridge Team which toured America in 1997, but the most fun I had was playing women’s football for the college. There were only about 4 in the team who had any footballing skills when we started, and our tactic was to simply get the ball to Vicky Horden who usually managed a decent shot at goal. At some point, we managed to recruit Ian Mills, a student from Pembroke College as our coach- I don’t know what we promised him. We did improve and I’m pretty sure we won something that season, but we had some great times on the pitch, and even better post match celebrations.
As well as the football, I also got involved with a women’s Second Eight, because who wouldn’t want to be on the river in Oxford in summer. It was everything I’d hoped for and more.
As well as participating, I also recall how everyone at Jesus would turn out in support of the College teams. I couldn’t tell you if the men won the Cuppers football final that day but I do remember losing my loud, Welsh, voice cheering them on.
The best of times.”