“As we know Jesus never likes to be mainstream. Has any other college ever had its fan base sent off in a game?
It was Spring 1985 – a season that saw Jesus promoted back to the first division. But along the way was a painful loss to Worcester, with foul play afoot. So biased was the referee that our supporters were loudly questioning his parentage in song with the results seen in the news article below.
For the record our two supporters that day were Adrian “Griff” Griffiths and the late Don Renshaw – the latter still memorialised to this day in choruses of “Don Renshaw’s green and white army…”
Alistair Lee (1983, Philosophy and Modern Languages), JCFC Captain 1985/86
“My time at Jesus was a wonderful juggle of sports timetables behind English tutorials and lectures. In my first two years I competed in the Varsity Match in Modern Pentathlon, and in my third year concentrated on running.
The pentathlon (running, swimming, shooting, fencing and horse riding) attracted a mix of serious athletes (Steph Cooke went on to win Olympic gold in Sydney) and eccentrics with a ‘have a go’ attitude. It was a great leveller because everyone had their stronger and weaker events. Fencing was a new discipline for me, and I loved learning that skill. Somehow, without mobiles or internet, we organised it all ourselves – training at the University sports centre (which was very hick in those days, no fancy gym, not sure we even had showers) and often with the army pentathletes in Aldershot at weekends. A trip to Paris to compete against the École Polytechnique was a highlight – they were incredible hosts.
In 1991, I was thrilled to represent the blues cross country team (OUCCC) on Wimbledon Common; a freezing cold day which is etched in my memory. Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway were helping put out the flags and support the athletes. There were some outstanding runners in our squad – Sian Brice (née Pilling) ran in the Commonwealth Games and also went to the Sydney Olympics as a triathlete.
We had no coaches, but I learnt a huge amount from my team-mates. The training techniques I learnt at Oxford stood me in good stead and I’ve been a runner ever since. I’m slower now, but still get a real thrill from racing and come back to Oxford to take part in the Town & Gown 10k, the Bannister Mile and the Oxford Half Marathon whenever I can. Many former teammates now have children coming up through the sports – it’s always fun to see them. I’m looking forward to giving back – and staying connected – as a trustee of the OUCCC charitable foundation this year.”
Emma Huepfl (1989, English Language and Literature)
“The late 1960s and early 1970s was the very good era of Jesus Football: the 1st XI won promotion from the Second Division in 1967-68; were Cuppers semi-finalists the following year; and then won the First Division (now called the Premier Division) the following season and made the Final of Cuppers in the same period, the first time this had occurred in a generation. At this time the College had two Football Blues, in Frank Smith and John Reid; and in addition to Alan Simkin, who captained the Centaurs, had several members of the Jesus XI which represented the University 2nd XI, including John Peters, Ian Ross and Brad Wilson. Truly, it was the ‘Golden Generation’ of Jesus Men’s Football!!”
Bradley Wilson (1967, Geography)
“I played a bit of football, tennis and cricket at Jesus but not to a high standard and not helped by poor weather in my first Trinity term. I’m the tall guy in the back row in each photo.”
Jesus 2nd team
Jesus Football Team
Jon Arch (1967, Biochemistry)
