Club Doncaster Sports College retain Varsity trophies for 2025, as annual Varsity event provides over 100 students opportunity to play at the home of League Two champions

On May 21st, Club Doncaster Sports College hosted partners DN Colleges Group (Doncaster College and North Lindsey College) for the annual Varsity challenge at the Eco Power Stadium in glorious sunshine.

The annual Varsity comprises men’s and women’s matches between the two colleges, as well as a Club Doncaster Sports College in-house game. The event gave over 100 sports students the opportunity to ‘play on the pitch’ at the home of League 2 champions, Doncaster Rovers FC. 

Game 1 – Ladies Varsity

Club Doncaster Sports College Ladies arrived at the Eco-Power Stadium as current Varsity champions and looking for back to back victories over DN Colleges' Ladies Academy. 

The game started at a frantic pace with the Sports College employing a high pressing style to stifle their opponents. The scoring got underway when Ruby Burke found herself in space to fire the Sports College into the lead, this was the first of a brace for the free-scoring second year, in her final game in red and white. 

An encouraging theme of the scoring for CDSC was the fact the rest of the scorers were first year students who are hoping to be back competing in 2026.

The turning point in the fixture after a tight first half and an audacious goal from the DN Colleges captain came when Gracie Lucas, a winger who was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet, scored a quickfire hattrick to pull away from the DN Colleges. 

A highlight of the second half for the Sports College was the introduction of Faith Kelliher, a Year 12 student who has missed the whole season through injury; Faith recieved a rousing ovation when taking the field for her Varsity debut. 

Despite another special finish from the DN Colleges skipper and the heroics from keeper Sophia Lewis, the Sports College Ladies did enough to reclaim the title in a 9:2 victory.

Game 2 – Men’s Varsity

Club Doncaster Sports College Men’s 1st XI came into the Varsity game against DN Colleges with a perfect record of 6 wins out of 6, but knew they would face a stern test against a talented and experienced DN Colleges side which was a mixture of Doncaster College and North Lindsey College students. 

After a cagey opening, the Sports College emerged with the better chances, hitting the frame of the DN Colleges goal no fewer than 3 times in the first period alone. Despite the Sports College territorial advantage and better quality opportunities in front of goal, the first half ended goalless. 

The second half started in a similar vein to the first half in terms of territory, however, a quick flowing move from DN Colleges saw a chance present itself on the corner of the CDSC box and a finely struck effort nestled into the corner of Jamie Stead's net to open the scoring. Again, an attack by DN Colleges against the run of play drew a penalty, conceded by captain, Ali Breckell. 

In such a tightly contested game, a second goal would surely hand the title to DN Colleges for the first time, however, a magnificent diving save by Stead kept CDSC in the game and after that, the action was all in front of the South Stand and the DN Colleges' net. With the clock ticking onto 90 minutes, the Sports College still trailed and it seemed like that's how the game would end, until first year student Nathan Lee popped up with a timely equaliser at the death to take the game to penalties.

A moment in history for Men's Varsity, which had never required the drama of penalties on the previous 6 occasions. Sports College captain, Ali Breckell won the toss and elected to go first in front of the South Stand; Ben Mullins, in his final game for the Sports College dispatched the penalty with aplomb to give CDSC the advantage. 

Jamie Stead, made himself a hero again with penalty saves against Gruia and Taylor, sandwiched in between a miss from CDSC skipper Breckell and goals from Kirk (CDSC) and Hawkins (DNC). Successful penalties from Crowder and Crompton cancelled each other out and at 3:2, Wilfey Woodham had the chance to win it for the Sports College, however, he saw his penalty brilliantly saved by Silverwood. Shipov stepped up, knowing that a goal would take it to sudden death, but Stead correctly went left and was equal to the penalty, making it 4 penalty saves in one game and the Sports College retained their crown for another year.

Game 3 – Inter-Sports College Varsity

Two squads of 18 Sports College students faced off against each other in a bid to claim the Patrick Queen Trophy. 

In a game played in a fantastic spirit, the Reds went ahead through Harrison Shikell, who showed composure to slot in from the edge of the area. 

After the goal, the game ebbed and flowed with the Greens taking the initiative with a succession of corners and front line pressure. Goals change the narrative of games and team talks, and so transpired as Bobby-Joe Machin scored to double the Reds' lead on the stroke of half time. 

The second half continued in a similar vein, with much attacking intent from CDSC Reds, and despite the heroics from Irvine in the Greens' goal, the game got away from them. Shikell added to his first goal to claim a brace and Machin scored twice to achieve a Varsity hattrick. Johnson chipped in with a goal to cap off a fine display from the Reds, who ran out 6:0 winners.

Adi Turnpenny, Principal of Club Doncaster Sports College, said: ‘This year’s Varsity gave the students a unique opportunity to play on the Eco-Power Stadium pitch and experience the facilities at the home of the League Two champions.’ He added, ‘It was also a chance to celebrate the fantastic partnership between Club Doncaster Sports College and DN Colleges’.

You can find out all about the Sports College and the courses available by visiting www.clubdoncastersportscollege.co.uk.