UoG students celebrate cup final success in first for sports initiative

University of Gloucestershire students are celebrating a landmark victory for a sports initiative supporting students to achieve athletic success alongside their academic studies.

The Women’s Football first XI at the University – an FA Women’s High-Performance Football Centre – won the BUCS Western Conference Cup final 3-1 against Plymouth Marjon University with goals from Macey Fox, Gillian Keenan and Ellie Christmas.

It marks the first success for the University’s Focus Sports scheme introduced in the 2023-2024 season that provides students with access to specialist facilities, elite coaching, cutting-edge match analysis and a range of support services to ensure they can perform to their best academically and on the pitch.

Matt Tansley, Head of Sport and Active Life at the University, said: “Women’s Football is a focus sport at University of Gloucestershire delivered in partnership with the Students’ Union.

“Our Women’s Football coaching team is one of the very best in the sector and the quality of the programme is helping the University attract female student athletes from across the UK and overseas, along with supporting a range of outreach activities for prospective students.

“Head Coach Kate Gumm has done an outstanding job of transforming the culture on and off the pitch with the club, along with Steve Lilley who oversees our coaching provision for football at the University alongside his role with the FA.

“This Conference Cup win is hopefully the first of many, and with promotion also looking likely, our Women’s first team will be up against some of the biggest and most successful footballing universities in the UK next year. We are delighted for everyone involved and it is a thoroughly deserved.

“It is a really exciting time to be involved in the women’s game, and the University is proud to have our Women’s Football programme front and centre.”