Sport at Newcastle

Sport at Newcastle is definitely amongst the best in the country (we’re in the top ten if you haven’t already heard!) and if you want to get involved there are countless opportunities to do so.  The Athletic Union (AU) is made up of 57 different sports clubs which can cater for any standard; from the absolute beginner to the elite athlete! In the unlikely event that your particular sporting interest isn’t catered for, there is also the opportunity to set up your own club. Needless to say, whatever the sport or the level, you can be guaranteed to make loads of new friends and have a laugh in the process.

The AU is run by the Athletic Union Officer, one of the Union’s Sabbatical Officers elected into the role every year. He or she works closely with the Centre for Physical Recreation and Sport, which is based in the new Sports Centre by the Ricky Road flats. At only 3 years old, the Centre offers a top-of-the range, fully-equipped cardiovascular suite, a huge weights room, squash courts, and other multi-purpose rooms / dance studios, all for a very reasonable joining fee.

The majority of sporting activity takes place on a Wednesday afternoon, which the University kindly keeps free of lectures for everyone. For those who compete for the Uni teams, this could mean a trip to Leeds and Sheffield, or for those who play on a casual, this could mean simply having a kick about with your mates in one of the best intramural set-ups in the country – there really is something for everyone!

Every year also sees the annual varsity face-off against Northumbria University (affectionately known to us as ‘The Poly’) in a massive event called The Stan Calvert Cup. On this one day, over 1,500 athletes from 55 teams compete in 22 different sports, all ferociously fighting to contribute towards the most contested victory in the sporting calendar. The day ends with the Rugby finale at Gateshead Stadium, and gives our supporters the opportunity to engage in a bit of friendly banter with the opposition, including the usual taunts of ‘your Dad works for my Dad!’  This year Newcastle rightfully emerged victorious in record-breaking style, and hopefully will fend off any future attempts from the Poly to steal it back in the coming years…

As you can probably guess, the fun doesn’t stop when the whistle blows - being part of a sports club is definitely just as much about socialising as it is playing!  Wednesday nights are renowned in Newcastle as a massive sports night, where all the teams religiously get together and celebrate their triumphs (or drown their sorrows) in one big venue. Moreover, there will also be countless opportunities to get to know your team mates better; at pub crawls, black tie dinners or the highlight of the sporting year, the annual AU Ball - what more could you want?!

Jimmy Greene
Athletic Union Officer

Click here for the Sports Club Directory.