‘We don’t wear mustard chinos and dodgy shirts in BCL”: Meet the Mens Captains

They’re good looking and can kick a ball


As pre-season draws to the end, this years captains begin their climb to sporting dominance.

Here are the boys that are going to make it happen.

Ashley Merritt, Men’s Cricket 

What position do you play?

Opening batsman and spinner.
Why are you the best team at Uni?
We have such an infamous social calendar that some people join just for that reason alone!

Not to mention we are the major summer sport with four competitive teams.

What are your best socials?

Too many to choose from… But the returners social, pre-season trocean, hooters social and the beer pong social are all in a class of their own.

Who should we look out for this season?

Harry Coates (president) and Josh North are usually the loosest, but I suppose most of you already know that.

What are your hopes for this year?

We are varsity winners two years running, so obviously I back us for a third. As for the league…with the talent we have we aren’t expecting anything short of promotion.

Sam Buckler, Men’s Waterpolo

What position do you play?

Pit attack.
Who should we look out for this season?
Elliot Trafford.
What are your best socials?
Brielash and speedo dating.
Why are you the best team at Uni?
Pale blokes in speedos, what more could you ask for?

Lewis Paterson, Men’s Lacrosse

What position do you play?
Attack.
What will you bring to the team as captain?
Limited lacrosse ability, compulsory communal showers and poor chat.
Who should we look for this season?
Three internationals in the squad as well as Nottingham’s biggest predator; Ben Robinson.
How was varsity for you?
Good thanks how was varsity for you?
What are your best socials?
Can’t help you there as nobody seem’s to remember them.
Any funny stories from tour?
The welcome we had from locals in Salou was pretty memorable.
Why are you the best team at Uni?
We are most certainly not.

Charles Gerson, Men’s Football

What position do you play?
Left Midfield.
Why will you be a good captain?
Having been part of the 1st XI squad for 4 years now I feel like i have invaluable experience which I can pass on to the younger lads and help them settle quickly.
How was varsity for you?
We were banned but the IMS team gave a very good account of themselves.
Who should we look out for this season?

Jeremiah Shonde is a powerhouse with bags of trickery, a real handful for any defence winger, James Bessey, has a lightning turn of pace as does Matt Lane from the other wing.

What are your best socials?
Our retro social has been a long standing tradition within the club, running for over 5 years now. Our mixed socials with women’s sports teams, especially Netball, have also proved to be a successful event in the calendar.
What makes you the best team at Uni?
We’re the best team at uni because we have 70 members of talented boys who give everything in training and games and above all else we don’t wear mustard coloured chinos and dodgy looking shirts in BCL.

James Grayson, Men’s Table Tennis 

What position do you play?
3rd and 4th.
What will you bring to the team as captain?
As an experienced captain I will bring my knowledge of team organisation and selection from previous years as well as my strong rapport with coaches to ensure the best side is always turned out.
I will also bring time management and leadership skills when teams travel to away matches by delegating a member to be in charge so that the teams are always on time.
Who should we look out for?
Adam Harrison and Gabriel Achampong.
What are your best socials?
When we team up with Trent.
How was varisty?
We played tactically and lost but won the most important one… BUCS.

 Patrick James Daley, Men’s Basketball

What position do you play?
Point guard/shooting guard.
What will you bring to the team as captain?
Experience, I’ve been here 6 years.
Who should we look out for in the team this season?
Two guys are coming from America and James Boyes.
What are your best socials?
The Christmas social is usually a good laugh and love a good Chunky Chicken after training.
Any funny stories from tour?
One guy managed to pull most nights, and by pull I mean spoon.
He’s been on two tours and has never broken the spooning barrier.
Why are you the best team at Uni?
There are lots of reasons we are a great club, we are hugely diverse with a great team spirit, top level coaching, excellent skill level, and basketball is great because everyone has heard of Michael Jordan, can you name a famous lacrosse player?

Jonny Ruiz, Hockey

What position do you play?
Forward
What can you bring to the team as captain?
Hopefully some good leadership qualities and more goals than last year.
Like to think that I would be able to make the sessions a good laugh as well as hard work.
What’s your best social?
Best social is our tournament with the RAF – every year we have it at preseason and every year it’s always a big night out.
The RAF definitely know how to have a good time.
Why are you the best team at Uni?
We are the best team at uni as we are the biggest and most welcoming sports society.
We not only are the best team in the country at the moment thanks to winning BUCS gold last year, but everyone in the society knows each other.
All the socials provide the players the chance to integrate and to have the best time possible.
We work hard, play hard.