On my mission to find the best social sport at Newcastle University, I made a visit to the new for 2025 social football society – growing rapidly in members, it may be one to watch.
There’s one thing very clear about this society: you don’t have to be a master to give it a go.
Even their social secretary, Molly Sharp, a 2nd year at Newcastle university, admitted “I don’t play football really.”
But if you’re currently rolling your eyes at this notion, you may have missed the point entirely.
“I just wanted something more casual and fun with friends and [to] be a bit more social with it.“
Megan, President
Megan Dixon, a 3rd year at Newcastle University and president of the social football society says that she set up the society because she “didn’t really want the commitment and intensity” that tends to come with the university’s football club and wanted something “more causal and fun”.
The university’s football club train multiple times a week and compete weekly in the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) league, but Megan says that she was looking for something “a bit more social” and so she, along with the other committee members, created the society this year.
Despite still being in its infant stages, the society currently stands at 114 members strong.
Members pay £5 for a year’s membership which gives them access to the society’s weekly sessions every Wednesday afternoon from 2-4pm in Jesmond (NE2 3DY).
Members such as 3rd year Dylan Dunkley, said that this price is “affordable for everyone.”
President of the society, Megan, says that she identifies the club as being more of a society than a sports club, with the sessions being used more as a social with the sport element a “bonus for people.”
“It’s definitely more casual and social and people just come along. The sport, I think, is a bonus for people.“
Megan, President
But the fact that the group lean towards the society side doesn’t stop them from taking part in Newcastle sport traditions such as sports night.
Social secretary Molly says that “obviously everyone loves a good Wednesday night out” which tends to consist of a crawl through Newcastle’s bars and clubs. However, this is the only socials the society are currently running.
The social side of the society is emphasised in these nights out, with Molly pointing out that some members only go to the socials while others go to the football sessions also.
“Some people come for the socials but then there are some faces that come to the football who go out as well.”
Molly, Social Secretary
The plan to be a more casual, fun, social society is clearly going to plan with 3rd year member Dylan commenting that he’s “here more for the socialising aspect” and finds social football to be more chill and less intense than joining the football team.
But, as with every new venture, the society hasn’t come without its challenges.
Megan and Molly reported that members initially criticised some elements of the sessions such as the size of the pitches and the choice to run ‘mini games’ at the start of each session.
Megan reported members “saying that the pitches were too small so obviously we’ve made the pitches a bit bigger” while Molly reported feedback that people preferred doing big matches over mini games. In response, the sessions now go straight into big matches after a warmup.
In spite of their challenges members such as Dylan say that they would “recommend to anyone who wants to do it.”
Memberships for Social Football are available for all Newcastle University students on the NUSU website.
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