{"id":134,"date":"2025-11-19T17:47:04","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T17:47:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/katy-woods\/?p=134"},"modified":"2025-12-11T18:26:13","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T18:26:13","slug":"football-the-best-social-sport-at-newcastle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/katy-woods\/2025\/11\/19\/football-the-best-social-sport-at-newcastle\/","title":{"rendered":"Football – The best social sport at Newcastle?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On my mission to find the best social sport at Newcastle University<\/a>, I made a visit to the new for 2025 social football society – growing rapidly in members, it may be one to watch.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s one thing very clear about this society<\/a>: you don\u2019t have to be a master to give it a go.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even their social secretary, Molly Sharp, a 2nd year at Newcastle university, admitted \u201cI don\u2019t play football really.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you\u2019re currently rolling your eyes at this notion, you may have missed the point entirely.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I just wanted something more casual and fun with friends and [to] be a bit more social with it.<\/strong>“
<\/p>Megan, President<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Megan Dixon, a 3rd year at Newcastle University and president of the social football society says that she set up the society because she \u201cdidn\u2019t really want the commitment and intensity\u201d that tends to come with the university\u2019s football club and wanted something “more causal and fun”. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The university\u2019s football club<\/a> train multiple times a week and compete weekly in the BUCS<\/a> (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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite still being in its infant stages, the society currently stands at 114 members strong.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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Members playing football; Image credit: Newcastle University Social Football Society<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Members pay \u00a35 for a year\u2019s membership which gives them access to the society\u2019s weekly sessions every Wednesday afternoon from 2-4pm in Jesmond (NE2 3DY). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0Members such as 3rd year Dylan Dunkley, said that this price is \u201caffordable for everyone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cbonus for people.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It\u2019s definitely more casual and social and people just come along. The sport, I think, is a bonus for people.<\/strong>“<\/p>Megan, President<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But the fact that the group lean towards the society side doesn\u2019t stop them from taking part in Newcastle sport traditions such as sports night. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social secretary Molly says that \u201cobviously everyone loves a good Wednesday night out\u201d which tends to consist of a crawl through Newcastle\u2019s bars and clubs. However, this is the only socials the society are currently running.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome people come for the socials but then there are some faces that come to the football who go out as well.\u201d<\/strong> 
<\/p>Molly, Social Secretary<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The plan to be a more casual, fun, social society is clearly going to plan with 3rd year member Dylan commenting that he\u2019s \u201chere more for the socialising aspect\u201d and finds social football to be more chill and less intense than joining the football team. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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Members playing Football; Image credit: Newcastle University Social Football Society<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

But, as with every new venture, the society hasn\u2019t come without its challenges.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2018mini games\u2019 at the start of each session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Megan reported members \u201csaying that the pitches were too small so obviously we\u2019ve made the pitches a bit bigger\u201d 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In spite of their challenges members such as Dylan say that they would “recommend to anyone who wants to do it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Memberships for Social Football are available for all Newcastle University students on the NUSU<\/a> website<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit my website here:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n