Ellie Turner, Non-BUCS Team of the Year
Women's Football Captain, Non-BUCS Team of the Year 2024/25
Being captain of the women's 11-a-side football team has honestly been one of the best and hardest things I've done at university. And it's so much more than just wearing the armband on match days. When I took on the role, only four players were coming back from the year before and that meant rebuilding pretty much from scratch, and making sure every single girl felt welcome and valued from day one.
Building from Scratch
Rebuilding the squad meant recruiting new members, making posters, running the Instagram, washing the kit after every game, sorting travel routes, and making sure we had enough players for training and matches. It was a lot to juggle alongside uni, but honestly it taught me so much about organisation, communication, and just staying focused on something even when it gets difficult.
One of our biggest challenges was not having university transport. On top of everything else, I had to find players who were committed enough to sort their own travel to fixtures and help get kit and equipment there too. Representation should never feel like just showing up, it should feel like everyone has a stake in what you're building together.
Community & Wellbeing
Football has always been my outlet. No matter how hectic things got, stepping onto the pitch for those 90 minutes meant assignments, deadlines and everything else just disappeared. The team became my support system without me even realising it and that balance kept me going through the whole year.
Our Movember campaign was a highlight off the pitch: we cycled a combined 389.5km that month for men's mental health and organised a charity pub night with a moustache photo booth. It was one of those nights that just brought everyone together. These moments weren't just about sport. They were about creating a space where students could connect, have fun, and feel part of something bigger.
On the Pitch
We had an incredible season with 44 goals across five games and finishing 2nd in the league. The highlight for me was winning Non-BUCS Team of the Year. After spending hours at the Welcome Fair getting people to sign up, putting in the work to make training fun and accessible for everyone, and building something from nothing, that award meant everything. It felt like recognition for every single one of the girls, not just me.
Looking Back
What I'm most proud of is watching those girls become so much more than just teammates. This role wasn't always easy: there were moments where it felt like a lot to carry. But I learnt how to stay focused, show up for people, and keep building even when things got difficult.
The biggest thing I'm taking away is that stepping outside your comfort zone is always worth it. My advice? Just go for it. Show up to the trial, try something new during Freshers, give yourself the chance to discover something you didn't know you'd love.
You might find a sport, a new skill set, and people who become your closest friends. It happened for me and it could happen for you too.
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