Southampton and Portsmouth are separated by hundreds of years of inter-city conflict, from the twelfth century onwards. Until 1835, Southampton officially owned the port of Portsmouth, which led to constant disputes over who controlled trade in the docks. Therefore the animosity between the two cities is one that stretches back for almost 800 years.

Portsmouth was primarily a naval port and Southampton a merchant port, and the rivalry really originates when the Portsmouth and Southampton Dockers went on strike. Portsmouth agreed with Southampton to close both ports in a bid to improve pay for the workers, however the Southampton port opened whilst Portsmouth were still striking, and took all the trade.

Portsmouth workers termed the insult ‘scum’ (an acronym of ‘Southampton Community Union Members’) and in response they were referred to as ‘skates’, a derogatory term for naval seamen.

The University of Southampton has always adopted a friendly rivalry with Portsmouth University, but we have had no real opportunity to adopt the city’s stance to the level it should be - most of our sports clubs do not play against each other due to the regional structure of BUCS…that is until now!

2009 marks the first ever annual Varsity Day between the University of Southampton and Portsmouth University.

The event is to take place on Sunday 22nd February with Southampton hosting. Based at Wide Lane, and also using the Jubilee Sports Hall, it will be the largest of its kind in the South of England, and amongst the top 4 in the UK!

For the day we will become ‘Team Southampton’ in an effort to send Portsmouth back down the M27 crying, and prove that there is only one ‘real’ university in Hampshire. Despite Portsmouth having a smaller AU, the games will be tough as the ‘skates’ have a good reputation for elite sport, and are not too far behind us in the BUCS rankings.

Whether your a sportsperson or not, whether your club is competing or not, come and be part of ‘Team Southampton’ and get involved in the rivalry that is shaping up to be one of the fiercest in the country.

Cheap drinks and food will be available, as well as loud music and entertainments; it really will be a fun day out for all! I hope this is an event everyone can get behind and support the university, as it will be our largest sporting event in the year, and I hope, one of the most memorable!

To quote an ex Club Captain of mine, "Varsity Day is a fantastic opportunity to introduce Hampshire to the unfortunate injustice in life: those more academically gifted also posses the highest sporting talent".