National Trophy Winners 2025/26: Match Report

Wednesday 25th March 2026

National Trophy Final Vs Surrey 1s

Written by Phil Kay

The BUCS National Trophy final: our season-defining game. The ups and downs of our BUCS campaign had all been building up to this final 90-minute encounter against the University of Surrey men’s first team. For a handful of our boys playing, this would be their final match representing Durham University; the likes of Chris Wild, Ellis Challinor, Oli Williams, and Seb Hopkins were of course, like the rest of us, hoping to go out on a high.

The preparations for the final had been thorough: having a couple of training sessions at 8am really helped us get accustomed to the early kick off time we would playing at in Loughborough. It really did feel like all the work we had been putting in since preseason began in August had been leading up to a match like this one.

The day before the final we had one last morning training session before getting packed up and heading down to Loughborough to stay overnight in anticipation if this huge occasion for the football club.

We arrived at the Kegworth Hotel & Conference Centre in the early evening after a seemingly swift journey down from Durham; the freshers’ quizzes pleasantly helped pass the time. Once we had organised rooms and unpacked, we began the hunt for a source of dinner. However, Kegworth, despite being a lovely little town, was not the place used to hosting meals for 20 people at a time. A chaotic dinner situation — involving a group of eight unknowingly booking a restaurant for the whole squad, only for the rest of the lads to arrive half an hour early and get turned away — provided the laughs needed to ease the tension. Everyone eventually got fed, and an early night followed.

After a pleasantly sound night’s sleep we all headed down to a breakfast consisting of cereal, toast, fruit, and crumpets. We left the Kegworth Hotel around 07:45 to make the short journey to Loughborough and begin the final preparations for the match.

We arrived with plenty of time to get sorted and get in the right head space to go out and play a national final. We went out to warm up and were greeted with an extremely pleasant day, and we were even treated to an introduction from MC Leigh Walker on the microphone. However, during the warmup, the weather turned, and we were absolutely drenched from freezing rain and hail which didn’t help proceedings.

Eventually, kick off time rolled around and the game was underway. It was a nervy first 10 minutes from both teams; lots of turnovers, lots of energy, and not much quality. It was Durham, however, who fortunately struck the first blow. Booth was fouled, as he has been over 100 times this season, on the edge of the box, giving Durham a free kick within shooting range. I went over to line it up and having hit a fair few free kicks over the bar this season, I decided not to go for power but to try and place it over the wall which didn’t seem properly set up. The whistle blew and I steadied myself before hitting a nice curling shot over the wall past the keeper into the back of the net. 1-0 Durham.

That goal really helped settle the nerves and we began to play with more freedom as we realised our dominance over Surrey in all areas of the pitch. Ellis Challinor did exceptionally well in dealing with Surrey’s 9 who appeared to be a potential threat early on but was nullified by Durham’s quality all along the back line.

The next chance came not long after with Fin Rose sliding a nice pass down the line to me before I crossed to Seb Hopkins who was gutted not to score a good chance to put us 2-0 up. Thankfully, Durhams 2^nd goal was not far off, I got in behind on the right-hand side and hit a hopeful cross into the box towards Booth. Booth plucked it down before shifting it onto his right foot and rifling a shot into the top-right corner, an unbelievable finish. During the celebrations we said that another goal before half time would kill the game off and that should be our main objective.

Unfortunately, our goalkeeper Pat Dixon, who had been very comfortable throughout the match, was forced off early after getting an elbow to the face, causing his top lip to split open. It was a sad moment for our keeper, who had kept us in such good stead all season, as he had to head to hospital and was unable to watch the rest of the match.

Marko Porozovs came on to replace him having played 90 minutes in goal for Durham United the evening before and surviving off of 4 hours sleep. This change didn’t alter Durham’s flow, and we continued threatening Surrey’s goal with another chance coming from me getting in behind on the right-hand side. I cut it back to Seb Hopkins and this time he found the back of the net with a confident finish with his left foot. 3-0 to Durham before the half time whistle: a perfect opening to a national cup final.

Half Time: Durham 3 - 0 Surrey

We stayed on the pitch for half time, and the main message was that the job wasn’t finished. All it took was 1 goal from Surrey and they would see themselves right back in the competition so keeping them out was equally as important as going on and scoring more goals. We refuelled and went back on, excited to finish the job and get over the line as national champions.

As expected, Surrey came out aggressively with a ‘nothing to lose’ attitude which pushed our defence to stay strong. Big efforts from Ollie Bell and Olly Dixon really helped us control the midfield with winning fouls and getting turnovers. Surrey’s all or nothing attitude did, however, boil over. Ossie O’Neill, who had been playing solidly the whole match took a slightly heavy touch, giving one of the Surrey midfielders to leave a very late challenge on him. Ossie was unluckily forced off with an ankle injury, and the Surrey player was sent off for the reckless tackle but also his reaction that followed. With Durham now 3-0 goals and a now man up, we knew we were in full control and just had to see this game out. Surrey sat back looking for chances on the counterattack, but we stayed resolute with the whole defence winning their duels and neutralising any Surrey threat. Oli Williams at right-back and Chris Wild at centre-back showed excellent composure to keep possession and keep Durham out of danger.

Our next big chance when we got a break in midfield, Ollie Bell winning a second ball before playing into Seb Hopkins who played out to me on the right. I went to cut inside the defender then chopped back onto my right foot before slotting a shot through the keeper’s legs to make it 4-0. We all knew that the game was as good as finished now, we still had 25 minutes left to see who else could get on the score sheet.

Durham maintained our supremacy and didn’t give Surrey a chance to get anything from the game. Our 5^th goal came as I hit a corner into the box and substitute Elliott Clarke rose to knock in a great header. Not a bad time or place to score your first ever BUCS goal.

With the game almost over, the only thing left to play for was my potential hattrick. Rory Edwards, our usual skipper who was nursing a hamstring injury and unable to play, called for me to go and get the hattrick. Similar calls came from the other side of the pitch with Durham’s travelling fans who had made the journey from Durham the night before.

I had one final chance after taking a short corner to Olly Dixon and getting the ball back before hitting a shot, which I’m absolutely certain was on target, before it took a deflection and looped over the keeper. Before I could run off and celebrate my national cup final hattrick, Harry Steawart, who had come on 10 minutes earlier, decided to prod home the ball from a few centimetres out and get on the score sheet. I didn’t know whether to celebrate or not as it was 6-0 but I had just been denied a great moment. It didn’t matter of course, and the final whistle went soon after and we were crowned national champions after a completely dominant display.

Full Time: Durham 6 - 0 Surrey

We all gathered round for the trophy presentation, and I was awarded man of the match which meant I was gifted with a really nice plaque which is now up in my room. The trophy presentation was classic with chants of ‘Championes Championes, Ole Ole Ole’ ringing out. We all got photos with the trophy and there was a great feeling of relief, fulfilment, and satisfaction amongst the boys as we had achieved something worthy of the quality of players in the group. The celebrations continued despite us all being shattered from the 5am wakeup and 90 minutes of intensity.

For the seniors in the group — Wild, Challinor, Williams, Hopkins — it was the perfect send-off. For the freshers making their first appearance on a stage like this, a taste of what this club is capable of.

Player of the Match: Phil Kay

Starting XI: Patrick Dixon, Oliver Williams, Ossie O'Neill, Chris Wild (C), Ellis Challinor, Ollie Bell, Tomas Boothroyd, Olly Dixon, Phil Kay, Seb Hopkins, Fin Rose

Subs: Marko Porozovs, Oscar Duenkel, Harry Stewart, Dan Rehimbek, Elliott Clarke