The University Of East London mens football team were destined for promotion to the Premier League of Uni football, before COVID-19 caused devastation.
Ryan Gordon’s men took the 2019/20 season by storm going unbeaten winning 7 and drawing only 3 games. The team scored an incredible 29 goals whilst only conceding an impressive 5.
Their remarkable form saw them crowned South Eastern Div 1 champions with a game to spare. The achievement set up a three way round robin tournament against Bristol University and Exeter University to determine who would compete in the top flight of Uni football.
However the unfortunate events of coronavirus infecting the nation meant BUCS took the decision to cancel all remaining fixtures, leaving the season as a void.
Rising East sat down with Cameron Reardon who was an integral part of the first team squad in their historic year.
How was the season last year for you personally and for the squad?
“ The season last year was probably the best it could have been. We were unbeaten in the league we didn’t get far in the cup but it was very, very good team and a very good season for us. I think, the squad was just unreal with a lot of players playing at a very high level in non league. And we were just battering teams – possession wise, shots wise, crosses wise. On and off the pitch everyone was working. I think it’s probably the best season we’ve had in my time being at Uni, unbeaten and I was very confident going into those play offs. ”
What was the highlight of the season for yourself and for the team?
“ Its hard to pick a highlight, all of it was a highlight. However, the last game we had when we won 6-0 against St Marys, we had won the league already we could have gone out there and played at 50%, but everyone was determined to finish unbeaten and be the first Uni team to finish a season without losing. So I think thats the moment which sticks in my head the most. ”
You conceded only 5 goals how vital was your defensive capabilities as a unit?
“ Defensively our chemistry was good. We had a top goalkeeper in Fergal, who played for Wales so if anything went passed us, he saved us quite a few times. Being at Centre back having that behind you was a great feeling, you play with a lot more confidence. We bonded very well as a back for, most of us were playing at a good level at non-League, and we took that form into university matches. We took pride in keeping clean sheets, making tackles, winning headers, and us doing that allowed the attackers to do their bit at the other end of the pitch. ”
How confident were you as a team going into the play offs?
“ I was 100% sure we were going to win those play offs. Bristol went unbeaten scoring lot of goals, Exeter had a knack of staying up but with the team we had it was inevitable that we were going to get promoted. It was disappointing that we didn’t have a chance to but I was very confident. ”
What was the biggest factor in your success last year?
“ The biggest factor for me was the way we bonded as a team. We hung out every day when we could, everyone was in the same spot, the banter was great. There was never arguments in our team, yes disagreements but that was to help make individual better and make us a collective better. We all had each others backs and thats why we were so successful, we wanted to go out there and work for one another. We wanted to achieve, we were proud of what we had, it was more than just University football for us. ”
Reardon and his UEL side will now look to the 20/2021 season in their bid to gain promotion out of the South Eastern Division 1.
The season is meant to begin in January however with the ever changing information regarding COVID-19 this date looks high unlikely.
Whenever football does return for universities, we wish the mens first team the very best of luck.
