Student Sports in Lancaster
If you like sport then you will be inundated with activities to watch during your time in the area.
Lancaster City Football Club are currently playing in Nationwide North, the highest standard they have ever reached. The league, one below the Nationwide Conference, is in its second season and promises to be an exciting one. Manager Phil Wilson has brought in four players to add strength to the squad. Nick Rogan, Iain Swan, Stuart Howson and Steve Skinner have all played in higher leagues and will be looking to push city up the league. They have also got a new chairman in Steve Johnstone. He has brought in plenty of ideas to make the Dolly Blues a force to be reckoned with. City's uniquely-named Giant Axe ground is easy to find, just a five minute walk from the city centre, near the railway station. The fans are a welcoming bunch, the quality of football improves every year and the food is top notch for a football ground. Why not take a look - especially as they offer reduced prices for students.
On the other side of the River Lune is Conference team Morecambe Football Club. They are pushing hard for a place in the Football League for the first time in their history and are entering their 12th season at Christie Park. Manager Jim Harvey has not gone into the transfer market this season after last year's big recruitment drive. Sean O'Connor, Jimmy Kelly and Carl Ruffer all had bad injuries last season and will be looking to make their way into the team. The ground is in Lancaster Road on the bus route from Lancaster to Morecambe and student discount is available. Hopefully this is the season they make the leap into the Division Two.
If football is not your thing then the top rugby union side in the area is Vale of Lune, who play at Powderhouse Lane, in Torrisholme. The Vale are looking to get back into Powergen North One after they were relegated to North Two West. Rugby league is played all year round throughout the district.
In winter, the Heysham Atoms play in division four of the North West Counties League at their Trimpell ground, in Morecambe. While in the summer months Lancaster take over and are playing their games at Powderhouse Lane.
Both Lancaster and Morecambe also have cricket clubs which play in the highly respected Northern Premier League during the summer. Lancaster play at Lune Road, which is only a ten minute walk from the city centre, while Woodhill Lane is home to Morecambe.
Other clubs worthy of a look are the John o'Gaunt Rowing Club, one of the country's oldest rowing clubs, who are based on the River Lune in Skerton.
If water polo is more your thing then we have one of the best teams in Europe based at Salt Ayre Sports Centre. Lancaster City Swimming and Water Polo Club have picked up a bagful of trophies in recent years.
Salt Ayre Sports Centre also offers a gym, squash, badminton, aerobics and many more activities.
For golf, bowls, snooker, pool and darts enthusiasts - you have plenty of facilities throughout Lancaster and Morecambe. And make sure you keep up to date with all the latest sports news by reading the Lancaster Guardian.
