Sports and societies
Welcome from your officers
South College’s JCR hosts 28 active sports clubs and societies, which are listed below. Any levy-paying JCR member may start their own club or society, with the full support of the JCR. To do this, get in touch with Sports Officer, Aidan Quill (south.jcrsports@durham.ac.uk) or Societies Officer, Maisie James (south.jcrsocieties@durham.ac.uk). You can also engage through their Instagram, @southsportsandsocs.
Useful links and info
We’ve included some useful links for Captains, Presidents and those considering starting their own organisation:
For those needing reimbursement, please complete this form and email this to our JCR Treasurer Aryan Sharma at south.jcrtreasurer@durham.ac.uk.
For those considering starting their own organisation, look at the Sports and Societies Ratification Form before getting in touch with the Sports or Society officers.
To take part in our sports and societies you will need to opt into the JCR Levy, this allows you to play as part of the College’s team, compete Collegiately and run for positions such as Society Captain, Sports President and other executive roles. You can opt-into the JCR Levy here.
N.B. Some Sports Clubs and Societies charge a subs fee. Each one which does has a link in its description to pay their subs. You must still pay your JCR Levy to join and participate in societies or clubs which do not charge a subs fee, however.
South JCr Sports Clubs
South College Badminton Club provides the perfect blend of competition and fun. We have a social session that runs each week in which all members of the club are welcome to come down and play. It’s a great place for beginners to learn skills and more advanced players to enjoy the sport without the pressure of winning.
Our men’s, women’s and mixed teams also have a scheduled training session during the week, alongside tournament matches, and all members are encouraged to trial for a team if they wish to engage with the competitive side of the sport. This is just as fun as the social club but also very rewarding with all three of our teams reaching their highest levels of success in the club’s history last year, an effort we hope to continue.
South College Basketball Club is an inclusive club which encourages players from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities to come and play basketball. We train/play recreationally once a week, which is ideal for all newcomers to attend and try out basketball regardless of your current skill level!
For those with prior experience, you’ll be glad to know that South College are the reigning Men’s College Premiership Champions from last season, with an undefeated season in the league. We have league and cup matches on the weekends during the season, and there are loads of other small tournaments and opportunities to play and compete at a good level.
South College Basketball are also striving to make a big impact on women’s college basketball this year, to truly cement our place as the best college basketball club in the university. Our women’s captain (Joey) is excited to welcome any new members to the squad and prepare for a successful season!
South College Boat Club is an exciting and active society that provides both competitive and recreational opportunities for all ranges of rowing ability - from complete beginners to experienced rowers. Rowing is excellent fitness as well as an exciting and social sport. We aim to keep subs low compared to other college boat clubs and get as many students out on the water as possible. We have a committed exec and run frequent socials, priding ourselves on being friendly, competitive and accessible!
Cheerleading at South college is a welcoming and inclusive team that supports members of all experience levels. Across the year we work together to create both pom and stunt routines to showcase at a number of events and at the annual intercollegiate cheer competition- providing our members opportunity to perform, gain confidence and build friendships across the college.
South Cricket Club aims to balance competitive and social cricket so that experienced and new players to the game can enjoy the sport at their level. We have nets at Maidencastle during Michaelmas term, play indoor cricket during Epiphany (with two teams) and play outdoor cricket in Easter term (again, with two teams). We hold socials frequently throughout the year to build a good team spirit when we play cricket. Although a new club, we have already seen great success with the A and B teams for both indoor and outdoor cricket, ani hope to build on this in the future.
South College Cue Sports prides itself in striking a brilliant balance between competition and social; we welcome all prospective members, beginners and experts alike.
Last year, SCCS registered 3 teams in the DUPL, ranging from advanced to amateur; we maintained an 85% club win rate all year long. Notably, our A-Team finished 1st in their league, later going on to win a varsity fixture against the University of York, representing Durham University in Pool.
If it’s not a competitive environment you’re after, we’ve got that covered too. Hosting weekly training sessions and frequent open socials (e.g bingo bar-crawls, snooker/pool den trips and in-house tournaments), SCCS is a great place to meet new people and forge new friendships within college.
And if that didn’t convince you, cue sports is the only society where you can play for pints and call it training :) More details can be found on instagram:
At South darts we aim to grow into a club that caters for everyone, whether you love darts or just the social aspect. We offer opportunities for members to get out and visit the college bars, meeting new people and spending time with your fellow Southies. Whatever your skill level, we are excited to welcome you into the club.
The South College Hockey Club is for hockey enthusiasts of all skill levels. We train once a week and compete in both men’s and women’s matches on weekends. Alongside training we run social events which are great ways to get to know other club members. Our aim is to get more people into hockey as well as create strong teams for the upcoming season.
We pride ourselves in being one of the most successful and active clubs in South College containing four teams ranging from the 2023 Floodlit finalist and Premier Division squad of the A’s to the more social squad of the D’s. We train as a whole club once a week on the 3G at Maiden Castle and play each weekend against other college teams in the league and floodlit cup during first and second term, and the college cup in third term. Our frequent whole club socials are an excellent way to meet new people and forge closer relationships off the football field and are certainly a highlight for many members. Whether you want to play competitively or just join in on training and our socials we’re a fantastic community to be a part of during your time at the college and encourage anyone to join SCMFC.
SCLC welcomes anyone who wishes to play lacrosse regardless of ability! We typically train once a week at MC, with matches on Saturday/Sundays if you wish to compete against other colleges. Since SCLC is mixed lacrosse, we are very much both a social and sports club so it’s a great way to meet new friends across all years in college. We have been quite successful in our league over the past few years and are looking to continue this success. We look forward to welcoming you to SCLC!!
Mount Oswald Powerlifting Club (MOPLC) aims to introduce the sport of powerlifting to aspiring athletes. At its core, powerlifting consists of three main lifts: Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift and athletes thrive to lift as much weight as possible on each of these lifts within specific rules and guidelines set by governing bodies such as the IPF.
However, powerlifting isn't just about raw strength and competition - it is also a supportive community where athletes encourage and aspire each other to reach new heights. Whether you are an experienced competitor or just starting your journey, our club is here to support you and help you reach your goals.
The team and I hope to see you in September!
We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive space for all. As a club we aim to provide an opportunity for all abilities, from those who have never picked up a netball before to those who have played at a highly competitive level, to play in a friendly, safe and fun environment. As a club we strive to create a fun and social environment both on and off the courts. We train once a week with chilled and fun sessions on the MUGA Thursday 7-9pm (TBC).
SCRFC is a warm and welcoming club, open to people of all levels of experience and skill. The club has seen exponential growth and success since its foundation, which we hope to build on. The club has regular season fixtures and training sessions, including competing in the Floodlit competition, and having weekly team s&c slots in the gym. Additionally, we regularly hold socials, including those with other college sports teams, making for a great opportunity to get to know your peers and strengthen the college spirit!
Established in September 2023, South College Running Club has rapidly become one of the fastest-growing societies at South, earning an Owl Award for Teams in their first year and finishing 2nd in the Inter-College League.
We strive to create and maintain an inclusive running community, accommodating all abilities from speed walkers to our fastest runners - everyone will become a Track Star.
Our dedicated executive committee are eager to deliver another year of outstanding performances in inter-collegiate competitions and host regular socials. We are undoubtedly the best Running Club in Durham, truly living up to our motto: WeRun.
South Squash is a club for everyone, from beginners to more experienced players. If you are brand new to squash don't worry, we have all the equipment so the only thing you need to bring is yourself to have some fun trying out a new sport.
We have training every week for you to give it a go and improve your skills, with both our men's and women's teams having regular games every couple of weeks.
South Tennis has a growing membership and presence in both competitive and social aspects. With one to two training sessions per week our club is welcome to all abilities and gives lots of time to play socially and develop. Last year our team was made up of all skill levels and held its own in regular inter collegiate matches. Our club also had more socials than ever and was a great way to meet other players and feel part of one of the most social sports teams in South. With plenty of opportunities to be involved: from exec positions, to representing South in matches, or just coming along for socials and our friendly training sessions, it’s a great time to join South Tennis!
We are South Table Tennis. We are very new club but already have so much variety, from experienced players looking to play competitively to complete newcomers just wanting to knock a ball about. Come along and try something new!
South College Ultimate Frisbee (SCUF) is one of the exciting new additions to the sports and societies lineup for the 2024/2025 academic year. SCUF is dedicated to promoting both the competitive and social aspects of Ultimate Frisbee, offering a welcoming environment for everyone to participate, regardless of skill level. Whether you're a complete beginner who's never held a frisbee or a seasoned player with professional experience, SCUF is the perfect place to have fun, improve your skills, and engage with college life.
Join us for regular training sessions where you can learn the game, develop your technique, and enjoy friendly competition. Beyond the field, we also organize social events to help you connect with fellow members and build lasting friendships. This is a fantastic opportunity to try a new sport, stay active, and become an integral part of the South College community. All abilities are welcome, so come and be a part of SCUF!
The volleyball club consists of members of a wide range of ability. Whether you're trying it for the first time or have been playing for years everyone is welcome to come along and join in. We train twice a week at South, along with an extra session organised by Team Durham for all colleges to participate in. During Epiphany term you will have the option to participate in matches against other colleges, again at a wide variety of ability levels from more relaxed teams to our competitive A team who came 3rd last year in the premiership. We look forward to seeing you on the court!
South College Ladies’ Football club is a great opportunity for players of all abilities. Whether you have played football competitively before or want to start a new sport it offers a great combination of fun and relaxed training sessions whilst still offering aspects of competition during league matches and trophy cups. This year, we hope to offer at least one training session a week, with (hopefully) extra sessions focused on developing different aspects of the game as well as new stash!! We are part of a joint team with Trevs so it is a great way to meet a whole range of new people even if you just want to join for the socials! We would love to have you join and if you have any questions feel free to send us a DM on our Instagram account :)
South JCR Societies
Compass is South’s Charity Fashion Show that started in 2022. Our initiative builds up to a fashion show in June featuring models from South where all proceeds go in aid of St. Cuthbert’s Hospice. Compass is a fantastic opportunity for people to come together and raise money for an amazing cause, all while gaining invaluable skills on the exec, meeting new people across years, boosting confidence and trying something new as a model.
South College Dance Society allows Southies to enjoy dance in a relaxed setting with no worries regarding ability. We run weekly sessions in the Dance Studio in the Mount Oswald Hub, where members can come along and learn routines taught by the exec, practice their dance skills, find new friends and just have fun! We work closely with Oswald’s Players Theatre Company and South Music Society throughout the year too. We would love to see you get involved, whether you are new to dance or you've been dancing for years!
South College Feminist Society is all about making students feel included and welcome in South College. Regular events, including both social and academic, will be a place for our Southies to discover and share feminist ideas. We will engage with a variety of topics, including intersectionality, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and more. Join our society to learn, advocate and make a meaningful impact on South College.
As the foremost kazoo society in South College, Durham and indeed the world, our aims are twofold:
1. To heal the world with the power of kazoo, introducing an array of exciting young talent to the inspiring toots of this magical instrument, and creating a dazzling community of magical kazooerists who will wield the power of kazoo responsibly and seriously, glorifying the globe and beyond in a thundering chorus of symphonic sounds.
2. To kazoo.
South College Mahjong is an all-inclusive club comprised of Mahjong enthusiasts and beginners. We play Hong Kong style Mahjong and plan to hold two meeting sessions per week, typically on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Our meetings are designed to be both educational and social, offering a welcoming environment.
Music society was revived last year, and we have jumped straight back into the swing of things! We offer a low pressure, no-judgement space for students to share their music through our student-run groups and fortnightly open mic nights. These are held in the college bar and provide a relaxed and welcoming environment for any level of performer. There are also opportunities available to collaborate with other performing arts societies, such as through the end of year college musical. Whatever your skill level, we would love to see you join in and be part of South’s music scene!
Oswald’s Players Theatre Company is South’s resident dramatics society. We produce plays, musicals, showcases, and the annual South College Pantomime under a casual and friendly environment with people of all abilities and theatrical interests. As well as auditioning the cast for our high-quality shows, we also actively recruit for students to lead our directorial teams, as well as all aspects of backstage and offstage crew. No matter your background in performance or reasons for joining, we’d love to welcome you into one of our shows!
South College Swim Club fosters a community passionate about swimming. Our club welcomes swimmers of all levels, creating an inclusive, fun, and fulfilling environment focused on recreational swimming. Inspired by the need for an inclusive, non-competitive space, our club is perfect for ex-swimmers, those returning to swimming, and anyone looking to swim regularly. Our training includes weekly sessions at Freemans Quay Leisure Centre and occasional weekend swims. Social activities feature monthly socials and post-swim coffees or brunches. Come join us for a swim, post-swim drink of choice and great company!