Lucas dos Santos Miranda, from the MA Globalisation, Business and Development cohort of 2024-25, reflects on a unique student-led trip to Bristol. In this blog post, Lucas shares how a passion for football helped foster a sense of belonging and community among IDS students, and how one unforgettable weekend became a symbolic closing chapter in their journey together.
Since the beginning of the Master’s journey, students at IDS have been connecting through shared interests in sports and social activities. Different hangout groups started to emerge, from sea swimming every Friday to organising weekend frisbee matches at Stanmer Park, students were playing a crucial role in building friendships and fostering interactions. Students also gradually started playing weekly football matches, which evolved into the IDS Football Team.
The rise of the IDS football team
Focusing more on the Football team, I must highlight the role of Chris Searle – a student from the MSc Climate Change – who was one of the driving forces behind the group and responsible for registering the team in the tournament. The dynamic of playing every Tuesday evening for almost 4 months strengthened our connection, not only because of the games themselves, which required teamwork and communication, but it also attracted other IDS students to come and support us during the matches. These moments definitely contributed to building the sense of community that permeated our daily lives at IDS.
Amid this environment – and with the feeling that our time at Brighton was getting close to the end – some of the players came up with an idea to have a special moment to enjoy this final period by travelling to another city, playing against a local team, and simply spending time together. It was more than just football, it was an opportunity to reinforce the ties we had built and create memories to carry with us from this intense one-year experience at IDS.
Bristol: A weekend to remember
25 of us travelled to Bristol after the second term ended, spending three days there. It was a bit chaotic to organise – as you can imagine! For instance, I was responsible for the accommodations and collecting the payments, which proved to be a bit of a hassle, but it was all worth it at the end! We played a friendly match against the Saint Old Boys and to crown the experience, we won by 9×5! A big thank you to Jack Middleton from the MA Development Studies for coordinating the game.
However, it was not just about football, in fact, at times we even forgot we had a match to play! We immersed ourselves in the British culture through games, sightseeing, and shared moments around the city, which, as an international student, was incredibly valuable. Gabriella Shaw, from MA Governance, summed up the highlights perfectly; “We took a trip to Bath, and on the way back to Bristol, some of us swam in a beautiful river. Then came the IDS football match, complete with our own personal IDS chant! After football, we all put on the charity shop tops that our assigned partners picked out for us and headed out for our big night — making sure everyone got the full English university sports social experience. Chaos, of course, followed: wheelbarrow races down a busy street, waterfall challenges, and dancing to terrible music late into the night.”
Francesca Roberts from MSc Climate Change shares, “My highlight of Bristol was a quiz the organisers planned for us. We were split into three teams and took turns being the gamemaster, writing our own questions. Some even involved fun facts about our teammates! It really brought us closer together, and I’ll never forget Karan’s face when, after 8 months in the same class, he learned that I live on a volcano!” She emphasises the friendship and says, “Seeing your course mates outside of study spaces, and for an extended period of timeline, really strengthens friendships. I’m grateful this trip allowed me to step into my friends’ worlds a little more. The time we shared was truly valuable, and I came away feeling much closer to them.”
Taisei Kishikawa from MA Development Studies reflected, “I’ve come to realise just how much those Tuesday nights, those muddy boots, and those shared victories and defeats have meant to me. Soon, I’ll be heading back to Japan for a job interview with a UN agency. As I take this next step, I carry with me a valuable lesson from my extracurricular life in Brighton: learning isn’t just about readings and assignments. It’s also about the people you meet, the passions you share, and the communities you build along the way.”
It was a wonderful trip that brought so many friends together for a truly unique experience. In many ways, it felt like a symbolic close to this chapter, as we haven’t had any more classes since then. With the daily routine of lectures now behind us, this trip stands as one of the most beautiful memories from my time in Brighton.
Advice for future IDS cohorts
To the next cohorts at IDS, my biggest advice is this: create a weekly ritual together. It doesn’t have to be football on Fridays – what matters is building a space where people can meet, breathe, and find a sense of calm amid the rush of essays and dissertation. You might play, you might just watch, but simply changing your environment and being around friends is already something powerful. During our tournament, some came just to cheer, yet those moments helped weave a community that truly embraced the Bristol experience. And after your lectures end, these gatherings become even more precious, almost like small sacred pauses, reminding you that you’re still part of this community and of the friendships you’ve built along the way.
The IDS football chant by the students
Hey! Hey! Here comes the crew!
Stronger than ever, we’re breaking through!
Arok, Jack, and mighty Joe –
With Chris, Karan, we steal the show!
🎵 (Verse 1)
Arok runs like a lightning bolt,
Fastest lad in the whole damn cult!
Jack keeps order, sets the play,
Builds the team up every day!
🎵 (Verse 2)
Chris shouts loud with fire and soul,
Heart so big, he makes us whole!
Karan’s tough from hockey fights,
Now he’s here for football nights!
🎵 (Verse 3)
Joe’s been cycling up a hill,
But for this match? He’s got the will!
Pedro’s got that second sight,
Sees the goal before it’s right!
🎵 (Verse 4)
Lucas bleeds that football game,
Born to play, he earns his name!
Taisei falls, but don’t you frown –
He’ll rise again, won’t stay down!
🎵 (Verse 5)
Suzuki sprints like wind on grass,
Fastest one, no one gets past!
But hey Suzuki, don’t forget –
Don’t help the foes, we ain’t there yet!
🎶 (Final Chorus – Louder!)
Ohhh – this team is made of pride!
Together we fight, side by side!
One heart, one soul, we won’t back down –
We’re the kings of this football town!
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