The Wadham community welcomed Foundation Fellow, Matthew Benham, back to College last month for a conversation with members of Wertonfield, the combined Wadham, Merton and Mansfield women’s football team.
Students, fellows, staff and alumni joined Warden, Robert Hannigan, for a packed-out conversation at the Lodgings. Emeritus Fellow, Geoffrey Brooker, who was tutor in Physics during Matthew’s time at Wadham was in attendance, as were football fans of various stripes from across the Wadham community.
Warden Robert Hannigan, Matthew Benham, and Wertonfield players Elsie Hunter Rawlings, Tabby McKiernan and Charlotte Morton
Matthew, a lifelong fan of Brentford FC, began his career in finance before moving into sports betting. His financial interest in Brentford began in 2006, and in 2012 he became owner of the club.
The team’s subsequent rise through the ranks has been well documented, and their success culminated in a 2021 promotion to the Premier League, marking their return to the top division of English football for the first time in 74 years. The team have maintained their place in the top flight ever since.
Matthew is known for his expertise applying mathematical modelling to the sport, and his unique approach, along with his physics background and experience in the industry, made for a candid and wide-ranging discussion.
The Warden, Matthew Benham and students in conversation
Wertonfield captain Elsie Hunter Rawlings (Medicine, 2024), Charlotte Morton (Medicine, 2024) and Tabby McKiernan (Biochemistry, 2024) posed their questions to Matthew in a thoughtful conversation that covered recruitment, women’s football, the importance of the fan base, taking care of younger players, and the role of data in decision-making.
The students appreciated the opportunity to have a conversation with someone working at the highest levels of the game – someone who also shared their experiences studying and playing at Wadham.
“It was particularly inspiring to hear Matthew’s story, and how he was once in the same position as us at Wadham,” said Tabby.
As well as his thoughts on the modern game, Matthew also reflected on his high points as both owner and fan, including, of course, Brentford’s promotion in 2021.
The Wertonfield players could relate to this passion for the club. “We will take away how it pays off to be genuinely passionate about your team - something that I think is incredibly rare at the top level,” says Tabby.
The students also posed questions on the rise of women’s football, which has seen record levels of growth in the past decade, but which still lags behind the men’s game in sponsorship and revenue.
“The discussion gave us a greater appreciation for the disparity between men’s and women’s football, especially in terms of profitability, and how we could look to wealthier clubs to initiate change,” says Tabby.
Matthew and the Wertonfield players also reflected on the benefits of a being seen as the underdog – an experience not unfamiliar to Brentford and Wertonfield.
Foundation Fellow, Matthew Benham, with Emeritus Fellow, Dr Geoffrey Brooker.
We were grateful to Matthew for engaging in such an open and interesting discussion that connected the very top of the English game with the proud tradition of women’s football at Wadham.
He also gave us all a thrilling example of the unexpected places you can go after leaving Wadham. We look forward to welcoming him back to College again soon.
