In 2007, the then chairmen Peter Simmons and Mattar M’Boge introduced the IMS Allstars blueprint to help address a number of issues and support a new growing demand:
- to recognise the quality and reward players in the IMS programme;
- to provide opportunities to progress on a pathway into the club;
- to raise the profile of the club within campus;
- to reward players in the club by way of selection for the team of the season club XI.
The IMS Allstars are a team formed of the best players from the IMS programme selected by their hall sports secs or hall team captains. After a trials, 16 are selected to play for the Allstars in a showpiece match against a club XI. The best players from the IMS Allstars are offered a chance to progress into the club and this pathway has formed a key area of our club structure.
Since its inception, Basketball, Hockey and Netball have all followed the football’s blueprint which is a credit to its success which is perhaps best illustrated by its graduates (on the left) who have all gone on to play for the club. Nottingham University have now followed the Loughborough blueprint and created an IMS Allstars programme of their own!