History will be made at The Hive this weekend as the Oxford and Cambridge universities football varsity is held at the ground on Sunday.

The annual tussle, which has been fought over for more than a century, has recently been hosted by Fulham’s Craven Cottage and Cambridge’s Abbey Stadium.

But this year, for the first time in its history, Sunday’s afternoon of sport will include a double-header - with both of the prestigious universities’ men and women going head-to-head.

In previous years, only the men’s teams have competed in the luxurious surroundings of a Football League stadium, while the women have had to settle for a field nearby to settle their rivalries for the year.

Sam Gomarsall, football sabbatical officer at Oxford University, said: “It was just something following on from the rugby and boat race, which are now both held at Twickenham and on the Thames for both men and women.

“There was a bit of a push on a wider scale and we felt it wasn’t quite right that there wasn’t that parity between men and women in the football varsity.”

The women’s tie will be held at 1pm and followed by the men’s at 4pm at Barnet’s home ground, with no love lost between the UK’s most reputable educational institutions.

Their history is finely balanced, with the long-running men’s varsity separating the pair by only two victories, with Oxford triumphing in 51 varsities, and Cambridge in 49.

Gomarsall said: “The standard is pretty good for anyone coming along. We played Oxford United youth team and beat them - we’re at about that standard.

“Both teams are very excited to play at The Hive and it’ll be the pinnacle of both their seasons.”

Tickets are still available ahead of Sunday’s double header, and can be purchased by visiting barnetfc.com/tickets. 

Tickets are priced at £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and students, £5 for Barnet FC members and £1 for children aged 14 and under.