Glory for the women, agony for the men in UKAF’s German football showdown

The UK Armed Forces women footballers completely dismantled their German counterparts, winning 1-4 at the Julius Leber Barracks. 

Following a 1-1 draw in 2023, a 1-0 loss in 2024 and their 3-1 win in the UK in 2025, this victory went one better with more goals and a valuable win away from home. 

An absolute screamer from UKAF debutant Sasha Clare opened the scoring for the visiting side as they faced the Bundeswehr in this year's remembrance fixture. 

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Clare's long-range effort was backed up by her captain Cat Beaver just before half time with the score 0-2 to the UK side at the break. 

A second half brace from Katie Elwood doubled UKAF's score and the ladies in red were flying. 

Even a consolation goal scored by the Bundeswehr's Sarah Begunk couldn't dampen UKAF spirits as the UKAF women came away deserved victors 1-4. 

Private Sasha Clare, who hasn't even represented the Army yet, said of the experience: "Yeah, it was an unbelievable feeling, coming away for my first camp here, coaches put all the belief in me and all the girls too, so I was chuffed to get on the scoresheet."

Sergeant Cat Beaver added: "Yeah, really proud of the girls and the staff, like, everybody’s put the effort in, people are working hard in their civvy teams as well to stay fit and then, yeah, the staff sent us out on in a way and we executed that and, yeah, come away with a win."

UKAF men's dramatic afternoon

The men kicked off their fixture at 16:00 local time, with the rain that had been sideways for the women, suddenly heavier and skies much darker. 

However, both teams played as if the conditions didn't affect them – the Germans definitely making more of their opportunities in an attritional first half.

The home team were the first to score through a deft right footed flick by Steven Groß so the score at the break was 1-0.

Fresh from their half-time talks, it was the Bundeswehr who came out stronger, although they were lucky to hit the target after the first shot by Niklas Tille bounced off the right post and the second attempt from Bircan Ilyas hit the crossbar – third time lucky Ilyas dabbed it home to double the German lead. 

That though lit something in the UKAF mindset and the visiting team suddenly came alive. The men in red went on to wipe out that two-goal deficit to lead 2-3 deep into the second half. 

First up were the quick reactions of Jack McCormack who redirected a George Bishop header and got UKAF on the scoresheet. Then, Josh Randall picked up a loose ball outside the box and perfectly drove it home to make it 2-2. 

Finally, there was a silky clean strike from the UKAF skipper Danny Kerr that put them ahead for the first time 2-3. 

Just when they needed to keep their hand though, UKAF gave away two penalties in the space of five minutes. The first one was converted by the captain Tille, the second was saved by UKAF keeper Matthew Laycock, but after all that hard work, the Bundeswehr were level. 

For a time, it looked like we were headed for another shoot-out, reminiscent of last year's game in Bracknell, but the German side had other ideas, and a well-guided corner kick that was knocked in low and left by Leon Petersen gave the home team the home win 4-3. 

One of the Bundeswehr's newest recruits, Bircan Ilyas, said the team had been practising penalties in training in case there was a repeat of 2025: "Yesterday's training we had penalty shootout to find out who's the best player, because there was a chance we going to go to penalties again."

Ultimately though, the Germans had a little more finesse, and some might argue, a little more luck, but both games contributed to a very good football day and another one to remember in the remembrance calendar.