The University of Suffolk have announced its new esports team, which students will use to compete in national tournaments from autumn 2025. Entitled ‘Suffolk Mariners,’ the team will be the official University of Suffolk esports team and will be managed by students on the new Esports course launching this September.
The team will compete in university-specific gaming tournaments against other universities across the UK to give Esports students hands-on experience in managing a team and a brand, as well as hosting esports events and livestreams. Students from any course across the University will be able to sign up to be a player.
The leagues the Suffolk Mariners will compete in include University Esports UK and Ireland, and the National Student Esports (NSE) British University Esports Championship, and will have options to compete at other esports events across the country.
Among the team’s aims are providing opportunities for gamers of all levels – from casual to professional – to be a part of an inclusive and enjoyable team environment, as well as providing development opportunities for promising and up-and-coming talent to compete on a national stage.
Suffolk Mariners intend to compete in titles such as League of Legends, Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, and Marvel Rivals.
New esports facility to be Suffolk Mariners’ home base
The Mariners will also host events at the University in the new £1.65m esports facility. Work is currently underway on the new facility, which will open ahead of the course starting. The space features more than 40 gaming-spec PCs, a professional-grade broadcasting gallery and a live studio purpose-built for broadcasting and live-streaming.
The space will be home to the new Esports Bachelor’s degree, with the first course beginning in September 2025.
BA (Hons) Esports Course Leader Charlie Smith said: “It is a privilege to unveil the new Suffolk Mariners team, which our students will be managing and competing with in tournaments across the country.
“A vital aspect of the new Esports course will be the hands-on experience and opportunities students will get to manage a brand and a team, run and market events, and oversee livestreams and tournaments, so the Mariners will provide an important means in which students will gain these practical skills.
“We’re also keen to develop new gaming talent in the county through the team, so we are urging people across Suffolk to back the Mariners and give our students all the support they can as our new team makes its debut later this year!”
The Suffolk Mariners identity has been designed to reflect the University’s location on Ipswich Waterfront, honouring Suffolk’s rich maritime history, while also taking inspiration from US-style sports brands.
It utilises the figure of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, who sailors would often pray to before long voyages, and his trident weapon – a symbol of strength, commitment and leadership.
Places are still available for this September, with more information on the course available on the University of Suffolk website. In addition, full-time home-fee paying students joining the course in September 2025 can benefit from an Esports Award bursary worth £1,000.
Course representatives will be available to talk to at the University’s next open day, which is being held on Saturday, July 5th.
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Darragh Harbinson is an esports writer specialising in Counter-Strike. He has written for Esports News UK, Esports Insider, UKCSGO, Dexerto, and Rush B Media.
