The Rise Of UK Merc Teams

by Jack Lennard

A phenomenon has swept through UK quidditch - that of the standing mercenary team. These merc teams present an opportunity to see players from varied backgrounds join forces; they bring together players from multiple clubs to play at tournaments where their primary teams are not represented.

Whilst not able to play at QuidditchUK (QUK)-official events such as regional championships or the British Quidditch Cup (BQC), mercs have become mainstays of international events such as Barcelona Moustaches Time and the Toulouse-based Tournoi International de la Violette, where official clubs often cannot afford the time or money to attend. Although QUK has refused requests to allow these teams to become official teams, it has recently created a class of team membership that caters to them. By paying £5, they can become QUK Official Mercenary Teams, which allows them to use the QUK logo on their kits (though this does not allow them to be represented in general forums as leaders of official clubs are). The Quidditch Post decided to sit down with the three standing UK merc teams and ask them a bit more about where they stand.

THE MIGHTY AND AMAZING QUERCS:

The logo of The Mighty and Amazing Quercs.

The Mighty and Amazing Quercs, generally referred to as the Quercs, are the oldest of the three merc teams in the UK. Brought together to play at the second iteration of the Whiteknights Tournament in 2014, the pink-clad team stayed together, competing at the first Barcelona Moustaches Time tournament in September 2014, where they emerged victorious. They then came second in Toulouse at Tournoi International de la Violette. We spoke with former captain Ben Morton.

Quidditch Post: So Ben, what was and is your role within the Quercs?

Ben Morton: Well, I guess I am just a player now. As of the European Games, the wonderful Jan Mikolajczak has taken over my role as captain. I would like to think he has big boots to fill (although his feet are probably bigger than mine).

QP: And how are management positions within the club chosen?

BM: As the original captain of the Quercs, Liz (Elisabeth Jorstad) has claimed the position of “querctator.” Therefore we all bow down to her and all other roles are irrelevant. I jest (mostly); the captain does all the hard work. Captain Jan was selected through nominations. A post was made telling people they could nominate themselves or others and give good reason for why they would do a good job. After reviewing all the nominations, myself and Liz discussed candidates and selected the most suitable applicant.

QP: This community prides itself on inclusivity. Given that your team cannot compete in club events in the UK, such as any regional championships or BQC, how do you justify what some would essentially call a glorified exclusive friendship group founded on elitism and a who-you-know culture?

BM: I’m not so sure that is a fair judgement on any merc team; however, I will focus on answering on behalf of my team: the Quercs are certainly not exclusive. In fact we encourage anyone who would like to be a Querc to step forward and make yourself known, no matter who you are. As with all teams, no one is guaranteed a place but everyone will be considered. As any captain/coach will know, there are certain limitations: how many people we want to take (we all know 21 has become too many so Quercs try to stick around 13 if possible); what style and positions [we are interested in adopting]; and how a player will settle in with the current team dynamic. No team that is exclusive can ever be sustained. We go through the same process as any other club. As for elitism – once again, we are no different from any other team. We select players dependant on what the team requires for the next tournament. The only thing different between us and other teams is that we encourage our player to try new things that they may not necessarily get the opportunity to do with their home team. So yeah, it helps you to get on any team if you can bring more to it, but we also like to choose players who we think will get the most out of playing with us. [As to the “who-you-know”] comment: again, we encourage people to let us know if they are interested. You are quite right in saying that if we don’t know who you are and that you are interested, we can’t ask if you want to join.

QP: With that in mind, how can players apply for the Quercs if they are interested?

BM: Pretty simple; speak to Jan. If you don’t have a method of contacting him or any other Querc, message our Facebook page, or even just add one of us on Facebook (we are all a hoot, I promise). We review the team whenever there is a game/tournament coming up, so be sure to put your name in the mix well before.

QP: What events are the Quercs planning on attending in the coming season?

BM: Anything that will have us and we can get a team together for. Quidditch is good. More quidditch is better. We have a team ready for Barcelona Moustaches Time 2. Sadly we had to drop out of the Apulia Summer Tournament due to no one being able to go. We will play the Monsters at some point, as they have challenged us. We also hope to go to Intergalaktik Cup. If anyone wants a friendly or anything, please talk to Jan.

QP: How are you approaching the issue of players already involved with other merc teams? Will there be friction caused by allegations of poaching?

BM: You mean like David Goswell, the treacherous? We teach them a lesson with tackles and bludgers. Honestly, players are free to come and go. If any of us feel another team can offer more, then there is no problem with us leaving. As for playing for multiple teams, well I guess that’s between the player and their captain(s). There is no more friction than between any two other teams. This is quidditch, it’s all competition and love right?

QP: Will the Quercs become a QUK Official Merc Team [for the upcoming season]? What do you see as the benefits of this option, if any?

BM: We haven’t actually discussed it, as we have been focussed on Barcelona, so I could not comment on behalf of the whole team. Personally, I would be interested. I would love to see the Quercs fully recognised as one of my teams. It would also be quite cool to be allowed to wear our NGB’s logo abroad.

QP: How do you see the roles of merc teams in the UK evolving? Do you see them moving towards an MLQ-style format, giving a new dimension to competition in the UK? And how do you think people can get around the increasingly busy calendar of events?

BM: My personal opinion (which, of course, is slightly biased) is that merc teams are already bringing a lot to UK quidditch. With the greatest respect, we are all well aware, there are many players that are in middle- and lower-tier teams who have a lot of potential but sadly are unable to reach their peak as they are limited by the resources around them when playing with their home team. Merc teams allow these players to advance without having to change the city they live in. Along the same lines, I would also point out just how rare it is for a UK team to travel to a tournament in mainland Europe. Merc teams allow players to go to these tournaments and learn how teams are playing in other nations, which in turn helps our national team so that we know what we are up against. I am not so sure if it will turn into an MLQ-style format; I cannot say for sure. As other NGBs get stronger, they, like QUK, may restrict teams like the Quercs from playing at tournaments. However, [considering] the amount of passion the players in these teams have, I would not be surprised if such a thing were set up. As for the busy year: I suggest saving money and keeping on top of work. Who knows what will come up next?

QP: Finally, with only three merc teams in the UK, there's definitely room for more – how many sustained merc teams do you see being created over the next year, and how many do you think the UK can sustain?

BM: There is always room for more. As the saying goes – the only limitation is your imagination. There is no way I could say how many teams will be created or how many could be sustained. The only thing I know for sure: competition is going to be crazy this season for everyone!

QP: Thanks for chatting with me, and good luck in the season ahead!

THE DERCS:

The logo of The Dercs. The Dercs were founded at the end of 2014, when they came together for and won the Eggnog Tournament in Leeds. The name ‘Dercs’ was chosen as the majority of original members hailed from Durham University Quidditch Club, though they have since opened the team up to players from any club and have recently elected non-Durham veteran David Goswell as captain.

Quidditch Post: So David, what is your role within the Dercs?

David Goswell: I'm the recently elected captain, so I'm responsible for organising us as a team for whatever fixtures we might attend and leading the team on and off pitch.

QP: And how are management positions within the club chosen?

DG: The only management positions within the Dercs are the captain and vice-captain. This year we voted for the captain and then agreed to let the captain choose their vice-captain. For our first season last year our captain was Chloe Watson; she was the captain of the Durham team at the Eggnog tournament, [which is when we were founded]. She chose Lucy Quidditch as her vice-captain.

QP: Could you talk us through how the current roster was put together, and what qualities the Dercs look for in potential recruits? How are players chosen for the team?

DG: The current roster consists of the players from the original team at the Eggnog plus those recruited since then. The recruits were added when we decided to become a permanent team and when we needed more players for the upcoming Barcelona Moustaches Time 2. The recruits are either players who asked to join the team or suggestions by existing players to include friends or people they'd like to play with. The only [explicit requirement] is that the players be nice. The implicit suggestion would be that they are players that would suit the competitive and fun attitude of the team. When we have a selection of players that we have discussed, existing players are allowed to anonymously veto a new recruit. After the veto period is up, new players are added to the team.

QP: So if I understand that policy correctly, it just takes one veto (that can either be based on an on- or off-pitch issue) from any one player on the team to rule a player out from joining?

DG: Yes. Whilst we aim to be competitive, we want to have fun first. So if a new player would impinge on an existing player’s enjoyment of the team, we don't put them in that situation.

QP: This community prides itself on inclusivity. Given that your team cannot compete in club events in the UK, such as any regional championships or BQC, how do you justify what some would essentially call a glorified exclusive friendship group founded on elitism and a who-you-know culture?

DG: That is a difficult question to answer. Invitation-only teams like the Dercs and the Quercs (I am unsure of how the Monsters operate) will always have a negative impact on those who would like to be a part of these teams but aren't invited to. And in this sense, they will be divisive and exclusionary. Their advantage is that they give people a chance to play and develop friendships with people they would otherwise not have as much opportunity to. It also gives players opportunities to develop their play in ways they wouldn't have a chance to [otherwise]. As these benefits are small compared to the possibly larger negative implications of merc teams such as fostering clique culture within UK quidditch, I don't think the wide-scale development of merc teams should be considered a good idea. They are fun for the individuals involved but can be quite the opposite for those who aren't.

QP: But you stand by the veto policy, something none of the other merc teams seem to explicitly share? Would you say that makes the Dercs more divisive and exclusionary than similar teams?

DG: I do. The Dercs exist as an ongoing team to give players opportunities to have fun playing competitive quidditch outside of normal club structures. Should the addition of a new member compromise this core purpose for an existing member, we prioritise the happiness/comfort of the existing member. In the technical sense of the word – yes, that does make us more exclusionary, as it means we are explicitly further restricting who is added to the team. However, I don't think this makes us more divisive – I think many people can appreciate that the reason we are organised this way is to take [the best possible care] our members.

QP: Well, divisive in the sense that it highlights personal rifts between people in the community. Perhaps an approach of trying to work through whatever issues were there might be more constructive?

DG: Working through issues would be more inclusive in that it would allow more people onto the team than otherwise. However, who am I (as current captain, the person of authority, and [thus instigator and mediator of any issues that do need to be worked through]) to ask/make a player deal with any problems? If a player asks for a recruit to be vetoed, it could be due to having incredible difficulties  with that player  that would be very troubling to address and that they would rather have left alone. Similarly, it could simply be that the reason behind the veto is a discomfort with that person on a basic level, such that the acknowledgement of and discussion of said discomfort would cause further upset and division between the two parties without any meaningful resolution. The point of the veto is that I trust my players to best know their own reasons for not wanting another person on the team; this is why there is no discussion.

QP: Thanks very much for being so open and honest with your answers in that area. How can players apply for the Dercs if they are interested?

DG: Message me or really anyone on the team. I will put suggestions to the team for discussion and possible veto. But with now a total roster of about 30, I would assume that the team may be hesitant to add further players to avoid the squad from becoming too large.

QP: What events are the Dercs planning on attending in the coming season?

DG: This hasn't yet been discussed fully, but I assume that we will aim to attend foreign tournaments that regular club teams can't usually commit to, as well as friendlies either with other merc teams or teams that would like a game.

QP: How are you approaching the issue of players already involved with other merc teams? Will there be friction caused by allegations of poaching?

DG: Again, with the fear of looking horrifically disorganised, this is something that hasn't been discussed with the team. The position I would take would be based on the fact are that the Dercs are meant to exist as an opportunity for players to have more competitive, fun quidditch in a nice environment. So if a player from another merc team wanted to join us, and their previous team was OK with that, then I would see no reason to automatically disregard their wish to be on the team. Out of courtesy to other teams, I wouldn't want the Dercs to try and recruit anyone who is already a member of another merc team. I am aware that I could be considered a poach, having previously played for the Quercs; however I joined the Dercs for Eggnog, and, like the rest of us, was unaware that we would become a permanent team. In general cases, despite our competitive natures,  I'd like to think that as these teams are for additional fun on top of the serious QUK season, there shouldn't be any serious friction.

QP: Will the Dercs become a QUK Official Merc Team for the upcoming season? What do you see as the benefits of this option, if any?

DG: I do not see the Dercs becoming a QUK Official mercenary team. For a start, we currently have a roster of 26, which is 5 over QUK's maximum of 21. Our roster is so large that we should always be able to muster a squad for a tournament we want to go to. Plus, although the cost to register is very low, the only explicit benefit of registering is that we would be allowed to use the QUK logo on kits.

QP: How do you see the roles of merc teams in the UK evolving? Do you see them moving towards an MLQ-style format, giving a new dimension to competition in the UK? And how do you think people can get around the increasingly busy calendar of events?

DG: As I see it, MLQ is possibly the United States taking its first steps towards developing a community team league that is a tier above the standard USQ regular season, [which largely consists of university teams]. As merc teams in the UK do not have a unifying geographical nature on which this higher level of competition would be built, I cannot see this being how UK merc teams progress. I think with the UK season developing as it is, merc teams such as the Dercs, Quercs, and Monsters will end up as teams that regularly attend events such as Barcelona Moustaches Time and the Intergalaktik Cup. As the normal season continues to take hold of a highly committed quidditch player's time, [tournaments will only allow merc teams to attend when] a regular team cannot. I think the increasingly busy calendar of events will force people to choose and limit what they participate in. Training with your team is important if you want to seriously improve and compete at higher levels and should be balanced with a healthy amount of competitive fixtures. So as the UK develops more competitive quidditch, I think we'll see more picking and choosing of what events competitive teams go to.

QP: Finally, with only three merc teams in the UK, there's definitely room for more – how many sustained merc teams do you see being created over the next year, and how many do you think the UK can sustain?

DG: Merc teams in the UK are currently meeting a demand for more quidditch than the regular season provides thanks to players who are very keen and very committed to [the sport]. So the number of sustained merc teams will be equal to the number of teams that can be successfully made from all of these super committed players. In terms of absolute number of teams I have no idea. Money and time are already big constraints on how much quidditch most UK players play, so I don't think in this season we will find many more people that are willing and/or able to commit more for the extra merc team events. Maybe there will be enough for a fourth merc team this season, but I think the challenge of founding a team for extra play, creating the concept, and finding the players will make this pretty unlikely.

QP: Thanks for chatting with me, and good luck in the season ahead!

MONSTERS QC:

The logo of Monsters QC. Monsters QC is the newest merc team in the UK, having not yet played a match and only having been founded in the last several months. However, they have unveiled an impressive roster – alongside founder Matthew Guenzel, they have gathered talent from across the UK with a wealth of recognisable names. We spoke to Robert Barringer, who is continuing a long quidditch career by joining the team. Quidditch Post: So Rob, what's your role within Monsters QC? Robert Barringer: Banter Co-ordinator. BantCo for short.

QP: And how are management positions within the club chosen?

RB: I believe those that demonstrate excess levels of banter are offered positions in the team management.

QP: This community prides itself on inclusivity. Given that your team cannot compete in club events in the UK, such as any regional championships or BQC, how do you justify what some would essentially call a glorified exclusive friendship group founded on elitism and a who-you-know culture?

RB: If you consider me elite, then we need to have a serious discussion about the quality of journalism [being produced  by] the Quidditch Post. We don't have to justify anything to anyone. People form groups and friendships based on people that they like. It's part of the human condition to want to be with people who you like and get on with. It's like me asking you to justify taking a dump in the morning. It's just natural, and it isn't hurting anyone (apart from yourself, if it's a particularly difficult stool that you're passing).

QP: Could you talk us through how the current roster was put together and what qualities Monsters QC looks for in potential recruits?

RB: I believe the management team assessed which players they would like to merc with who were not already in a merc team. They asked them to join. When it became apparent that this was a credible venture, they began to look at other people. They eventually got to the stage where they wanted to not invite any more people and so opened applications to see who fancied joining. They are aiming for a mix of fun-loving people who create a nice atmosphere and top players.

QP: What events is Monsters QC planning on attending in the coming season?

RB: Whichever ones the Dercs are attending. That way we know at least we won't come last.

QP: How are you approaching the issue of players already involved with other merc teams? Will there be friction caused by allegations of poaching?

RB: I wasn't aware we had players who played for other merc teams, but maybe we do! Honestly it's down to them who they want to play for, it's not down to us to decide who they play for, so whatever they decide to do is their decision alone. With that being said, it's no surprise people want to jump ship to join us. With the amount of high quality #swagbants, it's hard to turn down. Why polish a turd when you can shit on a diamond?

QP: Will Monsters QC become a QUK Official Merc Team for the upcoming season? What do you see as the benefits of this option, if any?

RB: We may become QUK-Official, it's undecided yet. Benefits of joining QUK would depend on the QUK policy and what it would offer us. If we got access to exclusive tournaments, then of course the added silverware would be an instant, constant, and continuous benefit.

QP: How do you see the roles of merc teams in the UK evolving? Do you see them moving towards an MLQ-style format, giving a new dimension to competition in the UK? And how do you think people can get around the increasingly busy calendar of events?

RB: I think merc teams will move into the realms of fantasy teams, like when a bunch of UK players went to Europe together just to play. It's always fun to think “what if X played with Y and Z; I bet that'd be great.” As of yet, merc teams are still very young, but if they continue to be popular, eventually I think we'll see mingling amongst them and fluidity. I think people join merc teams for a bit of something different, and after a while that same feeling will make them think it's time to change it up. I think MLQ does merc events in the off-season, right? I might be wrong, but I could definitely see that happening. Perhaps not competitive immediately, but after a few years, once merc teams are more popular, I could see it getting competitive. People can get around the busy schedule by being thrifty with their time. You'll spread yourself thin financially if you try to go to everything. I'd say go to the big events and choose between the smaller ones. [Mercing is] not quite at the stage where there's a tournament every week in the regular season, but once it gets to that stage, each event will have its own personality and atmosphere, and instead of seeing it as losing out on events that you can't attend, people will see it as choosing X event for its atmosphere and personality. A bit like music festivals!

QP: Finally, with only three merc teams in the UK, there's definitely room for more – how many sustained merc teams do you see being created over the next year, and how many do you think the UK can sustain?

RB: There will always be an off-season, so there will always be merc teams. A good portion of people get quidrawal and look for any excuse to play. I think that's already seeing more merc teams being created, so [it seems rational to say that] a decent amount can be sustained – maybe even double the amount we have now. More if there's more interest. I mean, there will always be a state of flux between merc teams being created and merc teams folding due to the routine humiliation of not comparing to the banter of the Monsters. But I think in general we will see a trend of increasing merc demand. At least, I hope so. Beating the Dercs will get boring eventually.

QP: Well thanks for chatting to me, and good luck with the season ahead!

RB: Thanks, we'll be sure to invite you to a Nandos sometime!