Review & Photography by Robert Barrett

Sports Team are the kind of band to keep you guessing. Always pushing forward in unexpected and hilarious ways, whilst backing it up with an undeniably stacked back catalogue and unmissable live show. Returning back to the O2 Institute, they delivered a fun set of classics to a packed room 2.

Sports Team have a habit of picking great supports for tours, tonight was no exception. First was the Liverpool based Kissing People who for a three piece delivered an impressive set.

Next up was Formal Speedwear, a late addition to the liner up (added that day infact). Gaining a cult following across the country, they cut a sharp line through some talking heads infused new wave bangers. ‘Wait (Hatchet Gets a New Hide)’ brought some almost danceable vibes to the show.

When Sports Team stepped out under the lights, the crowd was already primed to erupt. They opened with ‘The Game’, instantly triggering the first wave of mosh pits. From that moment on, the energy never faltered. ‘Happy (God’s Own Country)’ and ‘The Drop’ became full-venue sing-alongs, while ‘Stations of the Cross’ offered a rare breather amid the frenzy. A highlight arrived with the lead single from Boy These Days, ‘I’m In Love (Subaru)’, a reminder that even as they move into a new chapter, Sports Team’s unmistakable identity remains intact.

After tearing through ‘Sensible’, Alex Rice leaned into the mic and asked if the audience “wanted to do a thing,” which immediately sparked the construction of a human pyramid. The second it toppled, the band slammed into ‘Camel Crew’ without any hesitation.

The encore matched the energy of the main set . ‘Fishing’, ‘Here’s the Thing’, and ‘Stanton’ brought a final surge of moshing, and singalongs. Midway through, guitarist Henry Young even leapt into the crowd his first-ever crowd surf (or so he says). When the house lights rose and Robbie Williams’ classic ‘Angels’ drifted through the speakers, it was proof that Sports Team are still a live act not to be messed with.