The Frank Morton Sports Day (abbreviated to FM) is an annual sporting competition between the students of chemical engineering departments from UK and Irish universities. The event is held on one of the campuses of one of the competing universities, normally in the second week of February, when there is less academic pressure on students. In 2009, for the first time, the event was held in Singapore as well as the UK. In 2021 the event was held online for the first time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

History The event is named after Frank Morton, a prominent professor of Chemical Engineering, who taught at Birmingham University until 1956, when he switched to teaching at UMIST (now University of Manchester). His love for sport and connections at both universities led him to organise the first of these sports days. The competition began in 1961 as a football match between the two departments,The Chemical Engineer issue 838 (April) page 59 but by the 1980s, the event had grown to include many more universities and sports. In 2015, 29 Universities competed in 19 events.The Chemical Engineer issue 850 (April 2012) page 70

Previous Winners: Year Winner Host Reference2026University of CambridgeUniversity of Nottingham2025University of NottinghamUniversity of Nottingham2024University of NottinghamSwansea University2023University of BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham2022University of BirminghamUniversity of Newcastle2021University of BathUniversity of Bradford (online)2020University of BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham 2019 University of Birmingham University of Sheffield 2018 University of Birmingham University of Leeds 2017 University of Birmingham Loughborough University 2016 University of Birmingham University of Manchester 2015 University of Birmingham University of Birmingham 2014 University of Strathclyde University of Strathclyde 2013 Imperial College London University of Newcastle 2012 University of Birmingham University of Swansea 2011 University of Birmingham University of Nottingham 2010 University of Birmingham University of Birmingham 2009 University of Manchester University of Newcastle 2008 Imperial College London University of LeedsThe Chemical Engineer issue 802 (April 2008) page 60 2007 Imperial College London University of ManchesterThe Chemical Engineer issue 790 (April 2007) page 68 2006 University of Manchester University of BirminghamThe Chemical Engineer issue 777 (March 2006) page 52 2005 Imperial College London University of NewcastleThe Chemical Engineer issue 765 (March 2005) page 56 2004 Loughborough University Loughborough UniversityThe Chemical Engineer issue 754 (April 2004) page 21 2003 University of Sheffield University of Sheffield 2002 Imperial College London UMISTThe Chemical Engineer issue 729 (March 2002) page 24 2001 Imperial College London University of LeedsThe Chemical Engineer issue 718 (April 2001) page 19 2000 Imperial College London University of Bath 1999 Loughborough University University of Nottingham 1998 Loughborough University University of Sheffield 1997 University of Newcastle University of Newcastle 1996 University of Birmingham University of Birmingham 1995 Loughborough University Loughborough University 1994 Loughborough University University of Surrey 1993 University of Birmingham Bradford University 1992 Loughborough University Loughborough University 1991 University of BirminghamUMIST 1990 University of BirminghamUniversity of Birmingham/Aston University 1989 University of BirminghamUniversity of Nottingham 1988 Loughborough UniversityTeesside Polytechnic 1987 University of BirminghamUniversity of Newcastle 1986 University of NottinghamSouthbank Polytechnic 1985 Birmingham/NottinghamNewcastle University

Wins University Last Won 18 Birmingham 2023 7 Imperial 2013 7 Loughborough 2004 4 Nottingham 2025 2 Bath 2021 2 Manchester 20091Cambridge2026 1 Strathclyde 2014 1 Sheffield 2003 1 Newcastle 1997

Virtual Frank Morton Bradford 2021 On February 13, 2021, the University of Bradford hosted the event online for the first time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite many physical sports not being possible, the winner was decided based on various challenges and games, including most kick-ups, a trivia quiz, and a FIFA21 tournament. Despite the unconventional circumstances, the event was attended by 24 UK universities and was sponsored by 2 leading chemical engineering companies: Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline. The main event was moderated via livestream, which reached over 100 real-time viewers at its peak. The winner of the 2021 Frank Morton Trophy was the University of Bath.

Frank Morton Leeds 2018 In 2018 Frank Morton was attended by around 2100 chemical engineers from 28 universities. 18 sporting events took place in various venues around Leeds. The careers fair and opening and closing ceremony were hosted in Leeds University Union. The evening entertainment saw carnival rides come to the union as well as the headline act- MistaJam.

Frank Morton Birmingham 2015 The 2015 event was attended by around 2700 chemical engineering students from 29 UK and Irish universities. The event took take place at the Barclaycard Arena, with students and companies to participating in 19 different sporting events located in venues around Birmingham.The Chemical Engineer March 2015 p50 "Morton in the Midlands"

Frank Morton Newcastle 2013 The event was hosted by Newcastle University on Tuesday 12 February and saw the scale of the event increase dramatically. The event took place in the Newcastle Arena, and was the first time the event has ever been held in a commercial venue. Over 2000 chemical engineering students from 24 UK and Irish universities participated in 15 different tournaments across the city.The Chemical Engineer issue 861 (March 2013) pages 52-3

With 22 organisations financially supporting the event, £60,000 was raised. The event was partnered with ABB with sponsorship from GSK, Royal Navy, Phillips 66, ExxonMobil and support from Bechtel, Johnson Matthey, Croda, KBR, Davy Process Technology, Gradcracker, Valero Energy and Ineos.

Previous Events In 2012, the event took place at Swansea University, 21 February 2012 and included a number of new events such as Laser Tag and Bowling. The 2012 event was won by BirminghamThe Waterfront 28 November 2011 "Engineering Society to host Frank Morton Sports Day"

In 2011, the event took place on 22 February at the University of Nottingham and was won by the University of Birmingham.www.icheme.org Events: Frank Morton Sports Day 2011.

In 2010, the event was hosted, and won, by the University of Birmingham on 18 February.The Chemical Engineer (December 2009-January 2010) page 52 It involved 1547 students from 20 universities.The Chemical Engineer issue 825 (March 2010) page 60 The Asia-Pacific Frank Morton Sports Day in October 2010 was hosted by the Universiti Technologi Mara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In 2009, Frank Morton Sports Day was held in Singapore as well as the UK for the first time. In the UK, Newcastle University hosted the event.Newcastle University Frank Morton 2009 Overall winners were the University of Manchester, with Strathclyde second and Birmingham Third.www.youtube.com Frank Morton 2009 awards ceremony The National University of Singapore hosted the Singapore event on 21 February 2009. Overall winners were Universiti Teknologi MARA with University of Nottingham (Malaysia) second and National University of Singapore third.

In 2008 the event took place on 19 February at the University of Leeds. 1300 students from 17 universities and several company teams took part. Imperial College London successfully defended their title as overall winners, with Birmingham University second and Strathclyde University third. The champion company team was that from Bechtel.

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