Broomsticks, bludgers, golden snitches. There’s no sport in the wizarding world as exciting as Quidditch! As the winter transfer window has just come to a close, we have a plethora of news and gossip to cover. Changes will be explained and a short bio on the new players involved will be included following the paragraph.
Starting out, we have big changes for the Wimbourne Wasps who appear to have been shopping for more foreign professionals after seeing how their current Scandinavian sweetheart panned out. Sechnall Ó hÓgáin was moved to the reserve roster when the team took on Tryphena Beetlegleam of Bulgaria’s Sofia Fates. The team also let go of Goodwin Malloye with sources saying Managers tired of the keeper’s devil-may-care attitude and hostilities with team captain, Alec Tollemache. Malloye was replaced by Kjersti Nathalie of the Karasjok Kites.
Tryphena Beetlegleam – Coming from the Sofia Fates, one of Bulgaria’s mid-table international teams, Beetlegleam is a natural leader, a trait Wimbourne Manager Catherine Hiddlesborough says she is hoping will help guide their trio of Chasers. Beetlegleam known to be quite considerate though she can be a bit bossy and doesn’t tolerate conflict among her teammates. Sources say Beetlegleam has already taken to uniting the team, putting her in the running to replace Tollemache when the captain retires.
Kjersti Nathalie – Transferring from the Karasjok Kites, Kjersti Nathalie is known to be a bit wild when it comes to joining in the nightlife. She’s an energetic girl with a dominant personality, and a fan favourite among males. Despite her reputation however, Nathalie is known to be focused when it comes to the game. She’s a versatile player who isn’t afraid to switch it up when she sees that a tactic isn’t working.
We reached out to the Wimbourne Wasps for any comment on the changes to their rosters.
You know I think diversity can really create new bonds, but also skills. People learn different styles all over the world so it’s better to have a team with a wide variety of differences. It really makes me happy to see our team growing into a garden of cultures and I look forward to working with everyone and learning something I didn’t know before!
– Ayo Onyilgowu
Kjersti? Ja! She is one of us. Durmstrang, that is… also now Wasps. We have partied together very much back in Scandinavia, and she can drink almost as much as I can. Great player. Good woman. […] Fy fan, ja. Beetlegleam! Very good, she joins us too. Serious player and fast flyer, Durmstrang educated… so of course, she is excellent. The Bulgarians are not fools on the pitch, yes? They come to do business, they get the job done.
– Magnus Laufreyn
Both Nathalie and Beetlegleam are Durmstrang educated, graduating three and one year ahead of Laufreyn respectively. Sources tell us Nathalie and Laufreyn have been seen partying together over the summer and Scandinavian papers have speculated the nature of their relationship previously. We have to wonder whether this will create hostilities with a certain emerald and gold beater.
Meanwhile, the Banchory Bangers have let go of Al Harvey with sources telling us that it was due to his demeanor and temper worsening in recent weeks. Fans of the team will recall Harvey is often called bossy and while usually his charming personality softens this blow, he has become more foul tempered of late. Rumour has it, Harvey has been disappointed by the team’s inability to move into the top four and this has driven him to push the team even harder, creating hostilities. Harvey was replaced by Merrick Fabienne, a U21 International player hailing from France.
Merrick Fabienne – A younger international transfer, Fabienne was well liked among fans in France due to his considerate and people-oriented personality. The French transfer is said to care about others above all else and is known to always have a shoulder for a friend to cry on. On the pitch the Keeper’s tactics and performance is known to be non-traditional but effective, something we all would like to see benefit the Bangers’ performance the rest of this season.
Puddlemere United finally rid themselves of keeper Marsha Lyon, a player often blamed for the team’s decline on the league board. Fans were said to have rejoiced at the news, given Lyon’s need to keep things fresh by attempting new things that often never work out and her habit of leaving the post. Lyon finds herself replaced by Viljo Suvi, a transfer from Finland’s all female team, the Poznan Rusalka. Despite the rumours, Puddlemere’s manager, Colby Redridge tells us the team was looking for new key players to rejuvenate a stagnating squad. Let’s hope this pays off and the team is able to climb even higher.
Viljo Suvi – Viljo Suvi is said to be a friendly and warm romanticist, albeit a bit dramatic. On the pitch, she was known as one of the most successful players in Finland and fans find themselves excited to see what she brings to the table.
The Tutshill Tornados lost Annie Downer, creator of the Downer Downing to Romania’s Bucharest Lămpi. Longtime Quidditch fans will know Downer is one of the most sought after players in the League, so it’s no surprise the international team would snatch her up, though it’s disappointing to see her leave the League. Despite the upsetting loss, fans are excited to see her replaced by Jasper Baxter, formerly of the Falmouth Falcons and current beater for England’s international team. Though confusion as to why the star beater would leave one of the top four teams in order to sign on with Tutshill is common, everyone is curious to see what this change will do for the team.
We reached out to the newest Tornado to see if he had anything to say about the change.
Look, I’m out to retire soon and the money was there. Maybe we’ll have some fun but otherwise with the current economic climate we’ve all got to feed our families right?
– Jasper Baxter
Looking to Falmouth’s newest change to the roster may provide the real answer to that question however, as Baxter’s place on the team is filled by a returning fan favourite. Those who have followed his career since he first set foot onto the scene will recall that before he was an Agincourt Ax, Adam Fletcher did some time as a Falmouth Falcon albeit briefly. The Hackney native surprised us all by the announcement however, given both his short time with the Montrose Magpies and the team’s direct opposition to the team Fletcher’s girlfriend currently plays on. There’s a lot of talk surrounding this transfer with whispers of nepotism from the team’s manager, Barry Fletcher, as well as disappointment and even outright hatred from fans of the Magpies. We were quick to reach out to Fletcher for a quick interview regarding the matter.
DP: Fletcher, there’s a lot of disappointment regarding your change from the Magpies to the Falcons, anything you want to say to your upset fans?
AF: I’m still me, I’m still playing as good as I always ‘ave, I’m just in grey again.
DP: You don’t feel as though you’re letting down the Magpie fans who were rooting for you? What about comments regarding this being your third transfer since going pro?
AF: Montrose was grea’ and it’s a shame no’ to finish the season with ’em bu’ sometimes you go’a do wha’s righ’ for you. Falmouth is a massive opportuni’y, they’ve been missing tha’ key something for a few years now, and they reckon tha’ could be me. As for them comments, it’s no big deal, players transfer all the time. Go’a look for where you’re gonna ge’ the most ou’ the game, always.
DP: What about your girlfriend, Persephone Vitrac? Signing to Falmouth puts the two of you in direct opposition as the teams vie for number 1 spot, what was her reaction to the news?
AF: She was, y’know, suppor’ive. We’re the main team we focus on, obviously.
DP: Final question, there have been some concerns that your signing of the team might be considered nepotism given your uncle’s position as team manager, do you have anything to say about this?
AF: Bollocks
That finishes up our coverage of the Winter Transfer period. Be sure to grab a copy of next week’s Daily Prophet where Calista Earnshaw, Norman Flaircloughe, and Christian Hastings will join me in covering Matchweeks 15 & 16!
