Unseen Academicals (Terry Pratchett)

More Discworld zaniness. A long-forgotten rule says that the Unseen University, where magicians in Ankh-Morpork train, must field a team to play the traditional game of foot and ball, something very distantly related to football (or soccer, for American readers). The magicians are not known for their athletic prowess, but fortunately there is an odd young man in the cellar who has strange abilities, perhaps including skill at football.  Actually, two young men in the cellar. And two very unusual cooks in the kitchen as well. It all comes out well in the end, as these stories generally do, but with many unexpected turns along the way. Very enjoyable.