Charity football team 'excited' for cup final

The Blackbird Leys team will represent Oxford United at the Premier League Kicks Cup final

A group of young female footballers has made it to the final of a national competition.

The players, from Blackbird Leys, will represent Oxford United at the Premier League Kicks Cup final at St George’s Park in Staffordshire on Wednesday.

Premier League Kicks enables young players to attend a free training programme.

A local club was set up in 2020, and is delivered by the Oxford United in the Community charity.

Mark Thomas, social inclusion lead at the charity, said there was a "lot of excitement among players".

The programme is operated across Oxfordshire each week during term time, and includes workshops, volunteering, social action campaigns, and training.

Mr Thomas said representing Oxford United was a "dream come true" for many of the players, and called it a "huge achievement".

He added: "Playing at St George’s Park is not something everyone gets to experience, and understandably there is a lot of excitement among players.

"Seeing the team develop relationships on and off the pitch has been really rewarding, and epitomises the power of programmes like Premier League Kicks and how they can inspire people to be the best version of themselves.

"There’ll be a lot of competition on the day, but fingers crossed we can bring the trophy home."

Mr Thomas said it was a "sad reality of football" that "not every young person has the opportunity to access training and playing provisions due to cost, equipment and geographical barriers".

But he said the charity scheme had united people "and fosters positive relationships, supporting happier, healthier, and better-connected communities".

The team beat Crawley, Brighton, Reading, Southampton, and Southend to reach the final.

Premier League Kicks, which now has 90 clubs, is funded by the Premier League Charitable Fund. It was launched in 2006 and former participants have included Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, and Declan Rice.