Oxford United's disability football team make debut

Oxford United in the Community's disability football team have played their first match after a team talk from first team manager Des Buckingham

Players from Oxford United's disability football team had a team talk from first-team manager Des Buckingham before their first competitive fixture.

Across 12 to 20 January, all 72 English Football League clubs took part in activities to mark the new EFL Community Weekends initiative.

It saw clubs, managers and players highlight the work put in by community staff and volunteers through the year.

Buckingham said: "It's about being one club and not just about saying that."

Though the League One match between the U's and Northampton fell foul of the weather on Saturday, the club's disability teams faced each other at United's Horspath Road training ground, with the experienced Cobblers section coming out on top.

The match coincided with the one-year anniversary of the club's disability football programme, run in collaboration with Abingdon and Witney College, during which time the section has grown from just three members to 15.

After their final training session in the lead-up to the game the U's players were invited into the dressing room for a team talk and question and answer session with Buckingham and Oxford defender Stephan Negru.

Buckingham told BBC Radio Oxford's Jordan Brooks, who featured in the match after getting tips from England Disability footballer Harry Baker: "It's about being one club and it's not just about saying that.

"It's about working together internally, we're trying to do that a lot more, allowing the guys to come in and use the same training facilities. Being around the first team environment is going to be so important to what we do now and what we want to do in the future."

Mark Thomas, social inclusion lead at Oxford United in the Community, said: "A lot of the things which happened pre-pandemic have stopped. It's important we build those back up and give these people a vital lifeline where they can come along and meet people so they don't feel isolated.

"Our disability football programme has gone from strength to strength since its launch last year, and part of that success is down to providing positive experiences to our players. It's critical that everyone, regardless of their age, background, or ability, has access to programmes of this kind."

Oxford player James told BBC Radio Oxford: "I've come here to make new friends and get better than ever before; it increases my endurance. I can win more matches."

Trevor Birch, chief executive of the EFL, said: "Community remains a fundamental part of the EFL and its 72 clubs' identity. The work undertaken by clubs has a hugely positive impact on the participants of the various programmes and the towns and cities where people live.

"Football continues to reach parts of local areas that others simply cannot and successfully addresses challenges linked to health, wellbeing, education and employment alongside helping to keep communities connected. We look forward to celebrating this incredible work in front of match-going fans over the two weekends."

Oxford United in the Community's disability football programme is free and open to anyone living with a disability aged 18 or older.

Sessions are held every Wednesday during term time at Abingdon and Witney College's Abingdon campus.

Players are asked to register their interest in attending in advance by emailing [e-mail]