Oxford United in the Community become Advanced Football Programme delivery partner
Oxford United in the Community is pleased to become the new delivery partner of the club’s Advanced Football Programme for post GCSE students aspiring to fulfil a career in sport.
The football club’s official charity has teamed up with Abingdon and Witney College to provide the training and matchday operations arm of the full-time programme through its team of community coaches.
Launched in 2023, the Advanced Football Programme combines twice weekly training sessions at United’s Horspath Road training ground with competitive matches in the National Youth League and studies towards a sports industry recognised qualification.
The programme is open to male and female students aged 16-19 and helps develop professional skills, knowledge and behaviours essential to football and the real world with transport provided for all training sessions and matches.
Coaching and mentoring will be led by the charity’s UEFA accredited coaches Rob Porter, Matt Harding, Rama Said and Alex Blane who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the programme.
The move extends Oxford United in the Community’s commitment to fulfilling its education and employability pillar by providing opportunities to help people in Oxfordshire achieve their full potential through the power of football.
Chris Lowes, Chief Operating Officer at Oxford United in the Community, said: “Football has a tremendous power to bring the very best out of people.
“The club’s Advanced Football Programme is a perfect example of how we can combine regular training and matches with full-time education to help students aspire to a bright future and career.
“It’s a great opportunity for students who wish to reach their full potential on the pitch while securing a qualification which can set them up for future employment in the sports industry.
“Strengthening the existing relationship our team has established with Abingdon and Witney College is really pleasing too, and we look forward to working closely with its tutors and students on an ongoing basis.”
To mark Oxford United in the Community’s latest partnership with Abingdon and Witney College, students studying the programme were invited to United’s recent 3-2 win over Luton Town in the Championship.
A pre-match presentation showcased the wider work of the charity, and how it uses football to inspire and engage people of all ages across the county. A similar presentation will be delivered at the college’s forthcoming parents evening.
The education arm of the programme is led by Course Leader Liam Hare, a previous graduate who used his qualification to achieve a degree in Sports Coaching and Physical Education at Oxford Brookes University. Modules within the syllabus range from coaching to psychology, injury prevention and health and wellbeing.
Liam added: “I’ve experienced first-hand how this programme can help to shape the careers of those who enrol.
“It’s a great stepping stone to learning more about the sports industry and what opportunities are available beyond the roles we might be more familiar with as football enthusiasts.
“Equally, it provides an opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the professional environment of the training ground. We’re really pleased to formalise this new agreement with Oxford United in the Community and look forward to taking our delivery to the next level.”
Those interested in enrolling onto the 2025-26 programme are invited to attend a trials day on Wednesday, February 19, at Oxford United’s training ground between midday and 3pm. Sign-up information is available by clicking here.