As Refugee Week 2024 comes to an end, a landmark football fixture is set to be played in Oxford between two teams, made up entirely of players that are refugees or asylum seekers settling in the county.
 
On Saturday 22 June, Oxford Phoenix will take on Leys Lions at Oxford Academy, with the game kicking off at 3.15pm.

Supported by Oxfordshire FA, Refugee Resource, Asylum Welcome, Oxford United in the Community, and Oxford City Council, the fixture between Oxford Phoenix and Leys Lions will provide a celebration of the power football has to bring people of all backgrounds together.

Leys Lions are a brand-new team, with the game on Saturday being their very first match. As a result, Oxfordshire FA’s Inclusion Football Officer, and Oxford Phoenix coach, Youcef El Barhdadi, has been working with all partners to support Leys Lions with valuable kit in order to get the team established.

On Thursday 20 June, two days prior to the match, Youcef joined Emma Jones of Asylum Welcome, and Leys Lions coach Kirk Smith, in delivering 20 pairs of much-needed football boots to the Leys Lions players at their weekly coaching session; 12 paid for through donations made to Asylum Welcome, with a further eight provided through generous independent donations.

“The convergence of Euro 2024 and Refugee Week is a special opportunity to celebrate the unifying power of football to transcend borders, cultures, and backgrounds,” said Asylum Welcome’s Emma Jones.

“In this spirit, we’re very excited for the special exhibition match this Saturday between Oxford Phoenix and Leys Lions. Both these teams are fuelled by the courage and resilience of young refugees and asylum seekers, and provide a vital outlet for people to come together, get active and build connections.

“The football boots that the Lions players will be wearing on Saturdat have been funded by the generous donations of Asylum Welcome’s supporters in Oxford. We’re so grateful to everyone who contributed to this special fund, which will enable the team to take to the pitch with pride.

“Huge thanks also to the incredible Youcef El Barhdadi, the Inclusion Football Officer at Oxfordshire FA, for making this happen, and to our friends and partners at Refugee Resource, Oxford United in the Community, and Oxford City Council.”

All are welcome to attend the match at the weekend, which takes place at Oxford Academy on Saturday 22 June, kicking off at 3.15pm.