A football team comprising of players who have sought refuge in Oxfordshire has been provided a huge boost, thanks to the generous donation of the Charity Football League.

The league has donated 10 pairs of astroturf football boots, worth £250, to Oxford Phoenix, to allow them to compete in the league and beyond. 

The side that competes in the Charity Football League is in fact comprised of players from two separate teams made up of individuals that are refugees – Oxford Phoenix and Leys Lions. Through the Charity Football League, these players are now able to play weekly competitive football.

This is the second generous donation received by Oxford Phoenix by the Charity Football League, who also allowed the team to enter the competition free-of-charge, to ensure that there were no barriers to the players wishing to take part.

Pictured is Charity Football League member Brian Kirk, Charity Football League organiser Curtis Campbell, and Matthew Lister, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Jacari UK – a charity providing free English language support to children and young people from refugee, asylum seeking, and migrant communities in Oxford and Bristol.

All profits from the Charity Football League are donated to Jacari UK.

Things have gone well for Oxford Phoenix in the league, who have won three and only narrowly lost five of their eight games to date and are looking to kick on when the new season starts in December.

Youcef El Barhdadi, Inclusion Football Officer at Oxfordshire FA, said: “Giving refugees and asylum seekers the tools to be able to play football and build their confidence is just incredible and I can’t thank everyone at the Charity Football League enough.

"The league is fantastic in terms of integration as players from Oxford Phoenix will play for other teams if they don’t have enough players and vice versa.

“I have delegated responsibilities to the players and I can see how they’ve grown in their confidence and abilities on and off the pitch.

“Many in the team are asylum seekers who are given just £8.86 per week to live off and being able to afford the correct footwear would be impossible for many, so acts of kindness like this do so much for the mental health and confidence of these young men.”

For more information on inclusive football projects within Oxfordshire, or details of how you can support/get involved, please get in touch with Youcef by emailing Support@OxfordshireFA.com