Welcome to the start of an exciting new season.

Like you all I'm sure, everyone at Oxfordshire FA is looking forward to what we hope will be another successful year of growth, development and success for all of our clubs and leagues.

Over the course of the summer, we've been busy preparing for the season ahead - as well as creating partnerships that provide our clubs with opportunities to save money and enjoy a host of benefits.

You can read our 2024/28 Strategic Plan here and we will be bringing that to life for everyone over the next few weeks. Essentially, it is all about ensuring that local football is safe, inclusive, supportive, welcoming and fun throughout all of our local football clubs and leagues across Oxfordshire. 

All disciplinary issues are now independently managed and assessed by the Sport Integrity Matters specialists to continue ensuring consistency and fairness across the county. We will also be at more matches promoting Respect, Safeguarding, and Smokefree Sidelines throughout the season. We're also keen on ensuring that every club and league have their own Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Champions, and will support them in those vital roles. 

We want every committee at clubs with young players to have their own Youth Leadership Team and to commit to being part of our NextGen programme which will give young people support in developing confidence, life skills and apprenticeship and career opportunities through football. 

We have worked hard over the summer to find fresh ways to say thank you to everyone for helping ensure flourishing grassroots football and this month sees the launch of our new OXFA Diamond Club Rewards Programme - using the following link and discount code to save money and get cashback on your online shopping from thousands of retailers.

Sign up by clicking this link: OxFA Diamond Club Exclusive Rewards or: 

1. Go to Oxfordshire FA Diamond Club Exclusive Rewards
2. Click Accept Invite
3. Enter code: V9CH8SYJQ

It is free, easy-to-use, and available to every registered player, affiliated club member, match official, welfare officer, coach and volunteer. Tell us about the savings you make and how useful you find it.

There are also a range of savings still available through our partners for all our affiliated football clubs on web development, first aid kits, defibrillators, performance analysis and coaching Veo cameras, line markers, pitch testing and goalposts. Click here to visit our Members Benefits page.

Next month sees more coach development courses set to be confirmed, so keep an eye on our website and social platforms for details.

Also you can access the round dates and rules for our County Cup competitions, the finals for which we will again be inviting clubs to tender for opportunities to host at the end of the season.

Finally, with Mike moving to a new role nearer home at Active Gloucestershire, the Oxfordshire FA team supporting our 1440 local affiliated football teams is now:

Football Development: Andy, Georgia, James and Youcef
Football Services for all help with affiliation, registration, DBS checks and safeguarding, etc.: Ben, Kate and Nigel

If ever you need help or to get in touch then always simply send us an email to Support@OxfordshireFA.com 

May we take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the 2024-25 season.

Best wishes,

Jonathan Duckworth
CEO
Oxfordshire FA