Sport Relief

Oxford City FC and Meadowbrook College students raise charity cash

Students attending Meadowbrook College have reasons to be proud after organising a 5-a-side tournament in aid of Sports Relief entirely on their own.

The six students, aged 15 and 16, all attend the one day a week B-Tech Sports & Leisure Course run jointly by Oxford City and Meadowbrook and event management is part of the syllabus. The boys had just three working days together to organise the competition and set about the task with enthusiasm and designed posters, contacted teams, organised fixtures, booked the pitches, and even helped bake the refreshments.

The six students; Chris Perry, James Dyer, Simon Salamon, Liam Keys, PJ Saunders and Ollie Axtel invited teams from the Army, Thames Valley Police and local referred schools and raised £75 for Sport Relief.

All hands on the Cup!

The team captains touch the Oxford City Meadowbrook Trophy at the start of the tournament.

Picture – Steve Wheeler 07884187387

The innovative course is based at Oxford City’s stadium in Marston and has been a resounding success in a unique environment that encourages the students to balance sport and academic studies.

Oxford City Managing Director, Colin Taylor praised the Meadowbrook College staff for their commitment and caring attitude to the students, who have all had difficult times at previous schools. ‘’This course is one of several initiatives underway at Meadowbrook College and it is really pleasing to see the positive results of our partnership, not only in the achievements by the students in their studies but also in the clear improvements in their attitude and general behaviour over the last nine months.

The course has given them all another perspective in life and the confidence to believe in themselves. As a result we plan to expand the course substantially next year and typically some of the students have already offered to come and help support the coaching sessions.’’

Sponsorship Extension

Major sponsorship extension for Oxford City FC

Ambitious Oxford City Football Club has announced a major extension to the sponsorship agreement with Facilitas SMC one of Oxfordshire’s leading building firms. The South Oxfordshire based company are to continue as City’s main club sponsors in a new expanded five figure deal that will be performance based and have the potential to increase substantially in future years. Within the terms of the deal the directors of the club and Facilitas SMC will work closely together on objectives and regular performance reviews in line with the collaborative approach of both parties.

City Chairman Brian Cox and Facilitas SMC Managing Director Andrew Wilson hold the latest version of the famous blue & white hoops displaying the club sponsors’ Facilitas SMC logo. Also present are City MD Colin Taylor (left) and Facilitas SMC Operations Director Kevin New.

In May 2006 SMC became part of the Facilitas Group creating Facilitas SMC, a rapidly growing support services company providing a range of services across the UK to commercial sector clients. With Facilitas SMC as the primary company and numerous other acquisitions alongside organic growth, the group has grown to a £70 million company in just under two years.

Working together to develop Oxford City Football Club L-R, City MD Colin Taylor, City Chairman Brian Cox, Facilitas SMC Operations Director Kevin New, and Facilitas SMC MD Andrew Wilson

Oxford City Managing Director, Colin Taylor said: '' We are delighted to have reached another agreement with such a progressive and successful company as Facilitas SMC and very much appreciate the positive support from their directors. Oxford City has grown significantly in recent years and we have a development plan approved by the FA to continue that progress - this new agreement will provide a valuable base and the professional business support to move the club to another sustained level both on and off the pitch.’’ Facilitas SMC Managing Director, Andrew Wilson added: ''We have been impressed by the development and growth within the community achieved by the directors and committee of Oxford City. Their focus on understanding the needs of specific community elements and the motivation of those around them is entirely in line with the ethos of Facilitas SMC and I am sure that our collaboration approach to support further development of the club will be a major success’’. City Chairman, Brian Cox concluded: ''This is excellent progress and another milestone in the development of Oxford City. This new sponsorship will directly benefit all current teams and enable us to provide further participation opportunities for local players of all ages and ability. We are very grateful to Facilitas SMC for their tremendous support.’’

OCFC at FA Headquarters

Photo of the BCUC students and staff, and OCFC representatives who recently attended a review meeting in the boardroom at the FA Headquarters in Soho Square. The senior FA officials received presentations of the work carried out by the BCUC students on special ambassador projects supported by key non-league football clubs. This included Oxford City and BCUC student Jason Lawson who have been working together on several initiatives particularly involving the club's expansion into school partnerships and disability football.

Also the club have had confirmation from the FA regarding City winning the South East regional community club award. This means we are now competing for the National Award which will be decided next month.

FA Charter Standard

OXFORD CITY has this week received confirmation of being awarded the FA Charter Standard Community Club status. This highly prestigious, top FA Charter award confirms procedures of the highest standard throughout the club, which has grown from three teams to more than twenty in the last three years, under the leadership of Chairman Brian Cox and Vice-Chairman Paul Cotterell. Further growth and community related involvement is planned together with major facility developments. Exciting times are ahead for this ambitious football club, which is building a sustained long term base for the future.

There are already Oxford City Colts teams from Under 7’s through to Under 17’s as well as Oxford City Ladies and Girls teams. This season the club’s line up was expanded to include Teenie Colts sessions on Sundays for age group 4 to 7 which has been a major success with 30 children attending each week sporting their special blue and white shirts. As a pilot programme the innovative City launched Teenie Dribblers two months ago targeting boys and girls aged 2 to 4 and offering indoor sessions of pure football fun. The response has been overwhelming with parents and club officials’ adamant the successful pilot scheme will develop into a permanent fixture in the City structure.

New Sponsorship Agreement

New sponsorship agreement for Oxford City

Oxford City Football Club has signed another lucrative sponsorship deal to support their continued commercial growth. Marston’s Brewery have agreed to support the club in a unique three year partnership agreement that will provide funds for the club to utilise with total flexibility in any way the directors prioritise. This season the club has focused greatly on maximising income from the clubhouse facility and external bookings are already running at unprecedented levels – the new partnership will build further on that success.

Jon Fletcher, Sports Development and Investment Manager explained his company strategy further – ‘Marston’s Brewery is delighted to be entering a 3 year partnership deal with Oxford City FC. We believe that the 5 figure investment is a good indication of how we as a brewery value the club. OCFC has grown greatly over the past few years and we aim to help them develop further. Marston’s and OCFC have a synergy, they are both run by teams of forward thinking, dedicated professionals who are clearly focused on success. We are sure that this success will come not only on the pitch, but off it as well.’

The agreement provides excellent financial security and puts in place a substantial new income stream for the club until the end of season 2008 – 2009 and potentially beyond.

New Management Structure

Its Justin Merritt and Mike Ford for City

Oxford City have moved quickly following the shock resignation of Andy Lyne to confirm that assistant Justin Merritt will step up to the role of 1^st Team manager with immediate effect. Experienced coach and ex-Oxford United player Mike Ford joins the club as assistant manager.

The appointments reflect the need for stability following the excellent progress of the team in the last eighteen months, and ensure the continued availability of coaching at Oxford City to the highest standard – both Justin Merritt and Mike Ford have UEFA A qualifications. Andy Lyne, who has turned the club round with the league and cup double last season, will continue his board directorship as Oxford City enter an important next stage in the development of the club.

Charity Stand Launched with £1000.00

Oxford City Charity Stand launched with £1000 donation!

Oxford City Football Club held a special fundraising event last Sunday to launch the new Charity Stand at their Court Place Farm Stadium – and raised a splendid £1000 for a local hospice.

The day was organised jointly with local businesses and was a resounding success with a fun 6-a-side competition, penalty competitions and skills training sessions on the pitch and BBQ, stalls, bouncy castle and a high climbing wall around the perimeter. Main organisers David Bage of The Profit Partnership, Simon Lambert of The Best of Oxford Ltd, and well known motivational trainer Basil Mienie, have vowed to make this an annual event and even bigger next year.

City recently announced the unique initiative whereby their main seating stand has been renamed the

Helen & Douglas House stand and from now on, matchday spectators will be allowed free admission to the stand but invited to make a donation to the famous local hospice which provides exceptional care for children and young adults. All monies raised will be passed direct to the charity.

The special link with Helen & Douglas House forms the second of the Oxford City celebration milestones in their 125^th Anniversary Season. In July, the club restaged the 1906 FA Amateur Cup Final against Bishop Auckland – winning again by the same 3-0 scoreline originally recorded 100 years ago. More celebrations are planned as the season progresses culminating in the club successfully receiving the prestigious FA Charter Community Club Award confirming their status as a role model football club.

Welcome to Helen & Douglas House

Helen & Douglas House is a registered charity providing respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-shortening conditions, as well as support and friendship for the whole family. The two hospice houses are bright, vibrant and positive places, where the emphasis is on living life to the full, even when that life may be short.
There are many families in the UK who are caring for a child or young adult who has a life-shortening condition. Caring for someone with such a condition, often for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over many years, can put an immeasurable strain upon the family. And whilst families willingly invest love, energy and care, life becomes governed by the relentless timetable of nursing and medical needs.

Relationships can suffer, careers may have to be abandoned, healthy brothers and sisters can feel left out and regular family activities and holidays can be rare. Families often feel alone and afraid in their grief.

How Helen & Douglas House can help
Children can stay at Helen House and young adults can stay at Douglas House, along with their families, for short periods of time for rest and recuperation, treatment of distressing symptoms, end of life care and support.

Helen & Douglas House aims to help the children and young adults who stay at one of the two Houses to live life to the full as far as possible. We envision a time when no child or young adult with a life-shortening condition will journey alone or unsupported.
Helen House was the world's first children's hospice. Douglas House was the world's first 'Respice' for young adults. www.helenanddouglas.org.uk