Oxford United in the Community has benefited to the tune of close to £30,000 thanks to the Oxford fans and the generosity of Chairman Darryl Eales.
This summer the Chairman promised that for every season ticket sold he would personally donate £5 to the club’s Community scheme. With close to 4,800 season tickets sold the Trust has enjoyed a terrific windfall, boosted further by Gift Aid, which will allow them to continue to do such fantastic work across Oxfordshire.
Kate Longworth, Chief Executive of the charity, said: “It’s impossible to overstate the impact of Darryl’s generosity on the club’s charitable programmes.
“Donations such as this latest one are crucial to the continuing improvement of the charity, and to its impact in the local community. More than this, though, Darryl models a culture which has led to a far greater awareness and understanding of those programmes, among staff and supporters of the club and beyond.”
Paul Charles, Chair of Trustees, said: “This is a tremendous gesture from Darryl – we are truly grateful. By linking it through to season ticket sales he is letting every supporter know how much he values their commitment to the club, and that he returns it. Oxford United is truly a community football club.”
Darryl told us:
“I have always maintained that the work of the Community team should be the very foundation of what the club is trying to achieve. It is an absolute pleasure to be able to help and the club will continue to support Kate and her team in the huge range of fantastic projects that they are working on.
“This was only possible because so many fans got behind us over the summer; a season ticket means you support the team but you also support the club and all that it stands for.”