Oxford United’s charity will kick-start its 30-year anniversary celebrations on Saturday with the club’s home match against Wycombe Wanderers being made ‘Community Day’.
The club’s registered charity, Oxford United in the Community, sent tickets to every primary school in Oxfordshire, inviting pupils, teachers and parents to celebrate together. More than 400 children from more than 100 primary schools will attend the Sky Bet League 1 match as part of the festivities.
Oxford United in the Community staff will treat youngster to football skills sessions in Olly’s Den, stadium tours and face-painting. Kingston Colts and Yarnton Blues junior football teams will be the special Guard of Honours when Oxford United and Wycombe Wanderers take to the pitch.
Members of Oxford United’s junior programme #OX4Life will also play a big part in the Community Day. The winner of a drawing competition will see their picture on the front cover of the official match-day programme while another child will read the teams out over the PA and the winner of a writing competition will spend the day with the club’s media team and write a match report.
A bucket collection will take place prior to kick-off, to raise funds for Oxford United in the Community’s Dream Big Appeal. The charity is appealing to fans to dig deep to help it make a difference to more people in the community.
Chris Lowes, Head of Oxford United in the Community said: “This is a special day for the charity, as we celebrate 30 years of helping the community through the generations together. We felt that inviting hundreds of school kids to a big match to share the occasion with us was a befitting way to kick-start our year of activity.
“We will also be holding a bucket collection for our Dream Big Appeal and would encourage supporters to give what they can afford. Every penny raised will help us do more in our community under the Oxford United badge to really make a difference to the lives of as many people as possible.”
Oxford United in the Community holds 40 sessions and engages with more than 1,000 every week. It uses the power of football to make positive changes in peoples’ lives.
You can also donate to the Dream Big Appeal here