A group of football-mad youngsters from Chalgrove are training as a team through the winter months, thanks to Oxford United.
Chalgrove Cavaliers FC received a £1,000 grant from a fund linked to Oxford United’s Dreaming Spires project, a programme designed to deliver significant impact across the county via supportive activities as part of the Club’s new stadium delivery.
Home to men’s and women’s teams and a walking football team, Chalgrove Cavaliers’ two youth squads play and train at the local recreation ground. With no floodlights onsite, youth team training is frequently cancelled due to limited access at a nearby all-weather surface.
Thanks to funding from Oxford United, Chalgrove has now purchased eight portable floodlights to enable winter training sessions for 30 younger players in preparation for weekend fixtures in the Oxfordshire Youth League.
Sam Lamb, Club Secretary at Chalgrove Cavaliers FC, said: “Access to suitable training facilities during the winter has been a barrier we’ve faced as a club for decades.
“The all-weather surface we use is fantastic but, ultimately, we share the facility with other sports and, as a result, providing the time and space to train for all our teams isn’t always possible.
“By purchasing eight portable floodlights, we can provide a safe and appropriate environment for our junior teams to train in during winter.
“It’s a boost for our players but also unlocks new opportunities as we can aim to confidently expand the number of teams we operate with help from volunteers who we’re continually recruiting.
“We’re very grateful to Oxford United for choosing our club as a winner of one of its grants and thank everyone concerned for their support.”
The battery powered floodlights have already proven to be a hit and can be easily packed away and stored by volunteers.
Adam Benson, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Oxford United, added: “We were really impressed by Chalgrove Cavaliers’ clear and compelling vision to enhance grassroots football participation locally.
“The new floodlights have already made a huge difference to the way the club operate and it’s fantastic that more children are now being given the opportunity to access training.”
Ten Oxfordshire-based not-for-profit organisations that support the provision of sport and physical activity, as well as health and wellbeing programmes, were selected by a judging panel to each receive a £1,000 grant from the Club. The successful applicants demonstrated how the funding would help them make improvements and deliver more impact in our communities.
Oxford United’s Dreaming Spires project also includes a variety of other initiatives including work experience, apprenticeship and employment opportunities for students and young professionals plus mental health support programmes, mentoring and education.
It consists of five core elements which prioritise opportunity, accessibility, people’s mental wellbeing, development and local legacy and is part of the Club’s plans to build a 16,000 capacity all-electric stadium north of Oxford, featuring a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference centre, health and wellbeing space and a community plaza.
