Ignite Sport > News and Blogs > Junior & Youth Football at OCFC - End of Season Update 2022/23

Dear players and parents,

Thank you to those of you who were able to join us on Sunday at the End of Season Awards Day.  It was a great day of celebration even if a little hot! Please find a gallery of images HERE

It’s been another successful season for our Oxford City FC Junior & Youth Football Teams, whether it be through an increase in participation rates, successful league or cup campaigns, individual success stories, or just simply growing a love and passion for the game, there is so much for us to be happy about.

I would like to repeat my thanks from Sunday by saying a big thank you. Thank you to all of our parents, for your continued dedication and support into your child’s development, your commitment really does not go unnoticed, and we are so grateful for the amount of effort you display every week to make Oxford City FC a positive environment for your child to play in. Thank you to all of our coaches, for your consistent and unconditional support to the players that you coach. Your dedication to help nurture and develop your players whilst creating a fun and positive environment is invaluable. And finally, thank you to all of our wonderful players, for being you and turning up every week to represent our amazing football club. Your joy, humour and energy is what drives this club forwards week-in, week-out and we wouldn’t be here without you!

Growth in Participation

Once again, this season we expanded our Junior & Youth programme and we have welcomed brand new U7 boys and U12 girls’ teams. We also welcomed additional U8 and U10 boys teams this season to the club. A huge thank you to all of the coaches who helped create a great environment for these new teams to play here. We are now operating 37 teams across all age groups, from U6 – Senior football, with over 600 registered Oxford City FC players coming through the Community Arena doors every week!

Fulham Partnership

At the start of the season we were delighted to announce an official partnership with Fulham FC to help develop and grow our Junior & Youth programme. We are still within the first steps of the partnership, but we have already seen some good interactions between Fulham and Oxford City coaches as we received some guest sessions in October for their academy staff. Fulham also hosted an Oxford City FC Coaches Only CPD Event on Friday 9th December, at Fulham’s Motspur Park Training Ground. As well as fixtures being arranged for our U12s & U14s to play against Fulham at Motspur Park. We are looking forward to receiving many more opportunities for our youth teams to play against Fulham FC teams next season.

We are very mindful that success in football isn’t always winning, and particularly in our U7-U11 age groups, where results are not recorded, it is solely about fun and development. However, it is nice to celebrate the success that our teams have achieved this season. Please see below for a list of achievements this season from some of our U12-U18 age groups 🏅

U12 Boys Treble Winer (Winter League, Spring League, Cup)

U12 JPL Regional League Winners, National League Runners-Up, National Cup Semi-Finalists

U12 Girls League Runners Up, Cup Winners

U14 JPL National Cup Semi-Finalists

U15 Girls League Runners Up, Cup Champions

U15 Boys League Champions, League Cup Winners, County Cup Winners

U16 Boys League Champions, County Cup Champions, League Cup Runners Up

U16 JPL Regional League Runners Up, National Cup Semi-Finalists

U18 Girls Cup Runners Up

Please read on below for our full update...

Wishing you a happy summer,

Jordan Piper
Head of Junior & Youth Football

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Free sessions for all players!

As team training for season 2022/23 has now ended and we are in close season and tournament time, we invite players to join us as we switch to summer fun & development sessions. (Please note these sessions are entirely optional).  We also want to take this opportunity to remind you of why, we as a club do not train all year round.  The directive from our Head of Football, Justin Merritt, is that players should be given ample opportunity to participate in sports outside of football during the summer months. This enables development in sports where commitment is required as much as it is for football, offers a rest from football specfic training and gives time to our coaching staff too for their families and their interests as well as affording time to effective planning ahead of the new season.  Our entire club ethos is therefore an official close season.   Pre season training for all squads will commence from w/c Aug 7th for those who are available to attend, we are of course aware that many will be on holiday and will join on their return. The break in training also gives opportunity for us to provide summer development and fun sessions that play a big part in the social aspect of the game, these also provide opportunity to mix with other teams within the club.

A reminder of our summer sessions:

Mini Hoops Football (Last summer session - Saturday July 15th)
Ages 4 to 8
Saturdays
9:00am - 10:00am (no booking required)  

Development Centres (Last summer sessions - Mon 17th & Tues 18th July)
Mondays
6:00pm to 7:00pm (U11-U13 Boys, U14 -U16 Boys)

Tuesdays
5:00pm to 6:00pm (U7-U11 Mixed, U10-U12 Mixed)
6:00 to 7:00pm (U13-U16 Girls)

Although these sessions are free to attend for our OCFC players, pre booking is advised to help us plan with numbers  BOOK HERE

Please ensure you select the 'OCFC Player' option when booking!

FEES

We spread direct debit payments over 10 months to ensure affordability for all.  Final payments were debited on June 1st and your season subs will automatically end on the last debit. Direct debits for the new season will begin again after email activation for Sept 1st. Please note - If you began your last season direct debit later in the season than Sept 1st your payments will continue monthly until the seasons subs are paid in full.

PRICE INCREASE

Due to growing costs for utilities and equipment amongst other things we have implemented a 5% price increase on our player fees for the new season.  We have worked hard to reduce this from the actual increase which is closer to 12% therefore we appreciate all attendance at social/fundraiser events and are particularly grateful to those who have added a donation to their End of Season Awards tickets.  Having undertaken revised season local comparison market research we are confident that our pricing structure, holiday camp discounts and free development centres encompass good value and are competitive.  For those in a position to pay up front for the season we are offering a 15% up-front early bird payment option when subs are paid by bank transfer by June 30th.

Season 2023/24 Fees ( 10% discounts for Sept 1st up-front payment and siblings still apply)

For those who feel payments will be difficult, we are proud to be in a position to offer a number of bursary schemes, fully funded by us at Ignite Sport as part of our ethos of 24 years where we aim to make sport accessible for all.  To apply for a bursary you will be required to complete an application form.  Bursary applications will open on July 1st and remain open for a 4 week window.  (Applicants will need to prove receipt of benefits related income for a 6 month period including a statement to show the most recent month)

KIT

As many of you will be aware, we have updated the training kit for the new season.  The kit is avialable to buy now via the Macron store (linked below)  The home kit for season 2023/24 remains mainly the same however there is a change to the shorts for the entire club from the First Teams downwards.  The significant change is one that we are proud of embracing in support of the comfort our female players.  The new shorts are blue rather than white and can be purchased individually as replacement via the online Macron store.  We ask that these are purchased ahead of next season.  If you are in a posiiton to pay more and buy two pairs and gift one to another player who might be less able to afford the outlay please let us know HERE

KIT SHOP

WET & WILD FUN SESSIONS

For some extra fun ahead of pre season training we are excited to announce the return of our Wet & Wild Summer Pitch Sessions! Fun on the pitch with  water, Come and join us for a variety of activities ending in an epic water fight with team mates!   Due to stadium pitch works taking place at this time the activites will take place on the Community Pitch where we'll have a pizza van and pop up bar with seating in the marquee.

💦 Wednesday 12th July 18.00 - 19.00pm WET & WILD FUN U6-U11

Wednesday 12th July 19.15 - 20.15pm WET & WILD FUN U12-U16 💦

Pre booking is essential!  BOOK HERE  (password required for booking WILDFUN23 - this is open to OCFC Players only)

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PRE SEASON CAMP

We are pleased to confirm the return of our annual week long Pre-Season camp, August 21st to 25th.  Available to ALL age groups, exclusively for OCFC players and free of charge! (10:00am - 2:00pm) - Please note, payable wrap around is available from 9:00am-3:00pm is available. BOOK HERE

Contact us:

0300 303 0890

info@ignitesportuk.com

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