They are used to kicking a ball on the football pitch but players from Oxford United Women tried their hand at something completely different on the edge of Bicester last week.

Oxford United in the Community, which runs programmes for children of all abilities across the county, held its annual 'It's a Knockout' fundraising event at Bicester Hotel, Golf and Spa on Friday.

Players from Oxford United Women, Ellie Noble and Vita Budaieva, took part in a host of fun activities including raft building, paddleboarding and golf in the grounds of the hotel in Chesterton, near Bicester. 

Team manager Sam Rose also took part.

It comes as Oxford United Women, who play in the FA Women National South, returned to pre-season training last week ahead of the league fixtures later this summer.

The players enjoyed their time at the Chesterton hotel as they took to the hotel's open water swimming lake for the raft building and paddleboarding fun. 

Oxford United Women take on the raft building Oxford United Women take on the raft building (Image: Oxford United Women) They also tried out the hotel's floodlit driving range, which uses Toptracer Range technology so the players could track how far they had hit their shots. 

Following the event, a statement from the football club said: "A huge thank you to Oxford United in the Community for inviting us along to their annual “It’s a Knockout” charity fund raising event hosted at Bicester Hotel, Golf and Spa.

"The players and staff had a great day and are particularly proud of their majestic raft." 

Oxford United in the Community's 'It's a Knockout' is a fundraising event "supporting work inspiring happier, healthier and better-connected communities".

The cause thanked the event sponsors as well as the Bicester Hotel including Gregory Surveyors, Cypher and Cherry Picked Residential.

Alongside Oxford United Women, other teams taking part in the activities for the event were Trueman's Solicitors Ltd, Laughtons Luxury Toilet Hire, Folan Brookes Financial Consultants and RWK Goodman. 

A spokesperson for Oxford United Women said: "The day was organised by Louise at Gregory Surveyors and Kerri who is head of the Oxford United Community Team.

"It was in aid of fundraising for the community charity and included teams from many local businesses. Some of which are already supporting or sponsoring the community team.

"Gregory Surveyors sponsored the Women’s Player of the Season award at the club's recent awards evening and are also looking to sponsor a player or two for the season ahead.

"They are keen to continue to support the women's team so they asked us if we would be interested in bringing a team for the event.

"We took a team of seven which consisted of five staff members including team manager Sam Rose, and two players Ellie Noble and Vita Budaieva. It was a great fun day and the weather was kind.

Activities included taking to the driving range Activities included taking to the driving range (Image: Oxford United Women)

"We started off with some golf and the assault course then after lunch we had a tug of war competition followed by raft building and paddle boarding.

"None of us got wet which is surprising since our raft was on it’s last legs so we didn’t feel the need to get in the ice bath at the end so we gave that a miss.

"We donated a signed shirt and two match tickets to the silent auction which took place before everyone went home."

It is not the first time the hotel in Green Lane has hosted a football club from the area with Banbury United holding indoor training sessions at the site in the past.