PROMISING female footballers are appealing for a ticket to ride as the cost of transport threatens to derail their careers.

Five of Oxford United’s youth academy squad, who train on the pitch and study in the classroom to gain qualifications, are struggling to meet the cost of daily bus travel from outlying areas of the county to their course in Cowley.

Last year, Stagecoach sponsored the only out-of-the-city student with a free bus pass, but with a bigger squad this season and businesses tightening their belts, the club still need companies or individuals to help with expenses in return for publicity.

Coach Matty Brandish said: “We’ve got five girls who travel in from Wantage, Witney and Bicester and it’s costing them about £25 to £30 a week because they’ve got to get into Oxford city centre then out to us at Cowley.

“It’s getting to the point they are struggling to afford it, and we don’t want to lose these girls. They’ve been involved in the club and progressing since under-16s to under-19s and we are doing our best to keep them here.”

The course, which is run as part of Oxford United’s Youth and Community Trust, uses the Rover Sports and Social Club in Roman Way as its base and gives students a chance to gain a Btec National Diploma and football coaching badges.

Players George Stone, 16, Charlotte Butcher, 16, and Gina Ianniello, 17, all travel in from Witney, while Ellen Hopkins, 16, lives in Wantage and Georgie Currie, 17, comes in from Bicester.

All of them have featured for Oxford United Ladies and will this season come up against teams from clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal and Ipswich.

Mr Brandish said: “The girls just want to keep playing and being involved in the course.

“They’ve all progressed through our centre of excellence and have been connected to the club since the ages of 13 or 14.

“We’ve just gone into our second year with a girls’ squad, although the course has been running for three years.

“This year we’ve moved into a better league and have got a squad of 17 or 18. It’s growing in size each year and we’re trying to progress it all the time.”

He added: “We’ve played three games this year, against Arsenal, Barnet and Colchester and lost all three but the performances have been great and it is a massive step up.

“Last year Arsenal beat a team 36-0 in the same league and we lost 6-1 to them, so when you look at it that way it’s a good result.”

For more information visit oxfordunited-yc.co.uk or to discuss sponsoring the girls called David Pratt on 01865 337523.