CHILDREN showed off their football skills to raise cash for their club.

Parents and supporters watched as their children played in football tournaments as part of Oxford Blackbirds Football Club’s fun day.

On Saturday, a barbecue, raffles and tombolas were set up on the playing fields at Blackbird Leys Road to raise as much money as possible towards the club’s £8,000-a-year costs.

Bob Campbell, manager of the Under 11s, said: “We are one of the biggest estates in England and we have 374 kids who play for us. We are probably the biggest self-funding club going as we don’t get any funding.

“We rely on fundraising and ask for sponsorship so that we can use football for what it stands for. Football begins with f, which stands for fun.

“Unfortunately, the way it is at the moment, there is money for naughty kids, but not for good kids, so we are trying to raise a bit of money for the club.”

The football club meets at fields off Blackbird Leys Road, but would like its own clubhouse with changing facilities and a meeting place.

Mr Campbell added: “We are trying to bring the community back together as a whole.

“In the past, Blackbird Leys has had a bad reputation, but we want to bring a bit of fun into it, we don’t want the kids sat at home on their computers.

“We want to get them out to have some fun – as long as they come off the pitch with a smile on their face, we have done our job.”

His son Brandon Campbell, 10, who plays for the under 11s, said: “It is great. We haven’t done this for a while and it is good to raise some money for new kit and to make the club better.”

The club, which has been going for 42 years, now has 12 teams, ranging from under sevens to under 18s.

Debbie Shirley, fixtures secretary and under nines manager, said: “We are fundraising to put the kids on the pitches. If we didn’t have the fun day we couldn’t afford to pay for next season.”

Co-ordinator Sue Simms added: “The club is trying to keep the kids on the straight and narrow.”