The Bicester Football Partnership will initially focus on developing an integrated path from U6 Boys to Men’s Senior Hellenic League football – eliminating the problem faced by all teams in the area when boys reach U16 level of there being no co-ordinated football development route through to senior levels.  The Partnership development plan also includes mirroring this development path for Girls / Women’s football as well as Disability football with the aim to make this the most Inclusive Football Partnership in Oxfordshire.

It should be stressed that the Partnership is not a merger.  The 3 clubs retain their own identities, play in their respective leagues and manage their own affairs independently.  However the Partnership provides benefits to Bardwell & Bicester Town Colts of facility sharing with the Bicester’s major football club and their youth teams having regular coaching sessions with the clubs senior coaches.  Bicester Town benefit by monitoring the progress of “potential future stars” early in their careers and being seen as the future club for over 250 youth players in 20 teams at Bardwell and Bicester Town Colts.

The Partnership was signed by the 3 chairmen of the respective clubs – Richard D’Silva (Bardwell FC), John Clutterbuck (Bicester Town FC) and Tony Allen (Bicester Town Colts FC) and also by Owain Prosser, the Development Officer for the Oxfordshire FA who says:

“The Bicester Football Partnership has the potential to bring together football for all ages, genders and abilities making it a major sporting centre for Bicester and the surrounding areas. This is great news for the clubs, the Bicester community and the Oxfordshire FA.  The OFA will proactively support the Bicester Football Partnership in attaining its ambitious, community centred goals”.

For more about our partners click the club crests below: