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The Oxford City Football Club Casuals at their ground in Marston

Good causes have just two days left to claim thousands of pounds in funding from a foundation set up by the parent company of the Oxford Mail.

The Gannett Foundation is looking to help charities that take a creative approach to community issues, with a maximum grant of £50,000 available.

Four Oxford projects were awarded a total of more than £10,000 last year, and Thursday is the deadline for the latest round of entries.

Oxford City Football Club was awarded £700 in May 2007 to help it set up a team for players with learning disabilities, which now has almost 50 players.

The Marston-based club set up Oxford City Casuals in September last year, and has been amazed by the number of people with learning disabilities that want to play football.

Colin Taylor, managing director and charity trustee of Oxford City FC, said: "We've been overwhelmed by the response we've had.

"We thought we might struggle to get a team of 15 together, but at this moment we have 48 people signed up and we regularly get between 25 and 30 turning up for training every Saturday.

"It really has taken off more than we would ever have believed. The lads absolutely love playing football but the camaraderie has been one of the real benefits of it.

"We get lots of comments from parents that playing football has brought their son out of his shell."

The team has already played friendly matches against Milton Keynes Dons and Feltham, in Middlesex, and have another game lined up against Hitchin Town on March 30.

However, the club, which has players aged from eight to 44, including three girls, is hoping to build on its success and organise a competitive tri-county league with teams from Berkshire and Buckinghamshire FAs to kick off in September this year.

Mr Taylor said of the Gannett Foundation awards: "Anything like this is marvellous. We would urge anyone to come forward for funding if they are looking to develop a new programme and see how far this could take them.

"The funding we received was tremendous. It got us on our way really. We are thrilled by it.

"Unfortunately, the learning disabled don't have much of an opportunity to express themselves apart from this, but disabilities go out of the window on the football field.

"We don't refer to them as our learning disability team. They are the Oxford Casuals and we see them as our special players."

How to apply: The official application form and a copy of the Gannett Foundation guidelines can be downloaded from our website at www.oxfordmail.co.uk, by following the link from the right hand side of the home page.

All donations are strictly at the discretion of the fund, but applicants should note that the fund will not consider unregistered charities, applications that are not made in writing on the official application form, that alter the form or do not give full answers, funding of salaries or general running costs, endowment funds, animal charities, medical research or causes promoting religion.

Completed forms should be sent to: The Editor's PA, Newsquest Oxfordshire Newspaper House, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0EJ.

2:02pm Tuesday 18th March 2008

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