A BLACKBIRD Leys youth football club is going from strength to strength, say organisers.

Residents turned out in force at the weekend to help Blackbird Leys FC continue its good work with the estate’s youngsters.

Sunday’s fun day event included a mums’ five-a-side tournament and a sponsored walk, bike and scooter ride by players.

It raised about £800 towards kit for the new under seven and eight teams and referee and pitch fees.

The club has to pay Oxford City Council about £1,300 a year to use its pitches at Blackbird Leys Field, Cuddesdon Way.

Chairman Kevin Foley said: “I think the mums’ five-a-side was the best thing we have ever done. The mums had the biggest smiles I have seen in seven years at the club and were asking whether we were going to do it next year. “We had about 35 mums playing across six teams and it was unbelievable.”

“It opened our eyes to the fact that mums want to be involved.”

Mr Foley said the success of the day mirrored the club’s healthy state.

It is set to get new changing rooms through a £350,500 sports pavilion at Blackbird Leys Leisure Centre, Pegasus Road.

The club has nine teams with 221 boys and girls and the two new under seven and eight teams are filling up fast, Mr Foley said.

Mr Foley added: “We’ve got 25 to 30 kids wanting to play for new under seven and eight teams and so we are asking the league if we can get two teams.

“It shows how much the club is growing.”

Among those helping out was Shepherds Hill resident Aaron Spicer, 24.

No stranger to fundraising, he also raised cash for a cancer charity in memory of brother Jake, who died in 2009 aged 15 from bone cancer Ewing’s Sarcoma.

Mr Spicer, who runs the Blackbird Leys under ten team, said: “The day means a lot to the kids and it’s a good thing for the estate.”

Mr Spicer, 24, from Shepherds Hill, added: “Blackbird Leys seems to have a bad reputation but the club is a big part of the community.

“It’s good there are lots of people from the estate getting together.”