BUSINESSES have been shamed for a 'hugely disappointing' response to the revival of youth football in an Oxford estate.

A football club for youngsters has returned to Rose Hill for the first time in decades, but determined efforts to find a sponsor has so far been met with silence.

Kevin Juggins has set up the new Rose Hill Youth Football Club, to provide a welcoming place for children to play and socialise.

The father-of-two, who lives in Littlemore but grew up in Rose Hill, said: "Pretty much every area you can name in Oxford and the surrounding area has a league.

"Rose Hill is quite a big estate and doesn’t have that.

"We have been managing through social media to get players and volunteers and community members to help shape the club, and have got funding for certain aspects such as the goals and a contribution from the council for the pitches.

"We just need to get the kit sorted and I really emphasise the need for local businesses to support us."

The 36-year-old has so far set up two teams, one for under 9s and another for under 11s, to play in the Oxford Mail Youth Football League.

Kits should cost about £500 and jackets £250, and he has contacted businesses in the area to cover the cost in return for publicity.

Club chairman Mr Juggins said: "It’s been a huge disappointment - we must have approached more than 50 businesses either by email or by going in or leaflet dropping, and handing out letters, and have only had one reply to say 'sorry we support another charity'.

"I know the current climate in retail is slow but there are still businesses doing well."

Operations manager Mr Juggins estimated the last time the estate had a youth team was in the mid 1990s.

He said he remembers playing from the age of eight through to the adult team, adding: "I’m not sure what led to the downfall [of the youth team] but sometimes it’s simply not having enough volunteers.

"I wanted to do it right so players benefit from a relaxed atmosphere and everyone has equal game time.

"We want to keep the financial cost down as low as possible and get funding for kits and jackets so the children can feel part of a team.

"In our area where the poverty level is high, we don’t want children to miss out."

Mr Juggins's 10-year-old son Harley is among those who have already joined one of the new teams, which train on fields behind Rose Hill Community Centre.

The under-9s practise on Tuesdays from 6pm-7pm and under 11s Thursday 6pm-7pm, and there will be Saturday and Sunday games when the league starts in September.

Mr Juggins said he did not to promote a ‘win it all mentality’, adding: “That’s a really key philosophy of the club, of variety and commitment without the pressures put on children.

"It's beneficial not only to provide something to do, but to be part of something bigger than yourself, which is huge - you don’t appreciate that when you get older and really do miss it.

"It brings a team ethic and friends. Especially in a deprived area like Rose Hill, a lot of children don’t have structure in their lives and this will provide that and positive role models."

Any businesses who can help support the club, and players or volunteers interested in getting involved, can email chairman@rosehillyouthfc.com.