Oxford University is teaming up with Manchester United in a new drive to recruit more state school pupils to Oxford.
The University is hoping to benefit from the glamour surrounding the Treble-winning giants of English football by laying the Brideshead image to rest under the turf of Old Trafford.
Thousands of young people will attend conferences at the home of Manchester United and alsor at Wembley.
The University has even persuaded the Manchester United chairman, Martin Edwards, to throw his weight behind the unlikely partnership. The Premiership champions are sponsoring the event along with NatWest Bank. Football fans and A-level students will hear from dons from both Oxford and Cambridge, with up to 1,000 attending the Manchester conference next Friday. A similar event at Wembley today was expected to draw 2,000.
While traditionalists fear the football link could expose Oxford to accusations of dumbing-down its recruitment message, the Manchester United chairman said: "Manchester United always strives to be the best and is therefore keen to encourage young people to achieve their full academic potential."
Oxford University's head of admissions, Jane Minto, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for us to meet young people from all over England, Scotland and Wales."
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