ONE Oxford man who spends his days teaching footballers how to win matches will be giving up his evenings to learn how to waltz his way to Strictly success.

Swapping football for foxtrot, Dan Bond is one of 12 men taking part in the annual charity dance competition Strictly Oxford 2016, organised by Step by Step Dancing School.

Despite being excited, the head of performance and analysis at Oxford United said his colleagues have begun “making life unbearable” for him since he announced he would be jiving and waltzing his way to the New Theatre for the performance final.

Strictly Oxford is being held in the city’s theatre on April 17 for the fifth year in a row, with the aim of raising funds for specialist Littlemore care home Vale House, which provides support for people with dementia.

Mr Bond, who lives in Headington, will have to combine his dance training with helping prepare Oxford United’s players for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley on April 3. He is responsible for looking at the best way the team can beat the opposition, while also improving their own performance, using video technology and statistics.

The 25-year-old said about Strictly Oxford: “I think it will be a laugh. I’m looking forward to improving my dancing skills.

“I’ve never danced though. I can’t dance at all. I’m the guy who stands at the side.

“My mum and dad, who live in London, are big fans of Strictly Come Dancing on TV. Whenever I go home at the weekend it’s always on.

“I’m looking forward to representing Oxford United, but my colleagues have been poking a lot of fun. They’re making life almost unbearable. I will have to prove them wrong.”

Each Strictly contestant – 12 men and 12 women – will be paired up with a professional dancer and will then have about eight weeks to master two dances, as well as a group freestyle. The first training session will be held at the dance school in Headington this Sunday.

Contestants also have to raise a minimum of £1,000 for Vale House.

Mr Bond, who has played Gaelic football for Great Britain in the past, said: “I lost my best mate to lung cancer when I was 18, and he was in a hospice in London, so I know how important these types of places are.

“My nan, Nora, suffers from dementia and it’s not nice to see her go through that. It’s good that dementia sufferers have a safe place where they and their families can go.”

The Oxford Mail recently put out an appeal for more men to take part in the contest, after organisers realised they only had three males signed up.

One organiser, Jo Wittich, confirmed the competition is now good to go ahead after the required number of men stepped forward.

Other male contestants this year include Richard Bradley, 54, managing director of Lion Television in Oxfordshire, and Vale House chef Andy Lake.

Visit strictlyoxford.co.uk for information.