A football team is warming up to become one of the first sides in Oxfordshire to give players with learning difficulties a chance to take up the game.

More than 20 men and women are getting top-level coaching at Banbury United's Spencer Stadium.

And the team, pictured with coaches and helpers, are set to be among the first disabled players to wear the club's red and gold colours when they compete in two tournaments in May. It is only the second Football Association-backed scheme in the county to offer people with learning difficulties the chance to take up the game.

Together with a scheme already run by Oxford City, the club is pioneering opportunities for the disabled to participate in the 'beautiful game'.

United's vice-chairman Paul Jones and ladies player Liz Verrall, who works for the Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Football Associations, are both members of Banbury United Learning Disability FC.

Mr Jones said: "The club wants to contribute more to community activities in the town. We already run the mini-Puritan's scheme for under-sixs and upwards, and are developing a junior section for older children.

"We also have girls' and ladies' teams. We are implementing the FA's football for all initiative - a nationwide scheme to get people from all walks of life playing soccer."

The next session is on March 22. More details at www.banburyunited.co.uk Training sessions for the players, which take place every other Saturday morning on United's first team pitch, could soon be extended to people with other disabilities.

Mr Jones said: "We are now working closely with the Ridgeway Partnership's North Oxfordshire Learning Disability Team - and our ultimate ambition is to offer football to all disabled people.

"We are planning to talk to Banbury's Frank Wise Special School to get them involved."

Two tournaments are coming up.

The first is at Oxford City's Court Place Farm ground on Monday, May 5, and the second is in Milton Keynes on May 15.

Emma Norman, who represents the Learning and Disability Partnership based at Banbury's Redlands Centre, said: "The scheme is focusing on abilities rather than disabilities.

"We like to praise what these players are achieving and we are using football to help disabled people gain confidence and believe in themselves."

The plan is to encourage the players and their parents to share in the running of the project, and the chairman of the team is Richard Davenport, himself a learning disabled player.

The scheme is free for the players.

The coaches, all FA qualified, give their time voluntarily, and the club is looking for sponsors to help buy kit and hire buses to take the team to tournaments.

Players who sign on for the learning disability team get a Banbury United kit and an admission pass so they can watch Banbury United's first team matches for free.

The next Saturday session is on March 22 at 11am.