BICESTER United have merged with youth side Bure Park Juniors as they attempt to reach the next level.

The Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division outfit will play in the blue and white stripes of Bure Park when the sport resumes.

Bicester have won three promotions in four seasons despite only forming in 2015 and Simon Green, secretary of the new Bure Park team, hopes more success will follow.

He said: “It’s an honour to take the next step of our footballing journey into the Bure Park Football Club set-up.

“In the past six years we have had to make some tough decisions but this one felt like the correct one.”

Bure Park Juniors have also gone from strength to strength in recent years and boast more than 20 boys’ and girls’ teams from Under 7s to Under 18s.

Last year, they absorbed two girls’ teams who took part in a parade at the 2019 Women’s FA Cup Final.

Chairman Ben Hillier said: “It is a huge compliment to us as a club that Bicester United chose to come and join us.

“This allows us to help them become a more sustainable adult football team without the burden of the very high running costs being placed upon them during their previous affiliation.

“It does not mean we will be subsidising them with our youth set up, but rather the senior team will utilise our expertise in running a successful football club, and our strong working relationships with the FA, going forward.

“The benefit to us, apart from enabling us to complete our football pathway, is that it will allow us to apply for FA Chartered Standard Community Club status, which will hopefully open up many more development & funding opportunities for the whole club.”