OXFORD City have added 14 students from their football and education programme to their Under 23 squad.

The Velocity Football youngsters will represent the Vanarama National League South club’s development team this season after impressing boss James Thorpe.

The squad will train twice weekly and compete in the Suburban Football League Premier Division.

Thorpe is set to take several Velocity training sessions this academic year so he can identify outstanding talent, as part of the programme’s commitment to provide a strong development pathway for its students.

He said: “There is a very close link between Oxford City’s first-team, the U23s and Velocity Football.

“It’s most teenagers’ dream to become a professional footballer, but the programme caters for those interested in a career in sport across all sectors too, which is vitally important.”

Meanwhile, City’s first-team will aim to get back on track against some familiar faces in National League South tomorrow.

David Oldfield takes his side to fourth-placed Havant & Waterlooville, having tasted defeat for the first time in 2021/22 against Maidstone United last weekend.

They could face former City captain Joe Oastler and last-season’s top-scorer James Roberts, who both left Court Place Farm for the south coast over the summer.