A CHARITY football league is looking to expand after raising more than £50,000 for disadvantaged children.

The Wednesday night league – based at Oxford Hawks Hockey Club off Banbury Road – hopes to raise even more money for youngsters with its move to Iffley Road next month.

Founded in 2012, the six-a-side league has raised funds for Jacari – a charity providing tutoring for disadvantaged children who don’t speak English as their first language.

League organiser, Alex Whitton, said: “I work in the same office as Jacari and I decided to run their football league voluntarily in my spare time.

“It’s a really good caused and it’s a great opportunity to get people playing football.

“In the winter at Oxford Hawks we have around 100 players playing regularly and when we move to Iffley Road for the summer we expand to 200.

“It offers Oxford people with the opportunity to play football while making a positive contribution to the local community.”

The 23-year-old from Cowley, who works for an educational company, added: “We want more players to come along – we are looking to add an extra game night and maybe run a tournament.”

The league has always switched to Iffley Road for its spring league and throughout the summer months.

This year the warmer weather version will grow from 24 teams to 36, with all the profits being donated to the charity.

It costs £5 for 40 minute matches, which are overseen by qualified referees and played on astro.

Simon, a regular player for the team ‘Ballers’, said: “Participating in the Charity Football League has been a great way to spend time once a week.

“It’s kept me fit(ish), introduced me to some great new team mates as well as providing me with a good excuse to meet with those I already knew.

Jacari matches children who don’t speak English as their first language and couldn’t otherwise afford extra tuition, with tutors from Oxford University and Oxford Brookes.

The charity’s co-ordinator, Freya Turner, said: “The league provides over half of our yearly running costs so it’s an incredible help for us.

“We are really excited to the league growing and attracting more players.”

For more information and to sign up to the league go to charityfootballleague.co.uk