A father has formed a football club in Greater Leys to encourage young people to take pride in their estate.

Nick Courtney-Cramp joined other parents to create Greater Leys Youth FC -- the first football club to represent the area.

More than 50 boys have already signed up to represent their neighbourhood by playing for the club's three teams.

Club chairman Mr Courtney-Cramp hopes more teams - including one for girls - can be set up in the future.

The 40-year-old, from Columbine Gardens, said: "We started the club to give children in Greater Leys something to do. Until now there has been no football club on the estate.

"This is something for the kids on the estate to be proud of. They can play for their own estate."

Parents have formed under-11, under-12 and under-15 teams, which will play in the Oxford Mail Boys League for the first time this season.

They will wear blue kits with yellow trim. An image of a red kitecorr - a bird often seen over the estate - has been stitched into each shirt as the club's emblem.

The teams will play every Sunday, with home games at Blackbird Leys Park.

Mr Courtney-Cramp said: "The kids are proud of their area. The best part is it keeps them active and it gets them off the streets.

"It helps with team building, fitness and teaches them rules for later on in life. Playing football is character building."

Vice chairman Chris Hanton, 34, from Firs Meadow, said: "The area has got absolutely nothing in terms of sports clubs, so this is a brand new club. It's going to be built for the future.

"There's quite a lot of talent on the estate. The boys are really proud of the club."

His son Daniel, a right winger for the under-12 team, said: "It will be a great club, because all my friends play for the team.

"I'm proud to be playing football anyway, and to be playing for Greater Leys with my friends is even better."

For more details about the club, call Mr Courtney-Cramp on 01865 401625.