Oxford United Football Club sponsors festival event for first time

Club sponsors Nedum Onuoha event

Oxford United Football Club have become a sponsor of the Oxford Literary Festival for the first time. The club will sponsor an event with Nedum Onuoha, the former Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers player whose book, Kicking Back, was published earlier this year.

Onuoha, now a BBC football pundit, will talk about life on and off the pitch, including minority groups in football, how to approach the end of a professional sporting career and the importance of having an identity outside of the game. Oxford United plan to use this partnership as an educational opportunity for their own teams and hope that those passionate about football across all ages and parts of the city will come to listen and ask questions.

Adam Benson, chief commercial and marketing officer for Oxford United said he was delighted to be working with the Oxford Literary Festival and sees this collaboration as part of ongoing initiatives to engage with new and existing audiences.

He added: “Although a football club and a literary festival may seem like an unusual fit, the partnership presents a fantastic opportunity for Oxford United. Our objective is to create a brand that reaches beyond football and into arts, culture, entertainment and leisure. Furthermore, we are committed to providing a range of educational opportunities for our supporters, staff and players, and learning from ambassadors like Nedum is an invaluable part of that.”

Festival director Sally Dunsmore said: “We are thrilled to be working with Oxford United. This partnership epitomises our commitment to attract a new generation of festival goers. The Oxford Literary Festival is for everyone. Our speakers come from all walks of life and they talk about things that affect us all, from the food we eat to climate change and the stories of today and the past that impact our daily lives. We hope this will be the beginning of a long relationship with Oxford United.”