OXFORD United chairman Darryl Eales’s passion for military history and his friendship with a former general has resulted in a special networking opportunity for local business people at Blenheim Palace.

The club’s United in Business programme will hold its Leadership in Combat: Exploring the Relevance to Business event at the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill on Tuesday, September 22, from 6.30pm.

The United in Business programme, aimed at linking the club more with people in the community, now has about 70 members.

All money raised from membership fees goes to the Oxford United Community Trust, which is a charitable organisation.

Speaking of the scheme’s latest event, Mr Eales said: “What we’re trying to do is bring across the comparisons between leading in the military and leading in business, and be thought-provoking.”

The keynote speaker is General Sir Nick Parker, who was appointed the UK’s Commander Land Forces in 2011 before retiring two years later.

He had a distinguished career in the armed forces, including as Deputy Commanding General (UK) Multi-National Corps Iraq in 2005-6, and Deputy Commander for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in 2009-10.

Mr Eales said he first met Sir Nick just before he left for Afghanistan. “We’ve done a few charity things together.

“You immediately understand why he’s a leader of men.”

The Leadership in Combat event, which is sponsored by Clifford Thames, is the fourth since the club re-launched its United in Business programme in June.

The programme has been going for a year, and is part of Mr Eales’s strategy to integrate the football club with the Oxfordshire community, including its business people.

Mr Eales, 54, became chairman in July 2014 and is the club’s controlling shareholder with a 41 per cent stake. He is a former chief executive of LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, a position he held for 11 years before stepping down in 2014.

He said: “We’re trying the make the football club a catalyst for businesses in Oxfordshire to do more business with each other.

“It’s networking but hopefully networking with a result.”

He added the 12 monthly events that the programme holds each year needed to be ones that “people actually enjoy”.

Recent speakers include Arsenal physiotherapist Andy Rolls and former Chelsea and Oxford United footballer Michael Duberry.

Membership costs £1,000 a year (plus VAT), which includes free access to the networking events, company listings on the programme’s website and e-marketing to other members.

Non-members are invited to the Leadership in Combat event, for a £20 entry fee (plus VAT), which will be refunded if the person subsequently buys a membership.

For details, see unitedinbusiness.co.uk/events