OXFORD United's explosive season has continued into the summer after the team spent the day gaining an insight into military demolition.

Having just gone up to League One, players, staff and sponsors were taught how things come down by the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search Training Regiment (DEMS Trg Regt) at St George's Barracks near Bicester.

They spent the day learning about various aspects of the dangerous work before being given hands-on demonstrations and taking part in training games.

The group of 40 was split into smaller teams and put through their paces in a number of challenges, including making their way blindfolded through a rigged house.

Everyone was also shown how to make their own explosives which they then detonated.

One of the first-team players to go along was Oxford United captain Jake Wright, who said: "It has been really great. To come down and spend time with these men and what they do for our country is amazing.

"I have been to army bases for the more physical side of things but not anything like this before.

"We heard the explosions as we were driving up, so we had an idea how loud it was. But it is a bit different when you hear it and feel it in your chest.

"It is amazing, quite scary, but we get the privilege of doing it on a day like this. It's nothing compared to what they face."

Women's team player Lauren Haynes also went to the barracks in Arncott and said: "I had no idea what to expect but it has been fantastic seeing what they do.

"Three of us from the women's team have come along and its been a great team building experience."

The day could mark the start of a new partnership between the football club and the regiment, which is looking to use the Kassam Stadium as a training venue.

It would provide a perfect location to run scenarios in which the soldiers could practice finding hidden explosives.

Staff Sergeant Chalky White said: "This is really to offer the team a chance to see what we do and to help forge links with the club in conjunction with the training we do.

"The type of training we do with IEDs it is important to be able to practice in realistic venues, it helps financially as well as it cuts travel time as we go to Newbury Race Course currently."

Oxford United chairman Darryl Eales said: "The day is all about the bigger picture, about the club building relationships with different companies within Oxfordshire – making the club more relevant.

"I have a big passion for military history as well as sport, so it is the two things I love doing brought together.

"The military spend, say, 95 per cent of their time training and five per cent on operations.

"We have got the stadium, which is a real life venue from them to practise some of the things that we are seeing out there today."

Oxford United have also teamed up this summer for an epic cycle ride of the Western Front as of 1914 to commemorate the Centenary of The Battle of The Somme.

Mr Eales and backroom staff will join the Run 2 Recovery team for part of the 787mile route and will be raising money for Combat Stress and the Community Trust.