As England start out today on their path to possible World Cup glory, a group of Oxford girls whose lives have been blighted by abuse are carving out their own victory through the beautiful game.

The Survivors United football team is made up of seven, 14-16-year-old schoolgirls, from Oxford, most of whom have experienced violence during their childhoods.

Some drink heavily as a result of what they have been through. Some of have been excluded from school. And one has grown up in care.

But the team, two of whom have asked not to be identified, is now in training to take part in the Oxfordshire Ball, a charity five-a-side football tournament, organised by their coach, former Oxford City player Stephen Fontaine, to raise awareness of violence and domestic abuse.

They are also backed by the family of mother-of-three Yvonne Heap, who was murdered by her former partner, Nahed Akhter, in April 2003.

Player Jade Newman, 16, said: "I grew up seeing my mum hurt, and drank as a result. But when I drank, violence seemed to come out of me too. It's like a chain that's difficult to break.

"I had played football for a team before, but could not keep it up because of what was happening at home.

"I heard about this football team being set up through my counsellor and knew some of the girls. Being with them and knowing they have gone through some of the same things as me helps. It's making me focus on the positive, not the negative."

Becky Smith, 15, said: "I experienced violence before I went into care. I grew up in children's homes and then was fostered, but I got into trouble. People see girls like us as just being troublemakers, but this team shows we can do something good."

Coach Stephen Fontaine said: "Some of our team are playing football because they have witnessed violence in the home from a very young age, which has shaped their lives today.

"Yes, they are difficult to handle. They have been excluded from schools, they do have violent tendencies and some have problems with drink, which has got them into some life-threatening situations.

"However, instead of blaming everything from their past, they are willing to redeem it, and want to be a part of raising thousands of pounds for Oxfordshire Women's Aid, which will help women and young people who have survived domestic violence and abuse."

Det Insp Kath Lowe, of Oxfordshire Public Protection Unit, added: "Children in families may not be physically assaulted themselves, but they will suffer a different sort of harm.

"They may feel frightened all the time, or they may grow up believing that violence in a family is normal behaviour.

"Thames Valley Police cannot tackle abuse alone, and so we work in partnership with a number of other agencies, one of these being Oxfordshire Womens Aid (OWA).

"OWA provide refuges and outreach workers to support women who are suffering abuse and help women break the cycle of violence.

"This is why the support Steve's team of girls is giving OWA is invaluable."