OXFORD United is giving pensioners the chance to master a mouse, find their way round Facebook and get a grip on Google.

The club has joined forces with the BBC to offer free computer courses to people aged over 55, by offering the First Click Beginners Course at the Kassam Stadium.

It is one of just six clubs across the south of England to be involved in the project, aimed at getting as many people as possible online.

About 9.2 million people in Britain do not know how to use a computer.

On Friday, Ken Leonard, 75, from Chalgrove, took his first steps into cyberspace when he started the new course with wife Milli, 70.

He said: “We have not got a computer, but we are thinking of getting a laptop.

“Our nieces and nephews have been getting on at us saying we are out of touch and we should get one.

“We only want the basics, so we can use it for email contact with our friends. Most of them have email now, but when we retired, we decided it wasn’t for us and never thought it would take off in the way it has. Now we are out of touch a little bit.”

He added: “We wanted to find out how to work it, and thought this would be a good way of giving it a go.”

Peter Rhoades-Brown, the club’s Football in the Community officer, said: “Often this age group has been left behind due to the speed of technological advances.

“I understand how difficult it can be get the proper direction and help in using communities, and I experienced difficulties myself when leaving professional football and became more office-based and needed computer literacy.

“We are actively encouraging people to come along and get involved with the courses.”

The two hour sessions at the Grenoble Road stadium are completely free. For more information, or to book a place, contact the club’s social inclusion officer, John Armstrong, on 07540 865123.

For details of other First Click courses being held in the county, call 08000 150950.