MANCHESTER United will play host today to more than 1,000 A-level students from the north of England, Scotland and Wales who have gathered to learn about Oxford and Cambridge universities. The conference, the first of its kind in the North, is aimed especially at young peopl from backgrounds where there is little or no tradition of applying to Oxbridge. Martin Edwards, chairman of Manchester United, said the club “always strives to be the best and is therefore keen to encourage young people to achieve their full academic potential”.