Pre-season: Apply to Oxford

A return to the National League South for Oxford City this coming season, after relegation last time out, but a club that remains on an upward curve, having come a long way from the testing times of the late 1980's when they had to leave the White House Ground.

Pre-season friendlies at home to Barry Town United (Sat 6th July), Sutton United (Tue 23rd) and Braintree Town (Sat 3rd August) will all be 'Pay what you want' with no minimum amount.

For a great perspective on football across the whole of the county, the Oxon Football website is regularly updated on X.

125th Anniversary Celebrations At Oxford United

Founded as Headington United in 1893, 2018 marks the 125th anniversary of Oxford United Football Club.

No institution reaches 125 not out without coming through its fair share of adverse circumstances and the U's are no different.

Long before unscrupulous owners became fashionable in the English game Oxford supporters were mobilising in the face of Robert Maxwell’s plan to merge them with Reading and create the Thames Valley Royals.

That low was followed by the high of a League Cup triumph at Wembley and a period in and around the top division before a gradual decline accelerated into something more.

As with many clubs (think Chesterfield at present and my own Sky Blues) a move to a new stadium was supposed to mark an upturn in fortunes, the trade off for the years of memories built into the fabrics of grounds such as Saltergate, Highfield Road and the Manor Ground but the Kassam Stadium witnessed a new nadir in 2006 when the Football League status so hard-won in 1962 was lost.

Chris Wilder led the U’s back into League Two before a further promotion was achieved in 2016 under Michael Appleton's management.

The club have made a special request to play a game on the exact date of their founding and to mark the occasion tickets for the visit of Shrewsbury Town on 27 October have been reduced to £12.50 for Adults and £1.25 for Under 7's (Under 13's in the Family Area).

Abingdon United FC

We are delighted to announce that our game Vs @NorthLeigh_FC United will be our very first 'Pay what you like day' #AUFC pic.twitter.com/G2tnxZE8iW

— Abingdon United FC (@AbingdonUtd) 1 March 2017

As the above tweet says,  'Pay What You Want' is coming to Northcourt Road next month for a Hellenic League Division One West match.

What I like about the initiative is that the club have announced it early, allowing for plenty of time to build up publicity locally and on social media.

It is also Easter Saturday so there is no competition from the Football League (Oxford United are away on Good Friday) or the National League.

Hopefully the day will provide plenty of positive feedback and leave local people intending to come back a few times next season.

Northcourt Road is also the home ground for Oxford United Women and they take on Aston Villa Ladies in the Spring Series this Sunday (12th March) at 2pm.

Tickets are priced at £4 Adults and £1.50 Concessions when purchased in advance (£5/£2 on the day).

Banbury United FC, Mickleover Sports FC

The last Saturday of football before Christmas is usually an occasion for lower than usual attendances although the calendar this season means that there is still a match-free Saturday, in the shape of Christmas Eve (in England although there are quite a few matches taking place in Scotland), in which to cram in some last-minute shopping.

Two Non-League clubs pulling out all the stops to divert people away from the shops are Banbury United and Mickleover Sports of the Southern and Northern Premier Leagues respectively.

Currently 7th in the table, Banbury welcome bottom club Cinderford Town for a 3pm kick-off with admission reduced to £5 for Adults and Concessions and free for Under-16's.

The Puritans are also hosting a Christmas Funday with a free gift for all children, a choir and a visit from the pantomime.

In Derbyshire, fellow mid-table dwellers Ashton United are the visitors to Mickleover's Don Amott Arena where admission is £5 for Adults and free for Under-16's and Concessions.

The Christmas theme continues here with a free selection box of chocolates for the children.

Banbury United FC, Hitchin Town FC

Banbury United FC are back on these pages again after a ‘Football for a Fiver’ offer attracted 589 to the Spencer Stadium for the recent game against Winchester City. 

That was the Puritans highest home attendance for almost six years and the club have decided to repeat the offer (which is a halving of the usual adult admission price) for their next two home matches, against Shortwood United on March 19th and Tiverton Town on March 26th. 

Admission is £5 for all Adults with Under-16’s admitted free for both games with some fun activities planned for the Tiverton match on Easter Saturday. 

Saturday's 3-1 victory at Slimbridge kept Banbury on top of the Southern League Division One South & West, ahead of Cinderford Town albeit having played a number of games more.

And a welcome return to the blog for Hitchin Town as they plan another ‘Pay What You Want’ fixture when St Neots are the visitors to Top Field on April 23rd in the Southern League Premier where Hitchin currently occupy a play-off place.

The Canaries are hard at work raising funds for new floodlights at their fine old ground and, as at the recent ‘Pay What You Want’ match against Frome Town, any monies received over and above the club’s budgeted figure for the game will be put into the fund.

A short while ago, the fund stood at nearly £14,000 with the target being £30,000.

Didcot Town Football Club

The Railwaymen (could it be anything else given their location) have been proudly in existence since 1907, now playing at the Loop Meadow just a few hundred yards from their old Station Road ground but on the other side of the railway line.

Bashley FC are the visitors in the Evo-Stik Southern League on Saturday 12 March and, after an encouraging season which saw Didcot reach the First Round of the FA Cup, attracting 2,707 for the game against Exeter City, supporters are encouraged to come along and ‘Pay What You Want’ for the game.

Children go free with someone making a donation and anyone donating £5 or more will be entered into a prize draw.

Speaking to The Non-League Paper this Sunday, chairman John Bailey said: "We're asking for the game against Bashley that a donation big or small is made when supporters come through the turnstiles.

"If anyone pays £5 or more then they will be entered into a draw to win a range of things - including a pair or watches and also matchday hospitality for our remaining home games."

While Didcot still have outside hopes of making the play-offs at the end of the season, it has been a hugely difficult season for their opponents on 12 March with Bashley’s 6-0 defeat at the weekend making it 140 goals conceded in 30 matches and just one point gained in the whole campaign, a similar struggle to that of New Mills AFC.

Banbury United FC

A second mention of the season for Banbury United FC who have a big home game against Winchester City on Saturday 27th February.

Both sides are currently flying high in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South & West and admission prices at the Spencer Stadium have been reduced to £5 for all Adults with Under-16's free.

Football For A Fiver At Banbury United

A very busy pre-Christmas afternoon is planned at Banbury United for Saturday 19th December.

That is when the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South & West clash with current leaders Cinderford Town takes place and all Adult tickets will cost just £5 for the 3pm kick-off.

Under-16's can get into the Spencer Stadium for free when accompanied and a number of other activities will be taking place on the day including the chance to meet mascot Rory the Lion and an Xmas raffle.

Update: Oxford United Pleased With Ticket Offer Response

We looked last week at a pleasing initiative from Oxford United in which the U's were contacting around 700 lapsed season ticket holders from last season were being offered a free ticket for the AFC Wimbledon game tomorrow (22 November).

Around half of that number have contacted the club to book their place and, quoted in the Witney Gazette, Kevin Smith, the man responsible for sales and marketing at OUFC, said: “It won’t change the attendance massively, but hopefully the 300 will remember why they used to come every fortnight and even those who haven't take it up will appreciate it.

"We could’ve done nothing and we can’t do that. I think this is the right thing to do."

Come Back and See Us Say Oxford United

I'm always pleased when I come across an offer of a kind I haven't seen before and Oxford United have come up with an excellent one for their home game against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday 22 November.

Deals for season ticket holders (while always welcome) can sometimes be of limited value. Reduced admission prices for a match (again, generally a positive thing) does run the risk of upsetting slightly those who have paid in the summer for a season of football and rewarding people who may have no intention of coming again or have not shown a commitment to the club in the past.

Charting something of a course between the two, Oxford are offering a free ticket for the Wimbledon game for season ticket holders from 2013/14 who didn't renew this time around.

As a former Coventry City season ticket holder I recognise the words of U's chief executive Mark Ashton who told his club's official website: "I know that deciding not to renew a season ticket at your football club is a big decision and one that I am sure was not taken lightly."

Mr Ashton arrived at the club in the summer and this iniative is part of his drive to engage with supporters.

Those people who qualify for the offer are being contacted by email and post in the next couple of days.

B.O.G.O.F at Brentford & Oxford United and a Positive Day for Salisbury City

As the season approaches its climax, two teams with plenty to play for at the top of Leagues One and Two respectively are offering 'buy one, get one free' ticket deals for upcoming games.

Brentford host Crawley at Griffin Park on Tuesday 8th April at 7:45pm and the offer applies to all home sections of the ground. East Stand tickets for Oxford United's game against Fleetwood this Saturday (5th April 3pm) are also two for the price of one.

It's a smart move from both clubs, ensuring healthy attendance at a time when regular supporters and season ticket holders are more likely to welcome the extra numbers through the gate if it manages to push their team over the line in the battle for either promotion or a play-off place.

Other offers that have been announced since our April update include more free football as Chelsea and Liverpool meet in the Under-21 Premier League at Aldershot on Tuesday 7th April, kick-off 7:05pm.

Saturday's Conference Premier game between Salisbury City and Kidderminster Harriers, meanwhile, attracted a crowd of 2,217 to the Raymond McEnhill Stadium, the result of a month of hard work by the club to raise their profile locally.

Manager Mikey Harris and his players toured local schools and handed out complimentary tickets while military personnel were offered entry for £1. "Hopefully that will be a catalyst for our crowds increasing over this season and next season."