Away Travel: Oxford United 4th March
OXFORD UNITED
Tuesday 4th March 2008, Kick-Off: 7.45pm
Oxford United FC, The Kassam Stadium, Grenoble Road, Oxford, OX4 4XP. Tel: 01865 337500
Directions by Car: Leave the M40 at junction 9 (signposted Bicester, Oxford, Newbury) then at Wendlebury Interchange Roundabout take the third exit onto the A34 (s/p Oxford, Newbury). At Hinkley Hill Interchange branch left (s/p Reading) before entering Oxford. On reaching Kennington Roundabout take the second exit onto the A423 (s/p Reading). Branch left (s/p Cowley, Watlington) then at the roundabout take the first exit onto Grenoble Road where the Kassam Stadium may be found a little further along on the left.
Parking: There are around 1,600 free parking spaces outside the ground and a further 400 free spaces next to the adjacent cinema complex. But with Oxford's attendances frequently reaching 5,000 or more, you will need to arrive in good time. Otherwise, opt, with caution, for a nearby suburb.
Train: Trains run via London. A same-day return to Cambridge is not possible, but London U's will have no problems returning to the capital after the game. Oxford Station is over four miles from the ground. From here a taxi will cost approximately £10, or alternatively the number 5 bus runs from the station through the city centre to Knights Road in the Blackbird Leys suburb, which is about a five minute walk from the stadium.
Buses from the station (stop R2) run every 5-10 minutes, passing through the city centre on Queen Street (stop F4). The journey takes around 30 minutes, and on arrival in Blackbird Leys, have a scout around in the skies and you should be able to see the stands of the Kassam not far away. Return buses depart Blackbird Leys every 8-10 minutes, until 10.55pm, with the last bus departing at 11.05pm A return fare shouldn't set you back much more than £2.
The Away Travel Club will be running a coach to the game, at a cost of £16 for non-members, £14 for members and £8 for Under 16's and Junior U's, leaving Ely at 2.30pm and the Abbey at 3.15pm. Contact the club on (01223) 566500 to book your seat.
Bus: Coaches also run from Cambridge to Oxford. The bus is Stagecoach's X5, departing at half-hourly intervals from Bay 12 on Drummer Street. The bus also passes through St. Neots, Eaton Socon, Bedford, Milton Keynes, Buckingham and Bicester. Some very economical fares can be found on this service, if booked early enough, however, the journey does take over three hours and there is no return to be had on Tuesday evening.
Admission: In advance from the CUFC ticket office: adults £16, students £12.50, under 16's and over 65's £10, under 7's free when accompanied by an adult. While there are also a small number of tickets available for wheelchair users, at £16 for adults and £10 for over 65's or under 16's.
On the day, from the OUFC north ticket office (next to the away turnstiles): adults £18, students £14, under 16's, over 65's and under 7's £11.
There will be no cash admission on the day at the turnstiles.
Programme: £2.50
The Ground: The Kassam Stadium is a fine arena, though bereft of a stand of any description at the West End. All three stands are all-seated and covered, with United fans allocated a portion of seats in the west side of the North Stand, offering, particularly from loftier perches, a most presentable view of the action.
An average of 387 U's fans have been in attendance for our past four visits to the Kassam Stadium, with a high of 587 in April 2004 (total attendance 5,830) and a low of 281 on a Tuesday evening in March 2003 (total attendance 4,983).
Pre-Match Refreshment: Alcohol is served within the concourse, but predictably is not cheap. Elsewhere, the Priory is the closest pub, a stone's throw from the ground, and as such, becomes rather busy. The cinema complex next to the ground offers a small selection of eateries, once again, with inflated prices the order of the day. The town centre is undoubtedly a better option for food and drink, but it is not walkable from the ground.
There are a number of interesting city centre pubs, including 'the Bear' on Blue Boar Street. It purports to be the oldest pub in Oxford, boasting low ceilings and an unrivalled collection of old school ties.
Local Attractions: Steeped in history, if you've the time and haven't wandered around the city before, take the opportunity on Tuesday. The colleges, though externally not too dissimilar to those in Cambridge, are worth a glace, along with the Bodleian Library and that bridge-over-the-street thing. In addition, if you arrive before 4.30pm, and are interested in anthropology and ethnology, pop into the Pitt Rivers Museum, if only because of the 'Pitt'. It is located on South Parks Road and admission is free.
Anecdote of the day: Following the 1-1 draw at the Kassam Stadium last season, the Cambridge United players were clambering aboard the team coach as three youngsters looked on. Shortly after the coach pulled away onto the dual carriageway, club captain Danny Brown emerged from the players' entrance, but where were his team-mates? Danny was quickly on the phone to a pal, ordering the swift return of the coach. In the meantime, he asked the three youngsters what they were up to. Star-struck, knowing not what to say, a mumbled response was all they could muster. The coach soon returned and Danny Brown trotted off into the sunset.
Henry Milward
