The stewarding was a little controversial at this match, many felt it was way to heavy handed. It is really rather odd to arrive in the car park and to be able to see into the ground with only a wooden fence in the way. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end the n other sides of the Kassam Stadium? I wish I knew that you could watch the game through the fence before buying my ticket. A section of the North stand had been cordoned off to accommodate 1,102 travelling Southend fans who were in party mood and many in fancy dress which has become traditional for final away games. A nightmare. The club recently moved into their new dedicated training facility in Cowley, a few miles south-east of the city and a stone's throw from BMW's Mini factory. Michael has an extensive range of past programmes for home and away matches; team sheets; books and memorabilia (cash or card). We stayed in control and added a third from a well taken free kick to seal off a very good day. We had a tip from some West Ham fans on Twitter regarding a pub called the George Arms on Sandford Road so we went there and parked. As such, a relocation was the only option. The East Stand is another single-tier structure and welcomes the most vocal Oxford United supporters. Oxford vs Reading rivalry: The Oxford Reading rivalry is underpinned by an attempt club merger back in 1983. There is a roundabout by the second entrance, which will take you back to the first entrance if the other half is full. The usual lower league ground. We decided to get off the coach and walk the last bit to the ground, in the pouring gale-force rain and wind. Pity the Kassam Stadium is so far "out of town" and awkward to get to. He was poor throughout though and baffled both sets of fans and players with some awful decisions. Councillor Linda Smith said creating a long-term training base for Oxford United at the sports park had been an "integral part of the development of the site". On the whole, I found the Kassam Stadium to be an enjoyable and largely friendly day out. Fantastic to have Brian Wood MC at the training ground this morning to give the players and staff an incredible talk on team spirit, togetherness, leadership and the importance of mental health.. The performance was poor from the team which frustrated the fans. See the Oxford Bus Company website for timetables. ). Note that after most matches there is a security gate in place behind the North Stand which prevents direct access from the away end to the East car parks. As well documented, the stadium has only three stands, which is strange, but quirky and something different which I always enjoy. Charlton fans felt that the Stewards had confused us for our South London neighbours. In October 2015 a new railway station serving Oxford was opened. Alternatively, please email ifollow@efl.com - note that live chat is recommended for the quickest response on a matchday. . I'm not sure I would have found my way out of Oxford at night without the satnav, the dual carriageway suddenly becoming a single carriageway road doubling back on itself, but maybe that is Oxford road planning for you. I think quite a few people drive to the ground due to its location and the number of spaces for parking is great but the ability to get away is dreadful. In order to use the live chat functionality you need to opt into live chat cookies. The toilets were clean and tidy. Construction on the complex began in 1999, the main building was opened and the first team . Fortunately I only missed the opening few minutes of the game. The most likely development to the ground in the future is the addition of a fourth stand. The match was surprisingly competitive despite the sweltering conditions. Wed love to know your thoughts on how well weve achieved that goal and what you think we can do better to improve your experience (off the pitch) in future. The nearest train station is Oxford. If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: contact@footballgroundguide.com and Ill update the guide. The huge police presence in the car park makes it feel like a safe place for a game of football. University Parks is a public park which is managed by the University and has sports pitches managed by Oxford University Sport within it. Hotels Express Holiday Inn and Hampton by Hilton are both located on the complex. There is usually a smoking pen available for use at half-time only. One was due to a slip by the goalkeeper, which as a neutral is always amusing. It was a good day out, even though we lost 2-1. Visitors travelling from London may like to use theOxford Tube. Training and workshops at the University are run by a variety of departments and divisions. This gives the ground a rather weird appearance as if it has just been dumped in the middle of a huge car park. The stadium itself is next to a mini-retail park development, and has a bowling alley / cinema / generic-chain-restaurants, so has a strange sort of atmosphere about it. The North stand is where the away supporters are put. Oxford showed enough quality to suggest they should cope well enough with the demands of League 1. The Kassam Stadium looks very much like many new builds apart from the bizarre sight of one end missing. I decided to try a hotdog as I heard nothing good about the pies, and I only needed one bite before throwing it in to a nearby bin. The total attendance was 9,356 which is a credit for Oxford United at this level. The Kassam Stadium looks odd with one stand "missing" at one end which is open. While parking for free is a rare treat when out at the football, the downside is everyone is trying to squeeze out of one exit on the way back. I like visiting new grounds and the Kassam Stadium Oxford was to be my 49th ground visited. The toilets are really clean and the catering staff selling refreshments are very efficient. Parking was also free, which was a very welcomed surprise. Book a 121 goalkeeping session with us at Oxford United Training ground or a place of your choice. Oxford is in the South of England and not far from London. This consists of a perimeter wall with a car park beyond. They became the first team that had won a major trophy to be relegated out of the Football League. That is because in 2001 the Bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries, did an exorcism on the ground after Oxford lost thirteen out of seventeen games there. 2018-2019: 7,315 (League One) "9011", "AB1", "9980-999") or a city (eg. I had a fantastic view from the top of the away section and the ample height between rows ensured no ones head was in my way. Although modern it is less 'flat-pack' than a lot of its peers and enjoys a nice open aspect without that hemmed in feeling. Spencer Matthews looks for brother's body on Everest, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Doctors want up to 262 an hour to cover strike, Johnson faces 'punishment' and his 'stitch-up', Sacred coronation oil will be animal-cruelty free. I had a good view from behind the goal (the end with the stand) both side stands look in good condition. You can get the Oxford Bus Company Service, Number 3A which on Saturdays only runs to the Kassam Stadium via Sandford-on-Thames. Then back around the M25 and up the M40. One tiny road out of the car park and a lot of cars. Grass Club Nickname: We walked to the Kings Arms pub which is by the Thames River for some lunch, although note they dont open until 12 noon. The landlord, the staff and the Oxford fans were all very welcoming and I would recommend this pub for any away supporters. The Tree is midway between Oxford and the stadium, about a mile from either, but it's a good deal cheaper than many city centre options. There is a special type of pitch, one of the first to have artificial grass woven into the live turf. Its a nice spot by Sanford Lock to while away a couple of hours. From stop R2 at the railway station Stagecoach route 1 and Oxford Bus Company route 5 run at frequent intervals (combined every 4-5 minutes on Saturday and 7-10 minutes evenings and Sunday) throughout the week to Knights Road in Blackbird Leys, a short walk from the ground. Then it was off to the Turf Tavern a small pub down an alleyway off Holywell Street where I had hoped to visit before the game. The game itself nearly gave me a heart attack with both sides going all out for the win. This has a number of strange looking floodlights protruding from its roof. To be honest in 800 or so yards I've got Pressed Steel (for six clubs), Oxford United training ground, Horspath Road Sports ground (bus garage end), Horspath Road Sports ground (Headington Amateurs and five other clubs), Horspath Road stadium pitch, Horspath Village Green. I left North West London at 11:30am and headed straight up the M40 and arrived at the Kassam Stadium just before 12:30pm. This elevates it in my estimation and the fact that one end is open (a West Stand never having been built), makes it unusual amongst British stadia. A key game for us as it would be an indicator if we had a chance of making the play-offs after six successive draws versus the top teams in League One, i.e. Never got to see any of the facilities this time due to arriving late, but my recollection from previous visits is that they are nothing special but equally not as bad as in some older grounds. 2017-2018: 7,376(League One), Unofficial Web Sites: Attendance: 7,980 (262 away supporters). and a penalty was awarded to the home side. I had a pie which was very nice and had quite a lot of filling which made a change. Normally I would be looking forward to the trip, but not this time around. A 10 minute walk to the stadium. "We believe they are well placed to manage the site and, like us, they are keen to ensure that the community use of the site remains a key element of any future tenancy," she said. The journey on the whole was uneventful and we arrived in good time at 1.30pm. I would definitely re-visit the Kassam when, inevitably, we play them next season! We have a team of uniformed Matchday Ambassadors to help you with your visit when you arrive. I always enjoy a night game and wasn't disappointed here shame the result was bad, with Coventry losing 2-0. That aside I always love an away day and the Kassam Stadium was a new ground for me. The stadium itself looks weird considering its a three-sided ground. There is also some street parking available along Grenoble Road (going away from the stadium), just make sure you use the marked bays. The University of Oxford is not a campus university and our colleges, departments and other constituent units are to be found throughout the city of Oxford, rather than on one central site. This will give us fantastic new facilities on the edge of the city and allow all areas of the club to work side by side, from the young players in the Academy right through to the first team. Although it is located on the other side of Oxford to the Kassam Stadium, it does have good bus transport links into Oxford City Centre. If you use what3words, you can find the precise . Capabilities. At the time of writing, Oxford United lie seventh in the League One table, with ambitions of gaining promotion to the Championship. But it was still one of the best 0-0 games I have watched in a long long time. The ground is clean, quite smart, good structure. The journey took over three hours but was straightforward. We was away in 10 minutes after boarding the coach and the Police escorted us to the motorway, then we was left to make our own way home. On hearing the story, they like most opposition fans, wished us well in getting rid of our owners. It was a pretty smooth and easy journey. From Central London take the A4 to the M4 then the M40. There is no standing area. We hadnt been to the Kassam Stadium before, so it was a newground to us and also relatively close. We ate at a Wetherspoons pub called the Four Candles that was near Oxford station. The Atkinson family have a close history with Oxford United. The ball seemed to regularly go out over the unused end leading to stoppages in the game. Even better I hit the crossbar twice at half time! Check out this list of stops closest to your destination: Nene Park Academy; Herlington Centre; Peterborough. If youre hoping to host an event in Oxford then this place should be top of your list of locations. Sat next to a guy from Barnet so had a nice chat with him throughout game. Your trip would not be complete without a copy of our award-winning programme, which has excellent in-depth features on the visiting team. Ross Hitchcock informs me; Oxford Bus Company/Stagecoach route 3A runs half hourly from the city centre (Westgate stop E1 and High Street stop T2), Iffley Road and Sandford-on-Thames direct to the ground on Saturdays only. Enter the address, city, state, province, or country into the search field above to locate a mailing address or find a package's origin. The three stands at Oxford are often ridiculed but I don't think it took anything away from the atmosphere both fans can generate inside the ground. I like to visit new stadiums and I heard that Oxford had a good ground. 372m Oxford Sports Cricket Ground . Sue stocks the current matchday programme; 50/50 (half time draw) tickets; a wide selection of souvenir badges and many other items of OUFC memorabilia. I was looking forward to this game, as both Oxford and Port Vale were pushing for promotion. Youd be forgiven for thinking there are no developments planned at the Kassam Stadium; the last update, which saw the addition of 735 seats in the form of a small fourth stand took years to come to fruition. For Tuesday night matches note that the last bus back to the city centre is currently at 9:50pm. Argyle defended deeper the longer the second half went on and survived a few scares including a sustained period of pressure around ten minutes from the end. Saturday, April 28th, 2012, 3pm I dropped the wife in Watford for a visit to Harry Potter World. Derek Fennel a visiting Blackburn supporter adds; the stewards at the Kassam seemed very helpful and accommodating which led to a feeling of watching the game in a relaxed frame of mind. The ground was very easy to find. There are several marked blue badge bays near to each stand on a first come, first served basis. Continue along the A34 until you see the stadium. At The Kassam Stadium: The Kassam Stadium was alright but where is the other stand? Saturday 8am to 1pm. 394m . Please note though that for certain high profile games (on Police advice) that both the pub and Club do not admit visiting supporters. The new facility, which is on Oxford City Council-owned land, is funded by the City Council using 4.9m of payments from BMW (UK) Manufacturing. Any teams or groups interested in using the facilities can register their interest by emailing Andrew Harvey aharvey@oufc.co.uk. The parks are located in thecity centre of Oxford and haveseveral entrances depending on your mode of transport. Another couple of pubs 'The Bear' and 'Chequers' before getting the bus to ground. There's a Fish & Chips place next door that seemed decent but was rammed too. With my trusty camera in the coat pocket I took the chance to photograph Ollie and Olivia the bull and cow Oxford mascots. Can't comment on the pies, burgers etc as didn't eat any, having eaten at the pub beforehand. 4 January 2017. Oxford were the better side and frankly deserved to win today. From here Marston Road Sports Ground is a 15minute walk or you can take the U5 bus towards Marston and disembark at Ferry Road, walking 5 minutes down Edgeway Road andfollowing the walking and cycling instructions. The A34 from Newbury nearly takes you to the Kassam's front door! More exits would speed this up. A smoke bomb was thrown into the field of play causing the visibility to temporarily disappear almost entirely. But as I already had the tickets for this game, I was determined to go. Justice done therefore when Jones saved the penalty from Liam Sercombe. With space for up to 600 people they can handle pretty much anything you throw at them. The ground looks very impressive and the double-tiered stand opposite is Premier League standard. An alternative walking route is available down Jackdaw Lane, which isoff the Iffley Road. All of us just about squeezed onto it but it was 5.45pm before we got back to the High Street. We parked at the George Arms on Sandford Road, a 15 minute walk away as above. We will arrange a quality city centre Munich hotel for you as well as coveted match tickets to the big game. Overall theKassam Stadium is not a bad day out. They dont categorise their games, but they do charge different amounts depending on your age and for different parts of the ground. These services are not operated by the football club and are subject to change: please check https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/servicesfor up to date information before setting off. . BMW Mini plant in 4.9m . Atmosphere was very good as local derby and 11,500 almost filled the entire ground. League Two TICKETSThe visiting club manages advance ticket sales for the away end, including tickets for the thirteen wheelchair bays. The Pompey fans were full of singing as usual, but with the exception of the times when they scored you could have been forgiven for wondering if there were any Oxford supporters there! Oxford United FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website). The most convenient bus is the Stagecoach 3 or N3 bus which runs between the city centre and Iffley Road. The Kassam Stadium looked quite nice from the outside. OXFORD UNITED FACTS Ground: Kassam Stadium Capacity: 12,500 Address: Grenoble Road, Oxford, OX4 4XP Telephone no: 01865 337500 Year opened: 2001 Official website: www.oufc.co.uk Twitter: @OUFCOfficial Facebook: oufcofficial Instagram: @oufcofficial YouTube: OxfordUnitedOfficial iFollow audio and video: www.oufc.co.uk/ifollow For Satnavs, use postcode OX4 4XP. There are plans for some more modernisation though albeit minor works. Don't park in the car parks next to the ground. The stewards were indifferent rather than friendly. 01865 337 533 Pitch Size: Responsibly, Book A Trip To Watch Bayern Munich Play Schalke 04 In The Bundesliga, Click here for details and online booking, Map showing the location of the Kassam Stadium and listed pubs. About a 15 minute walk, through the underpass, past Franky and Bennys and straight into the away end. So far I have managed all 65 grounds watching either Tottenham or Exeter, and taken my time, I have now decided to finish the 92 in the next two years so have abandoned that plan and will be taking in some neutral games, starting at Brighton in 3 weeks time. This pub was really busy with tourists and day trippers but again had a good selection of drinks. In an idea world, the club would have kept the Oxford stadium as the Manor Ground but it wasnt in a state to easily bring up to modern spec. 54 Walton Street, Oxford, OX2 6AE (01865 557 309). Return and day tickets bought from one operator can be used to return on the other. Kim Rockall informs me; There is a cinema and bowling alley complex located adjacent to the stadium, called Ozone. The sports park, which includes 16 football pitches of various sizes and will also house two cricket pitches and softball facilities, replaced a previous facility on land in Cowley now owned by Mini carmaker BMW. And we sat in the car waiting for at least 15 minutes before even bothering to join the non-moving queue. Sort it out Oxford! Before the game started there was a minute's silence to remember the human sacrifice of two World Wars. There is not much around the ground in terms of pubs and eating establishments, although refreshments inside the stadium are okay, although if there is a large away support, then it can take quite a while to get served. Iffley Road Sports Centre is a 30 minute walk from the train station or utilise the bus directions below. Michael welcomes donations of Oxford United programmes. Although it only has three sides, meaning that wen the weather is bad, as it was on this evening you are pretty exposed to it. Return and day tickets bought from one operator can be used to return on the other. The atmosphere at the game was really good. I even saw a tweet from a home fan asking "Why are there so many Stewards in the away section?" Martin Rice in the Torquay goal who has played for Torquay (in the Blue Square Premier) before but was making his full league debut at the age of 26 played a blinder saving superbly from Leven and Constable. Away end if half of the North Stand on the opposite, and is quite far away from the more vocal home fans, who were congregated behind the far goal. Carrington Training Centre, sometimes referred to as Carrington, was the training ground of EFL League Two club Bury, leased from Manchester City.The League Two club moved into this complex in early 2015 when previous holders, Manchester City moved into a new 50 million training facility close to its Sportcity home in east Manchester. The former owner Firoz Kassam, who the ground is named after, said in 2016, I would like a stadium with my name on it that is finished and not just half-built. 5 Sandford Road, Oxford, OX4 4PU (01865 779 341). The game was well stewarded but an appalling one for a West Ham fan in terms of the performance on the pitch, losing the match 4-0. Although for some high profile matches the Club opt not to sell any. Coming off the M40 onto the A34 into Oxford. The 39-acre development is to be used as a training ground and academy base for the football club as well as for "some wider community use", the council added. The Kassam Stadium is okay. Car - From the North take the M6 to the M42, then the M40 to the A34 at Junction 9. Oxford vs Swindon rivalry: There are just 30 miles of A420 separating these two clubs; theyve long held contempt for one another but the seventies and eighties are when things really kicked up a notch. The new 4.9m sports park, in Horspath Road, will be home for all Oxford Uniteds outdoor training, including for the first team, under 18s and academy. Here's the number. Adults 20, Over 65s/Under 22s/Students 14, Under 18s 8, Under 13s 6, Under 7s Free** Saturday, November 10th, 2012, 3pm Getting away was awful. Ed Murray adds; I visited the Kassam Stadium for a Tuesday evening game, I took the number 5 bus from the station just before 7pm and, even though the traffic was fairly light, I didnt arrive at the ground until 7:50pm. They even have a match programme made especially for away fans. This was not Argyle's best recent performance but they managed to get ball three points. Conveniently located at London Oxford Airport, it is the perfect place to start EASA Integrated ATPL pilot training. We offer a whole host of packages for the Bundesliga, La Liga and all major leagues and cup competitions. As a Torquay United fan of far too many years and living in Berkshire this is a relatively easy trip. Another day trip with my five year old son. Both sets of fans generated a pretty good atmosphere considering the game was a fairly dull 1-1 draw. The restrictions apply to the wide grass verges as well as the roads. Oxford United v Torquay United document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Football Ground Guide. Required fields are marked *, Please read our Terms and Conditions before submission. How can parents appeal over school places? 2023 BBC. Either enter a postal code (eg. What is the postcode of the BMW UK Vehicle Handover Centre? From the South or London-use Thornhill Park and Ride. Overall it was a decent evenings entertainment, it was a good point for Exeter especially as most around us dropped points. Next time, I'll park 15 minutes walk away and get away 45 minutes faster. The atmosphere was great from the Argyle fans throughout the game and the Oxford fans could be heard at times too, although there were only about 6,500 of them. Game: Both teams are in similar league positions. Just looks very odd to say the least. So overall a great day out for Southend particularly as results elsewhere ensured we still had a chance of automatic promotion in our last game at home to Macclesfield. At the Memorial Stadium in Bristol, by 1pm the place is bopping multiple bars, all pints 3 before 1.30pm, multiple food outlets, friends and families gathering, face painting, kids activities, etc.. Oxford United should take note. View the embedded image gallery online at: 63 Church Way, Tree Lane, Oxford, England, OX4 4EY. . We visited the George Inn pub in Littlemore. Oxford University Press 4000 CentreGreen Way, Suite 310 Cary, NC 27513 USA. The club has been in discussions with current leaseholders . They may also be included in hospitality packages. Oxford Station is approximately five miles from the stadium. Coach and minibus drivers must drop-off on Iffley Road and park at the dedicated council coach parking provision at: The car park is locked outside ofopening hoursand vehicles are non-retrievable during closed periods. Not exactly first impressions as I've been to the Kassam around six times so high time I did a review! The Kassam Stadium is quite well signposted from the main routes into Oxford, with brown football signs pointing the way.
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