Oxford United chairman Sumrith 'Tiger' Thanakarnjanasuth wrote the following notes for the Boxing Day Lincoln City programme:
Our last home game of the year and one last chance for us all to join together and support our fantastic football team.
I am so proud of the way Karl and his team play the game. They are always positive, always play for each other and I think the fans truly appreciate what is happening to their team. I always enjoy being Chairman, but the best bit is always to sit there at a game and watch the team perform.
Today we take on a very good Lincoln team and I think there are similarities between the two clubs. Both spent time in the Conference league and then celebrated success and promotion back into the Football League and then up into League 1. Lincoln have a very good Manager in Michael Appleton, who did a great job here in Oxford, and he will be determined to win today’s game at his former home.
Away from the pitch, there was a very significant event last week where we were joined by the City Council to celebrate the official partnership between us at the Oxford Sports Park, our training ground. I was amazed when I first heard that the club had never had a permanent training ground before. This one will be our base for at least the next 23 years, in partnership with the council, and we want to make it a place that truly represents sport from the whole sporting community
The night before we held a Fans Forum there and it was nice to talk to the fans and answer questions, and after the event some of the senior staff went to have something to eat. As we left, it was so nice to look across to the 3G pitches and see so many of our Academy sides out there training. They were maybe under 9s and they were making it special by all training in Christmas jumpers! Seeing them training, with our coaches passing on advice and help, really brought home to me why the training ground is such a massive thing for the whole club.
The focus will always be on a successful first team and we will work with Karl to strengthen and build the squad in the new year, but you must always strengthen the club as much as the team and 2019 has been an amazing year for that.
I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. This time of year is all about family. Let this afternoon be for the Oxford United family.
Tiger
You can read the full programme online at www.matchdayfix.com/oufc.