The Oxford United chairman, Sumrith 'Tiger' Thanakarnjanasuth, wrote the following notes for the Sky Bet League One game against Fleetwood Town:
I want to start my notes by apologising to my neighbours. Like everyone, I watch the games on iFollow, but unlike most of you, kick off in Thailand is in the middle of the night; I usually have a sleep, set an alarm then watch the whole game. On Tuesday night it was around 4am when the Rochdale keeper kicked the ball to Mide Shodipo, and I think my shouting and cheering when the ball went into the net probably woke the whole neighbourhood.
What a fantastic goal and what a great way to end an amazing game of football. Everyone involved should be so pleased with that result and to see the team win seven games in a row is an unbelievable achievement. I want to say well done to Karl and his staff and players because right now they are playing so well and who knows where we can reach now this season?
I said I watch at home like the fans and I know, first-hand, that it is nothing like actually being at the games. Can you imagine the scenes if the players had been celebrating with our supporters on Tuesday night? But I think football has a massive role to play still for all our fans. For me it gives me something to look forward to all the time; I build my weekend around games like today’s and in times like these it is so important to have such a positive run going.
But it’s not just the team. I see the club delivering food to a food larder in Kidlington, I see the community team calling older fans to check they are OK, I see fans watching games with former players like James Constable and I see Karl dedicating wins to fans who have passed away but loved this club. Everywhere I look I see Oxford United doing the right things at the moment: even our young players are back playing games again, with the under 18s restarting their season.
I hope that these things are helping you all get through a long, dark winter. We all face enormous challenges, everyone around the world, but if we can put a smile on your face then we are doing our jobs.
And yes, I know all about our record against Fleetwood! You know what? Records are there to be broken. There is nothing we can do to change games in the past, all we can do is try to put things right this time around.
Wherever you are watching, enjoy the game.
Tiger
You can read the full programme online at www.matchdayfix.com/oufc