Oxford United's Chairman Sumrith 'Tiger' Thanakarnjanasuth wrote the following notes for today's programme against Wycombe Wanderers
Good afternoon to everyone and thank you for coming to see us take on Wycombe Wanderers. It’s a game that always attracts a big crowd and there have been some memorable matches. I hope today is one that produces good memories for Oxford fans this time.
Both teams are up there in the early league table and although the table means very little so early in the year, I do much prefer seeing our name up there than at the bottom as it has been for the last couple of seasons! We started very slowly both times and were scratching our heads to find the reasons: a lot of new players, loan players settling in, people learning to play together.
This year the strategy was different. We kept the bulk of last season’s team and added four players who have been with us before and know the club and the way we like to play. There are other new faces – Jordan Thornily for example has settled very quickly – but I think building sensibly on an already strong squad has helped a lot in our promising start.
There will be bumps in the road, as there were at Wimbledon on Saturday, but the basics were there: hard work, some very nice football and plenty of chances. For some reason we lost our way for the last half hour of that game, and I am sure that Karl and the coaching staff will do what they always do; watch the game back, see what can be improved, and move on to the next game. I watched on iFollow and thought the atmosphere was amazing: we are selling out away ends every week and I am sure the first win away from home is not too far off.
At home games we have started the new partnership with Firoka and Farrs Catering and the feedback we received after our first game was very positive. As you know, the new agreement means the club now benefits from the food and drink sold inside the ground and that will be an important way to bring income in. I think it may take a while to change the mindset; I won’t explain the history, but for many years home fans preferred not to eat or drink in the concourses. The word ‘history’ is the key one there, because the relationship has changed and we urge everyone to at least give it a try.
This is one of the things that the new Supporters Panel will be able to help us with. We have an excellent connection with all fans, but the new panel will allow fans even greater say in things like the matchday experience. There was a meeting earlier this week and I think it will all be formally set up very soon. I thank Andy Taylor and the working party who have helped set that up this summer.
Enjoy the game
Tiger
You can read the full programme online at www.matchdayfix.com/oufc