Grant Ferguson wrote the following programme notes for Oxford United's Sky Bet League One match against Exeter City
One of the things that Liam has been very strong on emphasising this season is the need to stay level headed, and I am pleased to see that the staff and players have bought into the idea of not getting swayed or carried away by individual results. A generally positive start to the campaign has not come without its challenges. A loss at Cambridge on the opening day and to Port Vale in the last home game saw us bounce back with excellent wins after both. The mood at the Training Ground is positive on a Monday morning whatever the result on a Saturday, and the focus is always on how to keep moving forward, individually and as a team.
That philosophy applies across the entire club, and it certainly applies to this week’s decision by Oxfordshire County Council that allows our plans for a new stadium to proceed. It was a very good outcome that our project team worked hard for and for which the County Council’s support is very much appreciated. However, while it is a big step towards realising our ambitions, it is also marks the beginning of the next phase of a long and complex journey to our new home. Planning, focus, determination and patience is key.
The Council has been very clear with us as to what they expect from the club and the new stadium. As we proceed into the planning application process, we will ensure that those expectations are met, and we will continue to work with the residents of Kidlington and the surrounding areas to ensure that the new stadium works for everyone. I am grateful for the incredible backing the club has received from fans in getting the project to this point, and we will continue be open and as transparent as possible with you as plans develop over the next few months, but I do also need to ask for your patience as things figuratively and literally take shape.
We are committed to making the new stadium one that the whole community shares, so it is appropriate that today is our #HerGameToo match. As a club we are committed to the development of women’s and girls’ football, but Her Game Too is not only about playing the game. It is about everyone being an equally valued member of the football community, irrespective of gender, race, religion or sexuality. Football is for everyone and should be experienced by everyone as safe, welcoming and rewarding, so we are proud to be working with #HerGameToo to make that happen. My personal thanks go to Grace Bailey for the dedication she puts into this work.
Football for all was a key theme when MP Anneliese Dodds invited the club to the Houses of Parliament last week to discuss the Fan Led Review. Our CEO Tim Williams briefed members of both houses on our plans to create a sustainable model for an inclusive football club in its community, and Gemma Sims, our Women’s General Manager, spoke of how the woman’s game has progressed in recent years, the challenges it still faces, and our plans as a club to contribute to its continued development.
Enjoy today’s game against high-flying Exeter City. I hope you head for home this evening buzzing about the result and excited about the future, but please also respect those around you, their situation and their views. Many people, diverse communities… One Club!
Grant Ferguson
You can buy the Exeter programme for £4 on the day of the game from the club shop and sellers around the ground. It includes interviews with Stan Mills and Steve Basham and the latest cut-out player, Jake Wright in the 2010/11 kit. Or you can buy a downloadable copy from www.matchdayfix.com/oufc