Oxford United Chairman Grant Ferguson wrote the following programme notes for the Sky Bet League One game against Lincoln City.
Good evening and a warm welcome to everyone, including our friends from Lincoln City, to the last Tuesday night of this season at OX4, coming soon after the last 3pm kick-off we had last Saturday, and what a match that turned out to be. Certainly one of the best team performances I have seen in my time with the club, and by far-and-away the best atmosphere in the stadium, and support from the stands. But the job is not done, and we need to now use that as a platform to take us into the final three league games, including tonight against a very good Lincoln side that has its own aspirations of competing in the play-offs.
Days like Saturday don’t just happen. It took a lot of hard work and determination from many people across the club and our community. We are only five weeks from it, but a consequence of that night in Bolton was much group and individual reflection, including by me, and frank, but healthy, analysis and debate. What came out of that was a shared determination that that result would not define our season, and the response from Des, the coaching team and the entire playing squad has been professional, focused and determined. The results since speak for themselves.
A few days before “that match” we held a Fans Forum which inevitably involved a little bloodletting but also produced an honest and open discussion about how we all have a part to play in supporting the team. We also used it as an opportunity to launch the Fan Engagement Plan; that adds structure to the club’s commitment to interact with, listen to and take input from the supporter base, the single most important stakeholders in our club. I for one left that meeting with optimism from a shared belief that we are all working for the same thing: a successful and sustainable Oxford United.
Since then, we rolled out the ALL UNITED campaign as a constant reminder to us all of the power of being together, and a number of fan-led groups have launched various initiatives to galvanise supporters on match days and in the community. [Too many individuals to mention here but you know who you are. Thank you.] Again, the results speak for themselves. Saturday was the perfect example of the power of fans actively contributing to success on the field. Please bring it again tonight. You make a difference!
I appreciate it has been asked of you before, but another important area where you can make a difference is to support the stadium project by reinforcing how much a new stadium is needed by the club as a permanent home, and as a world-class community asset to be enjoyed by the entire county. All residents of Oxfordshire can contribute views on our application on the Cherwell District Council planning site (link below), and your views as fans, key stakeholders in the club, are as important as anyone else’s.
Link to the planning register entry for the stadium planning application: https://planningregister.cherwell.gov.uk/Planning/Display/24/00539/F
The deadline for submissions is 22nd April 2024, but please don’t leave it to deadline day. We need your support now.
Thanks for your support in so many ways. Let’s bring it again for the boys tonight. Loud, proud and Yellow!
Grant
You can read the full programme online at www.matchdayfix.com/oufc