Oxford have announced their final pre-season friendly. The Us will take on Premier League Aston Villa at the KasStad on Tuesday 4 August. However, don't expect to see anyone famous. Partly because Villa no longer have any famous players since Gareth Barry was sold to Manchester City, but mainly because it is an Aston Villa XI rather than their first team, who will have just finished being humiliated in The Peace Cup, an amusingly monikered tournament which sees Villa take on Malaga and Atlante before skulking home with their tails between their legs. Four days after experiencing Oxford, Villa have a less prestigious friendly at home to Fiorentina. [@opponent]aston villa[/@opponent]

Today is the start of a busy period for United, with the players restarting training, with the new signings getting to know their new team mates. Training has moved from Milton United to the Chesterton home of the Bicester Sports Association, where the facilities are superb. At the end of the week (possibly Thursday, but probably Friday) next season's fixtures will be announced, with the season starting on Saturday 8 August. There is little likelihood of a Friday evening trip to Barrow now that Setanta TV has gone bust. Good news for the fans, but financially less welcome news for the clubs, who each received approximately