Oxford United have confirmed that the club have committed £50,000 to rectify the pitch at the Kassam Stadium ahead of next season. It is the most extensive post-season work ever devoted to the playing surface at Grenoble Road, as the club hope to resolve the surfacing issues that plagued United during the last campaign.
Rugby Union side London Welsh were granted permission to stage their Aviva Premiership home games at the Kassam Stadium last year; a decision that soon turned problematic as the playing surface became rugged and badly cut up by the Christmas period. With London Welsh condemned to relegation, it is still unknown whether the Rugby Union side will continue to host fixtures at the Kassam Stadium next year.
However, Us Chairman Ian Lenagan was confident of resolving the club’s pitch problems: “The playing surface was a major cause for concern and, with uncertainty still as to whether rugby will be played again next season, we have acted swiftly to ensure that the pitch has the best chance possible to recover and to improve.
“The pitch has been stripped back, taken down to the base level and then rebuilt. Anybody who saw a game here in the second half of last season could see that work needed to be carried out.
“In conjunction with the stadium management company, we have brought in two of the top specialists in the country to advise us and to complete the work. There is a substantial cost attached to this work – and some risk – but we are told it will be well worth it.”
In other news, the Yellows have also confirmed their pre-season tour to Scotland. The season preparations start locally with a trip to Ardley on Saturday 6th July, before the squad head north to Scotland’s capital city Edinburgh. United will play Scottish League opponents Alloa Athletic and Berwick Rangers on Wednesday 10th July and Saturday 13th July respectively.
The Us then head home as they host Championship hopefuls Birmingham City on Saturday 20th July, and then League One side Coventry City on Saturday 27th. There are also fixtures at Oxford City (Tuesday 23rd July), Truro City (Monday 29th July) and a visit to Didcot Town on Wednesday 7th August. All price and ticket details for the pre-season schedule will be announced nearer the matches.
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