Oxford
Kassam Stadium
Capacity 12,500
Address Kassam Stadium, Grenoble Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 4XP
Ticket Prices £18 entrance fee.
www.oufc.co.uk
I first visited Oxford’s Kassam Stadium in March 2007. It was the U’s first season on the non-league circuit and their stadium was the biggest in the league and one that wasn’t that far away either. The drive around to Oxford is only about 70 miles each way and took just over an hour from Hertfordshire going via the A1(M), M25 and finally M40. You could also go via the A41 through Aylesbury, but I decided that the motorway route would be better on his occasion.
I got there fairly early and took advantage of the free parking available if you get there early enough. After parking the car, I went over to the Bowling complex opposite the stadium and grabbed something to eat and drink before having a wonder around the ground. The one thing that stood out was the lack of character of the ground. Apart from the main stand, the exterior’s of the stands were very bland and boring.
Once I had located the ticket office and paid the £18 ticket fee, I made my way into the ground. The stadium is quite big, but again it looks fairly bland and boring. The main stand dominates and is a two-tiered structure. It looks very impressive and wouldn’t be out of place in the Championship. The other two stands are one tiered. As you probably well know, the Kassam Stadium only has 3 ends, so one of the ends behind the goal is fenced off and has car parking behind.
Away supporters are positioned in the North Stand, opposite the Main Stand. As is the norm with new stadium’s, the view of the pitch is good and you can also keep an eye on your car if it is parked behind the empty West End. The game finished 2-0 to the home side with the visitors missing the suspended Steve Morison badly. Oxford’s goalscorers were Matt Day and a certain Eddie Anaclet (Odhiambo).
Getting to Oxford
By car
Sat Nav reference: OX4 4XP
The most direct way to get to Oxford from Stevenage is via the M25, M40 route. Leave the M40 at Junction 8 onto the A40, signposted Oxford/Cheltenham. The ground is well signposted from here. Follow this road for about 6 miles until you reach the A4142. Go over 1 roundabout, then at the next one, take the 2nd exit onto the A4074. At the next roundabout take the 1st exit onto Grenoble Road. The ground is on the left hand side, further up this road.
By train
If you’re planning to get to the Kassam Stadium by train, then be prepared for a long walk or to use the buses as well. Oxford station is 4 miles away from the stadium so you will have to the number 5 bus from the station and this will take you to the Blackbird Leys estate, which is where the ground is located. The journey takes about 25 minutes from the train station.
