It has been a relatively quiet week in the world of Oxford United. First, the club announced that they will be spending time in Spain for warm-weather training, and we have an update on the club’s search for a site for a new stadium.
Oxford United Weekly Round-Up: U’s to Train in Spain and Stadium Update
Oxford United to Train in Spain
Karl Robinson will take his squad to Marbella when the players return to pre-season training.
While there are no arranged fixtures for the U’s, fans will be able to attend two open training sessions during the week.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Robinson said: “We have seen the facilities, which are fantastic, and we know we will be well looked after.
“The players have a slightly longer summer break than we have had for the last two years and I think everyone probably needed that because it has been very intense and they have given us absolutely everything.
“It’s the first chance we have had to go abroad for three years- we had training camps in Wales and Bournemouth but getting to Spain is important, to be away from everything else and able to focus purely on testing, preparing and doing the right things with the Sports Science team of Chris Neville and Harry Routledge.
“There is extensive work being carried out and a complete facelift on the buildings at the Bangkok Glass Training Ground so we planned to be away for the first week, from 23rd June, and that gives the team behind the scenes a little extra time to prepare the pitches and get everything right for when we return.
“The first pre-season game will hopefully be a couple of days after we get back and the league fixture list is announced the day we leave so by the time we get back we will really be focussed.
“Meanwhile the hard work continues as we look at recruitment and players. The next few weeks will fly past but we know what we have to do and we know we will be ready.”
On the whistle (council) report from this evening’s meeting #oufchttps://t.co/hpBY9jUqEo
— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) May 26, 2022
Kidlington Parish Council Discuss Stratfield Brake Plans
On Thursday evening, Kidlington residents attended a council meeting surrounding Oxford United’s potential move to the village.
The members of the Kidlington Parish Council discussed plans for a new 18,000-capacity stadium with community and sports grounds, and hotel, retail and conference facilities.
The local authority is a major stakeholder in the plans but they feel they need “more information” before coming to a conclusion.
As reported by the Oxford Mail, David Robey, chair of the parish council, told villagers: “We have a role in representing residents’ interests.
“Stratfield Brake is a major planning issue, probably the biggest we’ve faced in recent years.”
He later added: “This is something we did not ask for, it came completely out of the blue. This puts Kidlington Parish Council in a delicate position.
“Unless we relinquish the lease, the development cannot go ahead.
“A lot of people in the village are divided on this.
“This development is in the context of massive housing developments going on in Kidlington in the coming years.
“The parish council’s position is to remain neutral for the time being, we feel we should not and cannot decide on something of such importance without looking at what the proposal is without more detail.”
