Southampton have never played a competitive fixture at the Kassam Stadium the current home of Oxford United, I am sure we have played there in a friendly a few years ago, but most travelling up to the game on Wednesday evening will have never been so here is all information.
The ground
Oxford moved to the Kassam Stadium in 2001, after previously playing at the Manor Ground, a small compact and quirky ground, we last visited there in November 1996 in a League cup tie, when a Richard Dryden Goal in the first half was cancelled out in the very last minute when ex Saints striker Paul Moody equalised in the final minute. we won the replay 3-2.
Other than that our visits to Oxford in competitive games were few we have played them in Oxford just 7 times, the other 6 being in the League, 2 seasons between 1974-76 and then when they were in the top flight between 1985-1988 for 4 seasons.
For those that like a good omen, we did play them in a friendly at the Manor Ground in our pre season of 1978/79 when like this season we had just been promoted, I would take our position in that season of 14th plus a Wembley League cup final this year. I also remember another pre season visit in 1983, again I would take the 2nd place in the top flight plus an FA Cup semi final this coming term.
Anyway history lesson over, The Kassam might not be with us too much longer with their lease expiring in two years time and they have plans to build a new 16,000 capacity stadium.
The Kassam is strange in that it only has 3 sides, behind one goal is a 6ft fence with the car park behind it.
The three stands are fairly similar and they have a total capacity of 12,500.
The Away Section
Away supporters are housed in one half of the North Stand, towards the open end of the ground. This stand is usually shared with home supporters.
The facilities within and the views of the pitch are very good as you would expect from a relatively new stadium only 23 years old.
There is the usual selection of refreshment kiosks etc under the stand in the concourse.
Pubs Etc
There is not much around the ground in terms of pubs, the nearest proper pubs are all around a mile or so away, however there is a bar in the adjacent Holiday Inn Express, and also a bar at the nearby Leisure complex, but expect big queues and big prices.
If you don't mind the walk then you could park your car at these pubs and walk.
Kings Arms – Church Rd, Sandford-on-Thames, Oxford OX4 4YB
George Inn – 5 Sandford Rd, Littlemore, Oxford OX4 4PU
The Blackbird – Blackbird Leys Rd, Oxford OX4 6HT
Getting There
By Car
This is an easy one to get too and traffic being ok should only take a little over an hour from Southampton.
Take the A34 north from Winchester and the ground is well signposted with brown football signs pointing the way. The stadium can be found in between the Oxford Science Park & Blackbird Leys Estate.
Car Parking
There are 2,000 car parking spaces at the stadium itself, which are free. However, the car parks tend to fill up fast, so try and arrive early if you can (at least 75 minutes before kick off).
An additional 400 car parking spaces are now available at the Ozone cinema and bowling alley complex adjacent to the stadium, which are also free to use.
Reviews from other clubs have mentioned that their are issues getting out of the cvar parks after the game, but this being a friendly and far from a full house, this may not be so bad for our visit.
By Train
I do not expect anyone to be going by train as the nearest station is miles away and there are no trains back to Southampton that late.
Address:
The Kassam Stadium
Grenoble Road,
Oxford,
OX4 4XP
Phone:
01865 337 500
Record Attendance
At The Kassam Stadium:
12,243 v Leyton Orient
League Two, 6th May 2006.
At The Manor Ground:
22,750 v Preston North End
FA Cup 6th Round, February 29th, 1964.