The Oxford United Open Day 2010 will be a fantastic day for all U's supporters with fun, games and activities starting at 9am on Saturday 3rd July. One of the highlights will be the unveiling of the new home first team shirt: available to buy for the first time tomorrow.
At nine o'clock the doors will be open to allow hundreds of Junior Supporters to come in and join training sessions with our coaches all across the pitch. These will be arranged in age groups and the emphasis will be on showing off skills and enjoying your football.
At 10.15 Chairman Kelvin Thomas will formally open the event and then each first team player will be introduced to the crowd: come and see the new players for the first time.
The squad will then go through a training session, including a small sided game, before a penalty shoot-out against five fans chosen by the Oxford Mail; our partners for the day.
The players will then join the fans in the North Stand for the biggest team picture of the year. Fans and players alike will be part of the big picture.
Once the picture has been taken the junior United fans get their big moment as they take on the first team in one huge game.It's likely to be 300 v 16 with about five balls on the pitch and chaos all round, but it's always a great spectacle and produces huge smiles for all concerned.
After that the players will go off for a shower while fans get to explore the activities and stalls from the club's partners and departments:Bridle Insurance, Polythene UK, Hartwells, Buildbase, BBC Oxford, Jack FM, the Children's Hospital, the Oxfordshire Fire Service, Barcello Hotel, Media Lane, Linleys Catering, Oxvox, the Ultimate Yellows, and Abbey Press will all be here while activities include a Mega Slide, Face Painting, shooting speed guns, penalty kicks, head tennis, skills areas and the famous Oxford Mail Bouncy Castle.
There will also be tours behind the scenes where you can have your picture taken with the new Promotion Trophy and the Milk Cup, enjoying audio courtesy of BBC Oxford.
Much of that audio will of course focus on the Wembley win and you can relive that with the Play-Off final DVD which will be on sale inside the ground.
Many fans will also be coming along to see the brand new first team kit. That will be available to buy from 9am on the day as well: check the Oxford Mail on Saturday for an exclusive preview.
With everything in full swing the players will come back out to sign autographs: look out for an exclusive autograph sheet from Abbey Press.
And just to add more excitement to a great day there are great prizes on offer. Every fan who buys a new shirt will go into the draw to win a money can't buy prize of starring on the cover of the first match programme of the season. Youngsters who are United Juniors can also win the chance to be mascot against Leicester City and Manchester United.
Absolutely every department or connection with The U's will be represented, from fans groups to youngsters to the first team.
It is FREE to get in and takes place at the Kassam Stadium from 9am on Saturday July 3rd.
See you there.
