The Oxford United Supporters Panel are pleased to announce their new committee, following a successful nomination procedure over the summer.
The Panel exists to help communication between the club and the fans, especially around the matchday experience, and for the coming season will have nine members who give a wide range of knowledge and experience while sharing a passion for the U’s.
The new look panel are:
Adam has supported Oxford United since the early 1990s. He held a season ticket at the Manor and later at the Kassam. He moved away to University in Sheffield 2002 where he met his wife Susie and they have three boys together. He now lives in Chesterfield and is the managing director of an Architectural Design Company (C+A Design Ltd) and a mental health first aider. He attends mostly away games and is keen to represent the geographically distanced supporters.
Colin O’Toole
Colin is an eternal optimist when it comes to Oxford United and travels to most away games as well as all home matches, adamant that we are going to win! He is a firm believer that every match day is an event to be enjoyed, from the morning build up to the post match ups or downs. He knows that the fans play their part in boosting this experience, and help lift the club we love to greater success. Colin and his wife Melanie can be found in the South Stand Lower and are the proud owners of the yellowest OUFC Smart car in the land!
Grace Bailey
Grace is in her 20s, lives in South Oxfordshire and has a season ticket in South Stand Lower. She is proud to be the #HerGameToo ambassador for Oxford United, working with OUSP and the club to raise awareness of the campaign and to represent women. Grace has long-term health issues and understands how debilitating chronic conditions can be. “I know how important having a love for something like football is” she said. “I have a strong interest in helping others and if that means helping people come to my club and watch my team then those are two of my favourite things.”
Henry Lane
Henry is 27-years-old, and has supported Oxford United from the same seat in the East Stand for the last 14 years. He is proud to be part of the heart of matchday atmosphere, and wants to work on improving this further. With the club aiming to make a step up next season, Henry believes that fans will play a vital part in this, and looks forward to being part of a well-organised supporters’ panel as an important bridge between club and supporters.
Janine Bailey
Brought up in Oxford, a United fan since her teens, Janine’s first job was selling 50/50 tickets in Beech Road and the Manor Club. She has been secretary of OUSP for the last two years, which she combines with her role as a carer and with working in visitor services at the University. She believes that good communication between the club and our supporters is really important, and is keen to further improve this area. She aims to get our supporters’ voices listened to by the club as well as more widely throughout the County. You will find Janine in SSL on matchdays.
Matthew O'Donoghue
Matthew is excited to join the OUSP. He has had a season ticket for 13 years, and travels to many away games. His undergraduate dissertation explored the intricacies of fan identity and sense of belonging, specifically among Oxford United supporters. This work made him consider the diverse perspectives and concerns of fellow supporters beyond his match-going friends, so he brings another perspective to this role. He wants to help fellow supporters’ voices be heard by the club and considered in decision-making processes. Matthew is particularly interested in representing supporters who are under 25/students and supporters who sit in the East Stand.
Paul Scaysbrook
Paul is 59 years old and living in Abingdon. He has had Spina Bifida since birth which results in him having to use a wheelchair. He has supported Oxford since about 1980 and has been a season ticket holder for most of that time. He presently has a season ticket in the North Stand and attends all home matches and some away. A volunteer at the Paralympics in London in 2012 Paul used to do marathons in his wheelchair having done about 25 with 12 of them being the London Marathon - he actually did the London Marathon on the morning of the Milk Cup Final wearing his Oxford shirt rushing across London afterwards to Wembley to watch the game.
Pete Chilton
Pete has supported the club for over 45 years, and welcomes the opportunity to take a direct role in helping it to grow and prosper. He has a great deal of experience both in terms of the skills he developed and used during his career and as a long-standing fan of the club. Passionate and enthusiastic with a genuine desire to make things better for everyone, Pete believes it is the ideal time to help make a positive difference. He particularly hopes to represent the older generation of supporters, those who have followed the club for a long time and may not always be fully engaged with the modern methods of communication such as social media. You’ll find Pete in the East Stand (right side!).
Pete Green
Pete has supported Oxford United for 40 years having first started watching them in the incredible 1983/84 season. Today he juggles supporting United around work and family life, and now shares that passion with his kids who come to some games and are becoming the next generation of fans, whether they like it or not! Pete would like to see all fans, feel part of the fantastic Oxford United family. He hopes to work with OUSP and the club to build on recent improvements in marketing and communication, to help improve the experiences of those who come every week to matches and also find ways to grow our fan base, as well as making sure that every supporter has a voice.