Find out everything you need to know ahead of the Yellows' opening game of pre-season.
WHEN AND WHERE
We take on Aldershot Town in our opening pre-season game of the summer. The game takes place on Tuesday 21 July, kicking off at 7:00pm at the EBB Stadium.
There is no streaming available for this fixture.
You can keep up to date with the action with live updates via the Official Oxford United App, as well as the key moments on X: @OUFCOfficial.
GET TO KNOW OUR OPPONENTS
Aldershot Town will play in the National League for the 2026/27 season, after finishing 20th last season and narrowly surviving relegation.
Aldershot Town, known as the Shots, are one of the National League's longest-established clubs and play their home matches at the EBB Stadium in Hampshire. Founded in 1992 following the dissolution of the original Aldershot FC, the club has built a reputation for competitive, attacking football and passionate support. With a proud history that includes spells in the Football League, the Shots remain a well-supported side with ambitions of returning to the Football League.
The Shots will be lead by Scott Davies, who is in his first season as Aldershot Town manager after being appointed ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. A popular former Shots midfielder, Davies enjoyed three loan spells with the club and played a key role in their 2007/08 promotion-winning side. He arrived from Slough Town, where he impressed as player-manager, and is looking to build a young, competitive team while bringing an energetic, attacking style of football back to the EBB Stadium.
HOW ARE BOTH CAMPS SHAPING UP?
Aaron Ramsey and his squad have been putting in the hard work ahead of the new campaign during a warm-weather training camp in Spain. You can click here to watch our full 10-minute interview with Ramsey, in which he reflects on his first few weeks at the Club, discusses the benefits of the training camp, and looks ahead to the U's opening pre-season fixture.
Meanwhile, Aldershot Town head into Saturday's meeting with four pre-season friendlies already under their belt. Their most recent outing saw them record an impressive 2-0 victory over Championship side Portsmouth at the EBB Stadium on Wednesday evening, with two goals in the space of just two first-half minutes proving enough to seal the win.
The Shots have also been busy in the transfer market, making several early additions as they look to add greater pace and attacking impetus to the squad. Among the arrivals is former Bromley striker Marcus Dinanga, who joins with a wealth experience at National League level.
WHO COULD PROVE TO BE THE KEY MEN FOR EACH TEAM?
For the U's, several players will be looking to stake their claim for a place in the starting XI ahead of the new season. One player supporters will be particularly excited to see back in action is Tyler Goodrham, following an injury-hit campaign that kept the young attacker sidelined for long spells.
Despite already making more than 150 appearances for the Club, it's easy to forget that Goodrham is still only 22. After enduring a frustrating season disrupted by injury, he will be hoping for a sustained run of fitness as United prepare for life back in League One.
Comfortable operating as a No. 10 or on either flank, Goodrham has long been one of the U's brightest attacking talents. The academy graduate was directly involved in 15 goals during the Club's last League One campaign and will be eager to rediscover that form in the months ahead.
One player the U's defence will need to keep a close eye on is Marcus Dinanga. The powerful striker arrived at Aldershot Town this summer after a spell with last season's League Two champions Bromley, where his physical presence, intelligent movement and eye for goal made him a constant threat in the final third.
Capable of leading the line or linking play with teammates, Dinanga combines strength with mobility and will be eager to make an immediate impact for the Shots as they continue their preparations for the new season.
Dinanga has already proven himself at National League level, scoring 20 goals in 42 appearances for Gateshead during the 2023/24 campaign. The striker has carried that goalscoring instinct into pre-season, finding the net in last week's impressive 2-0 victory over Portsmouth when he scored the second goal of the evening.
PREVIOUS MEETING
The two sides have not met for 13 years, with their last encounter coming in April 2013 when both clubs were competing in League Two. On that occasion, Aldershot edged a thrilling contest 3-2.
Oxford United’s most recent victory over the Shots came a year earlier, in January 2012, when the U’s recorded a convincing 3-0 win at the Kassam Stadium. Michael Duberry, Peter Leven and Jon-Paul Pittman were all on the scoresheet.
AARON RAMSEY'S PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
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