www.conferencegrounds.co.uk - Directions, Kassam Stadium, Oxford United FC

Oxford United

Directions

The stadium is quite well signposted from the main routes into Oxford, with brown football signs pointing the way.

The stadium can be found in between the Oxford Science Park & Blackbird Leys Estate. From the A423 Ring Road, take the A4074 towards Reading. After the roundabout with Sainsbury's on one corner, take the left turning sign posted Cowley/Wallington/Oxford Science Park you will eventually come to the ground on your left.

There are 1,600 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. John Attwood a visiting Gillingham supporter adds; 'when arriving at the stadium, ignore the first stadium car park entrance that you come to and go up to the second entrance as the first will have you parking at the "open" end. There is a roundabout by the second entrance, which will take you back to the first entrance if the other half is full. I was also heavily delayed in trying to leave the car park after the game as there was only two exits available'. If you do end up arriving late at the stadium and find that the stadium car parks are full, then don't get tempted to park on a grass verge as you may well end up with a parking ticket for your trouble.

Pubs

The nearest Public House is 'The Priory' which is just behind the car park at the open end of the ground. The pub which is owned by club chairman Firoz Kassam, is quite an historic looking building. On my visit the pub seemed fine for away fans, but as you would expect, it can get quite crowded. The pub also boasted a large screen for SKY TV, served hand pulled Tetleys and offered a wide range of pies and filled rolls. Andy Wraight adds, 'There is now a Holiday Inn Express Hotel on the corner behind the Oxford Mail and South Stand, which has a fair sized bar. The bar welcomes football supporters and has Sky Television. Kim Rockall informs me; 'A new cinema and bowling alley complex was recently opened adjacent to the stadium, called Ozone. Inside the bowling alley there is a bar, which also has SKY TV and a fast food outlet'. Otherwise alcohol is served within the ground.

By Train

Oxford railway station is over four miles from the ground and it is really not advisable to try to walk it. There is a football special bus which runs from outside the station up to the ground. The No: 601 departs from bus stop R1 at 2pm & 3pm for Saturday 3pm kick offs and 5.50pm & 6.50pm for 7.45pm evening kicks offs. Buses return from the stadium at 5pm & 6pm on Saturdays and 9.45pm & 10.45pm after evening games.

Alternatively the Oxford Bus Company Service, Number 5, runs from Oxford Railway Station (use bus stop R2) via the city centre to Knights Road in Blackbird Leys, which is a short walk away from the ground. On Saturday afternoons the bus runs every five minutes and on midweek evenings every 8-10 minutes. Journey time to the stadium is around 25 minutes. For more information visit the Oxford Bus Company website. Alternatively a taxi will cost you in the region of Ł10, from the station to the stadium.