Oxford United set to take over management of training ground

Oxford City Council's cabinet has been recommended to approve the decision at its meeting on October 9. 

Until now the facility, which is currently used as the U's training ground, has been run by Fusion Lifestyle who won the lease to manage the site for 25 years. 

The £4.9m sports park was first built in 2017 with two main purposes - to be a training and academy facility for Oxford United and to enable wider community use of the site.

Oxford United and Horspath Youth have both been trialling the site in the final stages of development, which has also meant the teams can test how sharing the site works for both professional and community sports teams. 

Fusion Lifestyle have been in discussions with the U's over the terms of lease for the club using the grounds to train. 

And over the last year, United have been carrying out ground maintenance whilst using the site as a training ground for its academy.

Both Oxford United and Fusion have decided that they will reassign the lease to the football club.

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Linda Smith, cabinet member for leisure and housing, said: “Creating a long-term training base for Oxford United at the Sports Park has been an integral part of the development of the site.

"We believe they are well placed to manage the site and like us they are keen to ensure that community use of the site remains a key element of any future tenancy. Their proposals offer excellent opportunities for grassroots sport to benefit from the skills and resources of Oxford’s professional team.

“This is an opportunity to secure a strong future for OUFC in the community by ensuring a long-term training facility, which will also see them delivering for local schools, girls involvement in football and wider health initiatives.”