OXFORD United fans hoping for success on and off the field have been joined in their fundraising mission by the club chairman.

A group of supporters will walk from Kidlington to the Kassam Stadium ahead of the home game with Altrincham on Saturday, October 31, to raise cash for the club’s 12th Man fund.

And club chairman Kelvin Thomas has agreed to lace up his walking boots and tackle the 10-mile sponsored route with them.

It is hoped more than £2,000 will be raised for the 12th Man fund, the project which began in July to raise money for the manager to spend on transfer fees and players’ wages.

Fans have already collected more than £7,000, of which £5,000 was used to bring in former U’s player Jamie Cook from Crawley last month.

Mr Thomas said: “The fund is such a great thing and we wanted to show that the club is right behind the fans in everything they do.

“It is providing the club with funds, but it is also bringing the fans and the club closer together with each event.

“We have a team in the six-a-side competition they have organised.

“A 12th Man flag bearer also leads the teams out at every game. This walk will be another way of everyone working together.

“It’s a reasonable distance, but very worthwhile and I hope as many fans as possible sign up and sponsor us.

“The other good news is that the players will be sponsoring me so that also shows their commitment to the effort.”

Fan William Willmot, who came up with the idea for the walk, said: “The news Kelvin is joining us for the walk is fantastic.

“There are 15 of us now doing the walk and everyone has been working hard to bring in sponsorship.

“The money helps the club, and to have the chairman prepared to take each step with us is a great gesture.”

He added: “We will be starting at the Highwayman Hotel in Kidlington, where season-ticket holders Nick and Sharon Duval are one of our main sponsors.

“We will walk down the canal, around the science area in Oxford, up the Iffley Road, through Littlemore and Sandford, to the Kassam. We are hoping to complete it in about four or five hours.”

Sponsorship forms will be available in the exhibition bar and club reception ahead of Saturday's home game in the FA Cup against Thurrock.

tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk

Anyone looking to get involved with the walk or to offer sponsorship should email twelfthman@oxvox.org.uk or enquiries@oxvox.org.uk, or see oxfords12thman.blogspot.com