OXFORD United’s next home game will be given a continental flavour by a group of Belgian football fans.

Supporters of third division side Union Royale Namur will be in the Kassam Stadium stands on Saturday as the guests of Oxford’s fans’ team, Raging Fever.

The Anglo-Belgian link was forged last year when a minibus full of U’s fans travelled to Namur, in the south of Belgium, to take on their counterparts and watch a league game.

This weekend’s return visit will see the teams meet again — at Horspath Athletics Ground at 10.30am — before the players attend the Blue Square Premier fixture against Altrincham.

Raging Fever player-manager John Matthews, from Radley, said: “It all began when the Belgian fans had a link with the Dulwich Hamlet supporters’ team, who they met through the Internet Football Association (IFA).

“They played against each other and the Namur fans’ captain, Nicolas Lucas, asked them if Oxford had a team because that was the side he followed from afar.

“Dulwich had my details and gave them to Nicolas and I got an email out of the blue asking if we wanted to meet up and play against them.”

The Raging Fever side — originally named after U’s fanzines Rage On and Yellow Fever — went on to spend a weekend in Belgium in April 2008.

Mr Matthews said: “We went clubbing in Liege on the Friday night at a place where one of the opposition was a DJ, then those of us who got out of bed on Saturday morning went for a tour of the city of Namur before we played the game in the afternoon, which we won 3-0.

“We then went to Namur’s evening game, where we met the manager. It was all very laid back and different to here — we met him in a cafe having a beer.

“The game finished 1-1 and it was a good atmosphere. By the end of the game we were joining in with their songs and we had the locals singing OUFC chants.”

Mr Matthews added: “There are 16 Namur fans coming over this weekend, and 14 of them are playing in the game itself. We’ll be going to The Bear in Oxford after the game for a curry and then on to the O2 Academy.”

Oxford United spokesman Chris Williams said: “It’s nice to see links forged between clubs from different nations and we hope they enjoy their afternoon with us.”

tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk