Oxford United have hit the jackpot with the BBC's decision to choose their FA Cup clash with rivals Swindon Town as their live game on Sunday, December 8.

The second round tie at the Kassam Stadium, which will kick off at 1pm and be screened live on BBC1, could net the Division 3 club close to £250,000.

Meanwhile, travelling United fans made a favourable impression on Mick Murphy, the landlord of a Dover public house who in a letter to the Oxford Mail described them as a credit to the Nationwide League and to the Oxfordshire area.

United will receive £100,000 from the BBC as a television appearance fee for the second-round tie. They will pocket £30,000 in prize money from the Football Association if they win, while gate receipts and profits from the bars, catering, corporate hospitality areas and merchandise sales will probably rake in more than £100,000.

Chairman Firoz Kassam has also hit lucky because, had the game been one of the live Sky matches on the Friday night, potential revenue would have been reduced because the stadium has already been booked out to hold a conference that night.

Oxford United spokesman Daniel Freeman said: "Financially, the club are pretty secure, despite the collapse of the ITV Digital deal, but this will obviously help us out a great deal.

"It's absolutely fantastic news for the club, and everyone is delighted we will be hosting our first live football game at the stadium."

United fan Martin Brodetsky, editor of the fanzine Rage On, said that for most fans this would be a bigger game even than the recent Worthington Cup clash with Premiership club Aston Villa, which brought the club record gate receipts of around £149,000.

He said: "It probably won't mean as much to the glory hunters and part-time supporters, and so the attendance may probably be smaller, but those who do attend will make the atmosphere at the Villa game seem like a tea party!"

United fans beat Dr Martens League side Dover Athletic 1-0 on Saturday for a place in the second round.

In a letter to the Oxford Mail, landlord Mick Murphy, of the Eagle Inn, Dover, said: "The fans would be welcome if your team had to come here again. I will be looking at Oxford United's results with greater interest in the future."

His letter is published in full in Your Letters on Page 6.

Commenting on Mr Murphy's letter, Oxford United secretary Mick Brown said: "It is nice to hear that someone has taken the time and effort to write a letter of that nature.

"Normally, people don't go to the bother of writing except when they are complaining about something.

"The vast majority of people who support the club home and away are honest, law-abiding citizens and support the club in exactly the right way."

A group of United fans and some club officials went on a 'booze cruise' crossing to Calais before the game.

A number were caught out by the stricter security measures on ferries which meant they had only half an hour in France, and not enough time to go to the hypermarket.

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