OXFORD United fans are being encouraged to go along to the Manor Ground tomorrow to support their neighbours Oxford City in the FA Cup clash that just keeps going and going.

The first-round tie's two games between Ryman League Oxford City and second division Wycombe Wanderers have already had just about everything, including an abandonment caused by a fire.

United officials are not expecting a massive crowd, but the tie has certainly captured the imagination of local football fans and they might get a gate of more than 4,000.

Playing at the Manor will help United financially, with the second division club getting approximately ten per cent of the profits after expenses.

"There's a fair bit of time and effort involved in staging a match like this," said United secretary Mick Brown. "Clearly, we want to make sure we don't incur a loss, but the most important thing is bringing the game back to Oxford." Meanwhile, United are to review their own safety procedures in the light of the abandoned replay at Adams Park.

Fans from both City and Wycombe branded the Bucks club's handling of the abandonment of the game a "disgrace" after a small fire broke out under the Frank Vere Stand.

Brown was at the game and after seeing what happened, he said United would take a look at their own procedures.

"It will be a good test for our system to stage a match between two opposing sides. It will be strange, but I think it will be a good exercise to go through having attended the match at Wycombe.

"We are reviewing our procedures. There are always lessons to be learnt from everything and you should never rest on your laurels," he said Brown, who has already been in talks with the club's Safety Officer Tony Ashley.

"In that respect it was useful to be there and see how it developed."

Because of the switch, United reserves' Avon Insurance Combination game against Bristol City, which had been scheduled tomorrow night, has been moved to City's Court Place Farm ground tomorrow, with a 1pm kick-off.

IF City beat Wycombe, the second-round tie against Wigan will also be staged at the Manor.

Story date: Monday 15 November

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.