Oxford United will have a huge support at their crucial Division 1 match at Port Vale on Saturday after hundreds of fans decided to take up the offer of free coach travel to the game.

Darren Bowler, Oxford United's ticket office manager, reported last night that ten coaches had already been filled and he was hoping to book two or three more.

It means around 600 fans will be travelling to Vale Park by the London Road Club coaches and, with many hundreds more going by Junior Club coaches and private cars, the anticipated Oxford United following will be between 1,500 and 2,000.

Knowing how big a game it is for United and how important the supporters' backing will be for Malcolm Shotton's team, the Oxford Mail, Thames Valley FM and United's new owner Firoz Kassam have got together with the London Road Club to subsidise travel to the match.

London Road Club members can go completely free. Non-members have to pay just £2 or £3 to become members and can then travel free.

Bowler said: "We could even get close to our biggest away support of the season which was 2,000 at Swindon. It's more than Forest or Chelsea in the Cup and the most coaches we've ever taken to a game in the five years I've been here.

In addition, Port Vale have announced that supporters buying an adult ticket in advance will receive two junior tickets free of charge.

They must be purchased no later than 5pm on Friday by calling Port Vale on 01782 814134. A £1.50 booking fee is charged on each transaction.

The away end at Vale Park holds 4,500 and supporters will have no problem paying cash at the turnstile. Matchday prices are £15 for adults and £11 for under 16s and over 65s.

CENTRE back Steve Davis, who has been sidelined for virtually the whole season with an Achilles injury, makes a belated comeback in the reserves' Avon Insurance Combination clash against Watford at the Manor tonight (7.30)

Oxford Utd Res: from Nelson, Remy, Rose, Cook, Folland, Wilsterman, Davis, Wright, Murphy, S Weatherstone, Stevens, Richards, R Weatherstone, Ricketts.

Story date: Wednesday 14 April

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