Fans of Oxford United have been invited to band together to back our football team - and raise cash for the club and charity in the process.

With the club's relegation out of the football league still a painful memory, the Oxford Mail and Oxford United have joined forces in an attempt to lift the gloom and set a positive tone for the new season, which starts on August 12.

We are asking all U's fans to wear newly launched yellow wristbands proclaiming they are Oxford Loyal - with half the £1 price going to charity and half to the club.

The bright yellow-and-blue bands will be sold across the county and are the perfect way for fans to show their support for the team.

United were relegated to the Nationwide Conference last month after losing their final game of the season at home to Leyton Orient.

It ended a 44-year spell in the League, but the setback has forced everyone at the club to re-group and vow to come back fighting.

Profits from the sale of the bands, which have "Oxford Loyal" together with the club logo and the Oxford Mail masthead on them, will be split between the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign and Oxford United's youth development squad.

Launching the new bands yesterday, United chairman Nick Merry said they were a great way for fans to show their support for the team ahead of what will be a vital season for the club.

Mr Merry, who bought United from Firoz Kassam in April, said: "I will be wearing mine with pride. We really want everyone to get behind the club and show us their support, and this is the perfect way of doing that.

"It's also raising money for two worthy causes at the same time, so it's a fabulous idea."

He added: "The response from fans after relegation was tremendous, it just proved what an amazing fan base we have."

Oxford Mail editor Simon O'Neill said: "Oxford United's relegation was a terrible blow to the club, but that's history now and we need to look forward in a positive fashion.

"These wristbands will be a chance for supporters to visibly show their loyalty and also raise money for Oxford's youth development scheme and the children's hospital in the process.

"I hope they become the must-have fashion accessory for United fans."

Alice Gosling, director of fundraising for the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign, said: "This is a tremendous idea."

* An open day will be held at the Kassam Stadium on July 8.

* Oxford Loyal bands are on sale at: the Oxford Mail's head office in Osney Mead, Oxford; our district offices in Witney, Banbury and Bicester; United's club shop at the stadium; Rose Hill Post Office, Rose Hill; Spar, Dunnock Way, Greater Leys; Box of Delights, Shipton Road, Woodstock; Acorn News, St Nicholas, Littlemore; Delteys, Blackbird Leys Road, Blackbird Leys; Martin's newsagent at the John Radcliffe Hospital.