SOME fans love Oxford United so much they are willing to go the extra mile to support the team.

While thousands of fans make the 53-mile trip from Oxford to Wembley spare a thought for lifelong fan Mark Andrews who will clock up more than 22,700 miles as he flies in from New Zealand for just two days in the UK to see United take on York in the Blue Square Premier play-off final on Sunday.

While most fans will travel past Lewknor, Stokenchurch and High Wycombe on their route to North London, Mr Andrews’ epic journey will see him make stops in Sydney and Bangkok en route to Wembley Way.

He will leave his home in Auckland at 9am on Friday morning to catch a 12.15pm flight from New Zealand’s biggest city, with layovers scheduled in Australia and Thailand. He will arrive in Heathrow at 6.25am on Saturday, after flying for more than 20 hours to see the match.

The air tickets alone have cost Mr Andrews NZ$2,593, (£1,200).

However, the 40-year-old draughtsman said the chance to see the team walk out at Wembley, rather than listening to commentary in the early hours of the morning, would make the effort worth it.

The former Peers School pupil said: “I got up at 1.45am to listen to the play-off semi-final, so when we won, I was happy.

“When I went back to bed at 4.15am for a couple of hours, all I could think about was that I wanted to go back for the game.

“Without me mentioning it in the morning, my wife said I should go, so I spent all Tuesday arguing with myself, and decided I was going to head back.

“I knew that if I was listening or even watching on the Internet, I would be regretting that I didn’t come back for the final.”

Mr Andrews, who moved to New Zealand in October 2007, has not seen the team in action since visiting Oxford 18 months ago.

The former season ticket-holder will stay with his brother, Nigel, in Risinghurst the night before the game.

On Monday night he will set off home from Heathrow, stopping in Singapore and Melbourne before arriving back in Auckland at 11.40am on Wednesday.

He plans to be back at work that afternoon.

His step-father Ian White, who took him to his first United game and the Milk Cup final in 1986, said: “After they won, I said ‘Mark won’t pay all that money to come over’.

“But the next thing we got a call saying he was going to come. He’s a massive fan.”

His mother Ann, from St Michael’s Road, Littlemore, said: “I’m amazed at how far he’s travelling for the game but he just loves Oxford so much that if he can get here he will. He’s so devoted.”

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk l Fan on marks for race to final: Page 12 l Unfinished business for United duo: P31-32