FANS cheered hundreds of troops who were guests of honour at Kassam Stadium on Saturday.

About 300 servicemen and women were given tickets to the game against Gateshead.

The club’s Support the Forces Day was well-attended by troops from bases including RAF Benson, Dalton Barracks in Abingdon and Bicester Garrison.

There was a minute’s applause before the kick-off and military representatives formed a guard of honour as the players came out of the tunnel for the first half.

David Jackson, United’s commercial manager, said: “We wanted to be able to show our support for the troops who are doing a great job not just for Oxfordshire, but for the whole country.”

Serjeant Danny Coyle, 42, of 1st Battalion The Rifles, Rifleman Lee Linney, 30, of 1st Battalion The Rifles, and Guardsman Chris Rydings, of the Grenadier Guards, set up an Army recruitment stand outside the ground.

Rifleman Linney said: “It’s great that the club is supporting the troops and has invited us along to the game.”