Thursday June 17 . . . that’s the next big date for Oxford United fans.

It’s the day when the Football League fixtures for the 2010-2011 season are announced. They are set to be issued at 10am that morning.

For U’s followers, it will be the moment reality sinks in, as they fully take in what a return to the Football League entails.

Before their relegation in 2006, Oxford United had spent 43 seasons as a Football League club, playing three of those seasons, in the mid-80s, in the top flight.

Although Coca-Cola League Two can never in truth be called glamorous, just being a part of the Football League again, with simple things like entry once again to the League Cup, and for the players membership of the PFA (Professional Footballers Association) means so much.

There could also be a lot less travelling both for the team and the fans next season in League Two than had Oxford remained in the Conference.

A local derby against Wycombe, and a near local derby against Cheltenham should draw big gates.

And Bradford City are a very well-supported club. Their average home gate was nearly 11,000, despite finishing 14th.

Had they remained in the Blue Square Premier for a fifth season, United would have been faced with a host of long journeys in 2010-11, to places such as Southport, Fleetwood, Barrow, Gates-head, Darlington and Grimsby.

WHO UNITED MEET NEXT SEASON North: Stockport, Bury, Bradford City, Accrington Stanley, Macclesfield Midlands: Chesterfield, Port Vale, Northampton, Shrewsbury, Burton Albion, Hereford Utd, Crewe Alexandra, Lincoln.

South: Gillingham, Wycombe, Southend, Torquay Utd, Barnet, Cheltenham, Stevenage Boro (* Plus 3 of Morecambe, Rotherham, Aldershot and Dagenham & Redbridge).

l THE Blue Square Premier confirmed Sunday’s Wembley attendance was 42,669, a record for a Conference final.

Wembley Stadium had initially given out a gate of 38,957, but this reportedly did not include Club Wembley seats and hospitality packages.