BANBURY United is celebrating 75 years as a top football club with an appeal to local businesses for support and sponsorship.

Club officials are also working behind the scenes to avoid being left with nowhere to play when the ground is claimed for redevelopment by its owner, businessman Robin Faccenda.

Under the terms of the lease, Mr Faccenda can give the club 12 months notice.

Land near the stadium is being considered for industrial development, and it is thought that Mr Faccenda might want to consider other options for the football ground.

Club chairman David Bennett said: "Mr Faccenda has indicated that he will want the land in 12 to 18 months, but at this stage we are not sure of the deadline.

"We are working quietly in the background to come up with a solution. The club would prefer to find a way to buy the ground and stay put, but we are keeping all options open. We are working with Banbury Town Council, Cherwell District Council, and local business people, to investigate alternatives."

He added: "If we are forced out of the stadium, we might have to consider ground-sharing, but with who, is the 64,000 dollar question?"

Mr Bennett said the club needed to plan for all its teams.

The club is the leading non-league soccer team in Oxfordshire, and has ten teams at different age levels, plus four womens' squads.

Mr Bennett said: "There are other considerations. If we win promotion from this league to the Conference, we will need seating for 500 spectators. The ground has 250 seats now and we'll have to upgrade our floodlights.

"But I am encouraged by the support we are getting from business people who want to see the club prosper and continue."

The club was founded in 1931 as a works side for Spencer's, the town's corset factory, and was known as Spencer Villa.

It became Banbury Spencer in 1934 when it moved to the present ground. The Spencer factory closed and the club became Banbury United in 1965.

Mr Bennett said: "We want to promote Banbury United to as wide an audience as possible and central to this is the support of businesses as we try to achieve our five-year plan.

"Our objectives are straightforward pride in the football team, encouraging family involvement, and securing the club's long-term future."