Oxford United offer free tickets to newlyweds (From Banbury Cake)

Oxford United offer free tickets to newlyweds

6:23pm Tuesday 8th December 2009

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MEMBERS of the new Oxford United membership club are being offered the chance to see home games free – provided they get married first.

The Weston Manor Hotel, in Weston-on-the-Green, is offering any club member who gets married at the venue a pair of complimentary United season tickets, worth hundreds of pounds.

Owner Dudley Osborn said: “We wanted something different to offer club members. I don’t know of any other offer like it.

“But I think we have an obligation to support the club – it’s part of life in Oxfordshire.”

The membership club was launched last week.

The scheme includes card offering discounts atmore than 100 local, national and international organisations in exchange for a flat fee, which goes to United.

Club chairman Kelvin Thomas said: “This is an idea that will run and run, because it’s good for fans, other members of the public, businesses and the club. Everyone benefits.

“It gives people and businesses the chance to be part of their football club.”

James Woollard, the current Oxfordshire Young Business Person of the Year, and a lifelong fan, is buying a membership card for each of his 13 members of staff at Witney-based plastics company Polythene UK.

He said: “I want to help the club and some of my staff are supporters.

“The chances are they will go along once a season to see the team play but as club members they may go far more, which can only benefit Oxford United.”

Iain Nicholson, the director of the Oxfordshire Town Chambers Network, said: “Oxford United is a very important business for the county.

“Success for the club has a positive spin-off in terms of the mood and morale of fans, which is a big plus for the businesses that they work in.”

Club officials hope to raise more than £100,000 from selling club membership, which costs £30 a year, in return for promotions on tickets and kit and offers with retailers and businesses ranging from Pontins to Pizza Hut.

Discounts are also available for under-16s, pensioners and members of the Armed Forces and for bulk purchases by businesses and other organisations.

Commercial manager David Jackson said: “We saw a gap in the market, not just for fans but the wider community, and people across the country are already becoming involved.”

The card is available from the club ticket office and can also be ordered by calling 01865 337533.

For more details of the club, see oufcmembership.

co.uk

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