Oxford United’s squad may be 3,000 miles from home, but they can still count on the backing of a handful of die-hard supporters.

At each of the U’s games on the pre-season tour to the United States there have been fans proudly wearing the yellow shirt.

As far as away trips go, it makes a Tuesday night visit to Rochdale look insignificant, but for Les Taylor it is the second time he has made the journey, after watching the first tour 12 months ago.

The Oxford-born fan said: “I came over for the games last year and in between visited different states and I decided to do the same again.

“So the trip’s not just about the football – I’m not that crazy – but it was the catalyst for going to the US.”

The United season-ticket holder was invited to spend an evening with the squad last week and saw the benefits of the tour first-hand.

He said: “One thing from it was the team bonding – I couldn’t tell who the new players were.

“People talk about going on trips to Scotland and places like that in pre-season, but getting them away for a week at these facilities is great.”