ON FRIDAY you reported that the Priory pub, adjacent to the Kassam Stadium, has been told it is in technical breach of its licence by selling drinks from an outside marquee on Oxford United match days.

This decision has dismayed many fans. The police spokesman confirms the pub is well run and even describes the decision to suspend the licence to sell in the marquee as “difficult”, and it’s clear that all concerned wish to see the marquee fully in operation again.

Unlike many other football clubs, Oxford United still have no match day supporters’ club, despite the stadium having been open for almost a decade.

The Priory has stepped into the breach and landlord Tim Rackley has worked wonders since 2004 to build it up to the successful pre-match venue it is today, visited by hundreds of fans.

British pubs are in decline and every day we read stories of more closing. The successes deserve to be celebrated and supported. The Priory depends on its carefully-nurtured match day trade and the pub adds to the experience of the day for large numbers of fans.

The supporters’ trust OxVox sometimes uses the pub as a base on match days and we fully support the application to overcome the licensing limitation.

We urge that this be fast tracked through the official channels and meanwhile we ask that applications for short-term extensions to the licence will be successful.

Trevor Lambert, Headington, On behalf of OxVox (Oxford United Supporters’ Trust)