Introducing the most loyal and dedicated fans in the land . .

Seven days after 548 Oxford United supporters made the long terk to Gateshead, some 265 of them were back on the road again for the similar 500-mile round trip to the north-west outpost of Barrow last Saturday.

They had to contend with very strong winds from Manchester onwards, and for those who took the advised diversion via the A43 and M1 because the M40 was closed, that added another chunk to the journey.

Those those two trips are the equivalent of going from Oxfordshire to Warsaw!

It rather put to shame some of the small visiting crowds there have been at the Kassam Stadium over the past year.

Like the 66 who ventured from Eastbourne this season, or the 63 who arrived from Grays back in March.

In terms of home crowds, however, Oxford still trail Luton.

The U’s are averaging 6,518 for home gates at the moment, compared to Luton’s 6,927.

And that is despite them having a 10,613 attendance when the Hatters visited town.

But further big gates can be expected on November 28, when Cambridge are the visitors, and on Boxing Day, which traditionally draws the best of the season, in the local derby against Rushden.