JUSTIN Merritt hopes the new record gate at the refurbished Court Place Farm is just the start of a brighter future for Oxford City.

The facility, which has undergone a facelift during the summer as part of a partnership with Oxford United, was officially opened on Saturday.

And a crowd of 2,276 watched the U’s win 3-0 on the new 3G surface, smashing the previous highest gate at the ground by almost 500.

For Merritt, City’s director of football, it was a terrific sight.

“We’re delighted,” he said.

“Building up to the game the online ticket sales were coming through and lots of people were talking.

“It turned from ‘are we going to get a good crowd’ to ‘are we going to be able to handle that crowd’.

“It was great, a fantastic atmosphere.

“I’m pleased we’ve got through it with no disasters and everyone’s had a great day.”

The occasion came at the end of a tough 12 months for City during which they have been hit with the death of managing director Colin Taylor and big concerns about the club’s financial position.

Merritt has been part of the process aimed at getting the club back on to an even keel, helped by the arrangement with United.

While the bumper gate and new facilities have been a boost, the former City head coach wants to maximise the benefit for the team and the local community, who are now able to hire out the pitch.

He said: “We’re not totally out of the mire yet, but we’ve structured it now as a business.

“It’s a lot more organised than at any time I’ve been at the club.

“There’s a lot of hard work to do, but what we have here is a great base, and through Oxford United’s partnership it’s only going to get stronger.

“Unfortunately I have a very low threshold of satisfaction.

“I want it to be driven forward, not just in terms of the financial side of things, but we want to provide the best facilities and the best coaching we can for the players who come here.”

Derek Fazackerley, United’s assistant head coach, was impressed.

He said: “It’s a fantastic facility, particularly at the level Oxford City play.

“I think we will get the opportunity to use it for training when we get into the winter.

“The crowd is a great boost for clubs like this – we’re only too pleased to be able to help. A good artificial surface is better than a bad grass pitch, that’s for sure.”

l CITY host Cheltenham Town at Court Place Farm tonight.