FOOTBALL: City hoping for some southern comfort (From The Oxford Times)

FOOTBALL: City hoping for some southern comfort

11:10am Wednesday 9th May 2012 in Evo-Stick Southern One South & West Table & Results

Oxford City will have to wait until May 25 to find out which division of the Blue Square Bet Conference they will play in next season.

It follows their thrilling 4-2 play-off final win against AFC Totton.

The issue will be discussed at an FA Alliance sub committee meeting on May 15 and is set to be rubber-stamped the following week.

City chairman Brian Cox said: “Hopefully, we are going to be in the Blue Square South rather than the north.

“Even then, there is a fair amount of travelling. There are plus and minuses – obviously you get a lot better gates, but then you’ve got the costs of the travelling against it.

“But you’re not going to turn it down.”

Cox said the emergence of the club’s crop of talented youngsters gave him more cause for optimism.

He added: “What I like is that we have a lot of young lads here. You saw two goalscorers on Monday, Kynan (Isaac) and Albi (Skendi). They’re 18-year-olds who can play at this level, and we can only go forward.

“I don’t think there is much to fear next season.“And with our youngsters, I think the future looks bright.”

Meanwhile, City secretary John Shepperd confirmed that Court Place Farm will be able to host Conference South or North matches next season.

He said: “We have been given a C grading, which means Conference football can be played there. However, we have to have a B grading by March 31 next year so we will have to carry out a number of improvements.”