OXFORD Harlequins bid to say a fond farewell to Marston Ferry Road ahead of their much-anticipated move to Horspath.

The club are set to up sticks five miles across the city and continue life at a new facility, which will include a floodlit artificial surface.

With their first and second teams at home on Saturday, Quins hope to attract a bumper crowd to say goodbye to their current ground.

After the senior sides returned from North Hinksey Sports Park in 2015 following a failed merger with Oxford, the entire club, including more than 450 minis and juniors, have been based at Marston Ferry Road.

With free entry for two home matches this weekend, Quins are putting on a barbecue, bouncy castle and various fundraising activities.

“We want to have a bit of a send-off,” said first team head coach Andy Boyle.

“We want to finish at Marston Ferry Road how we mean to kick off at Horspath and have a bit more of a club feel around the place.”

Horspath Road is a familiar location for Quins whose teams played there until 2006 following the merger of Oxford Marathon and Oxford Old Boys in 1996.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) announced in 2015 it would be investing in 100 floodlit artificial surfaces and Quins’ application proved successful.

The pitch, which costs nearly £800,000, is funded by the RFU and will be situated next to Oxford City Athletic Club.

As the host, Quins will receive 12 hours free use of the community asset at peak time, with the remainder managed by the RFU.

The club, who are actively looking to raise funds to develop a clubhouse and changing rooms, are just waiting for the completion of formalities before being officially given the green light.

Chairman Neil Hopper confirmed building work to install the artificial surface will start on May 8, while the club will also have room for four grass pitches.

He said: “The committee signed the 30-year lease with Oxford City Council on Wednesday night, so the contract should be exchanged by the end of this week.

“Thereafter the RFU will sign the sub-lease.”

Quins’ first team have secured fourth in South West 1 East and face leaders Old Patesians on Saturday, while their second XV bid to move a step closer to winning the BB&O Division 3 title when they take on Tadley 2nd.

Boyle said: “I’m over the moon. I would have taken fourth at the start of the year.

“And our second team are on the brink of promotion which is great.

“We need to close that gap between the sides.

“It’s been a really good year and hopefully we can finish it off.

“Our first team fancy a crack at Old Pats and hopefully we can sign off at Marston Ferry Road in a positive way.”