Oxford United continued their team strengthening with right back Ben Purkiss joining on a two-year deal from York City, and Wembley hero Alfie Potter agreeing to a similar-length contract.

They join midfielder Asa Hall, who signed from Luton on Thursday.

Law graduate Purkiss, 26, admitted the fantastic scenes for Oxford United at Wembley, with their 33,000 fans in joyous mood, played a big part in him moving to the Kassam Stadium when other clubs had been chasing his signature.

“You only have to look at that support on Sunday to see how much potential the club has got – and that’s why I’m here,” said Purkiss, who chose Oxford in preference to fellow League Two clubs Torquay United and Burton Albion.

“There are a lot of reasons I wanted to come here – the size of the club, the manager, the lure of the Football League, but the size of the support is a big one.”

Purkiss, who began as a trainee at Sheffield United and joined Gainsborough Trinity while he was studying for his degree, had been with York since 2007.

“I was there for three and a bit seasons, in which we got to the play-offs twice,” he said.

“I was wanting to step up to the Football League on Sunday. The likelihood was that it would be with York City, but it wasn’t to be. Football has a funny way of making things happen.”

United manager Chris Wilder said he had watched the 6ft 2in Purkiss many times, and his capture will give real competition at full back.

Wilder said; “He’s an athletic footballer who likes to get forward and join in, and he gives us competition at right back, and in a couple of other positions as well.

“We can’t sit back. He has the right attitude and wants to come.”

Wilder said knowing that Damian Batt had been very successful at right back this season had not put Purkiss off.

It was Purkiss’s cross that Ryan Clarke fumbled into his goal in the play-off final to get the Minstermen back in the match, so Clarke might now be persuading his new teammate to claim that goal.

But he’s unlikely to succeed.Wilder smiled: “I don’t think Ryan will get away from the fact that, as the lads said on the bus, we had four scorers at Wembley!”

Purkiss said he immediately noticed the buzzm.

“Everyone’s got smiles on their faces, the secretary’s walking around with a Football League tie on, everyone’s delighted to be where Oxford belong.”