Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas says the pre-season tour to America is a landmark occasion for the club.

The U’s travel to the United States in just under four weeks time to play three matches as part of their pre-season preparations.

And Thomas says that the whole club is buzzing ahead of the trip.

United have a link-up with Seacoast United, whose executive director and founder, Paul Willis, was in Oxford to meet Thomas.

Seacoast’s under 16 side are touring the UK, and Willis took the opportunity to call in at the Kassam Stadium.

“We are all very excited about this tour,” Thomas said.

“We shall enjoy it and embrace it. They have some decent players out there and are a very well run club.

“There will be some good games and it will a great experience for the players to play out in the States.

“The matches will be vital for the players’ fitness at the start of the season and for the management team to see how the players work together.”

But as well as being vital for preparations, Thomas was keen to look at the bigger picture too.

“I think this tour shows people that we are serious about what we are doing and serious about moving forward,” he said.

“I think it also shows the progress we are making here at Oxford United.”

He added: “We’ll be using it as an opportunity to make some new friends and to also develop our relationship with both Nike and Virgin.

“We have 30 people from Oxford United making the trip and we will also be helping Seacoast United with their own development as a club.”

Oxford will play Seacoast United Phantoms, of the USL Premier Development League, on Thursday, July 14, before taking on Mass United FC, of the National Premier Soccer League, two days later.

The final match of United’s tour will be against Seacoast United, of the National Premier Soccer League, on Monday, July 18.

Willis is equally excited about the trip.

“We can’t wait for the United squad to come out to the States,” he said.

“We’re moving forward all the time with our club and the numbers of teams we run and the game is increasing in popularity all the time.

“Having the U’s with us on their pre-season trip is a great coup for us and will only strengthen the relationship between the clubs even further.”