AN Oxford United fan begins the trip of a lifetime tomorrow as he flies to Russia to watch the World Cup.

U's programme editor and club historian Martin Brodetsky will attend England's three group stage games and France's clash with Denmark in Moscow.

Mr Brodetsky's brother David was entered into a ballot by his children as a Christmas present and won two tickets.

He had promised to let the United fan accompany him to Russia if he was given the tickets and he stayed true to his word.

It is a tournament of firsts for the Donnington resident, who admitted the excitement has been building as the day draws closer.

He said: "I'm looking forward to it immensely.

"It's my first World Cup and my first time in Russia.

"I just want to sit back and enjoy the games.

"I'm not going just as an England supporter, more as a football fan."

After flying out from Heathrow tomorrow, Mr Brodetsky will travel to Volgograd ahead of England's opening game against Tunisia on Monday.

Six days and more than 600 miles later he will watch the Three Lions face World Cup minnows Panama in Nizhny Novgorod.

The U's supporter plans to spend a few days to explore Moscow before the potentially pivotal final group game against Belgium.

On June 26 he has tickets for France versus Denmark at the Russian capital's Luzhniki Stadium, which hosted yesterday's opening game and the final.

Mr Brodetsky will then travel to the Baltic city of Kaliningrad for England's meeting with Belgium on Thursday June 28, completing a hectic schedule of four games in 10 days.

But the historian revealed the football is not the only reason he is relishing the two-week trip.

He said: "My brother's meeting a former work colleague in Moscow who will show us around so we'll definitely take in the sights.

"I'm also looking forward to visiting Volgograd for the Second World War history and museums."

Many England supporters are tipping Gareth Southgate's men to reach the quarter-finals in Russia, but Mr Brodetsky admits he is already dreaming of the Three Lions ending 52 years of hurt.

He said: "We should get through the group stages and then it depends on the draw.

"I would be surprised if they got any further than the Quarter Finals but if the draw falls kindly I can see them doing well and who knows.

"As it gets closer realism goes out of the window and your heart takes over."