A giant hydraulic access platform lifts workmen to the roofs of the north and south stands at Oxford United's new Kassam Stadium.

They are fitting the floodlights which will illuminate the pitch and make the three-sided ground an impressive stadium of light for night matches.

Workmen check the lights

Unlike the Manor Ground, where there were four floodlight pylons, all of The Kassam Stadium's lights are situated on top of the two stands at the side, shining down on the state-of-the-art pitch which had a rare but welcome overnight sprinkling of rain.

The first night game will be the Worthington Cup first-round tie against first division Gillingham on Tuesday August 21, though being still summer, the lights may not be needed until the second half.

United fans will notice their brightness compared to the Manor lights.

"There is the opportunity of splitting it or of having effectively two levels of brightness - 1000 lux or 800 lux," said secretary Mick Brown. "Sometimes, for TV requirements, it needs to be brighter.

"As an example, the average requirement for second and third division clubs, as in the Football League regulations, is for 350 lux, with a minimum of 210, and the Manor was only about 300."

The lights on the north stand are on pods to bring them to the same height as the two-tier south stand.

With tarmac being laid for car parking on the west side of the stadium, and nearly all the blue seats in place in the north stand, the Oxford Mail Stand and the lower tier of the south stand, United's new home really is taking shape.

The 5,000-capacity north stand, where away fans will be seated, can be sub-divided into five areas, providing the club with home-and-away flexib- ility.

For the opening Division 3 match against Rochdale on August 11, for example, United will probably allow the visitors up to 1,000 places, but it is possible for the whole stand to be given over to an away team's fans.

All in all, the stadium looks impressive.

Said United's commercial manager, Gary Hooper: "When you see the place, you can't help but be excited."

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