A CHEERY wave and they’re off!

Marston Saints footballers in Oxford were heading for Belgium for an Easter weekend of sport in 1979, write Richard Cooke and Tyrone Steele. Players, officials and mums and dads looked in good spirits as they prepared to board the coach in Cherwell Drive on the first stage of their journey.

We don’t know how the team fared when they reached Belgium because we have been unable to find any report of their visit.

What we do know is that the club was in good shape then – and is in good shape now.

It celebrated its 40th anniversary with a dinner in 2008. The Saints, based at Boults Lane, Old Marston, were founded in 1968 by Tony Roberts senior.

He was affectionately known as ‘Alf’ after the then England team manager Alf Ramsey, who led England to victory in the 1966 World Cup.

Some famous professional players passed through their ranks in those eventful years. They include Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown and Marston boy Gary Parker, who played for Aston Villa and Leicester City.

Today, more than 200 boys and girls play in the club’s 15 youth teams, while up to 50 adults play in the two men’s teams.

The Saints were given planning permission in 2009 to build a new £750,000 clubhouse at Boults Lane, but have struggled to raise the cash until recently.

Now the parish council has offered £275,000, using £75,000 of its own money and taking out a £200,000 loan from the Government’s Public Works Loan Board.

The club hopes the council’s generosity will help trigger other support.

Club vice-chairman Eddie Aldworth said: “We are hoping that this sum of money can really set the ball rolling towards our dream of having a new pavilion.”

Does anyone remember the 1979 visit to Belgium and know the scores?