OXFORD United’s Kassam Stadium is best known as a venue where the roar of the crowd can be heard celebrating a Yellows goal.

But now it is about to host an event where the atmosphere will be as hushed as when the opposition score.

A book fair – thought to be the first of its kind at the venue – is to be hosted at the stadium’s Conference and Events Centre in Grenoble Road.

The Oxford Fine Press Book Fair will take place at the centre on Saturday, March 24, from 11am to 6pm and on Sunday, March 25, from 10am to 5pm.

Books, prints and ephemera from some of the world’s best-known private presses will be on sale.

There will be about 100 stands, run by specialist booksellers and related organisations, and there will be a programme of lectures on Sunday.

Henry Gott, who works in Blackwell’s rare books department, said: “It’s an international event and there will be exhibitors from the UK, Europe and the United States.

“Private presses focus on book-making as a craft – different aspects of book production, the typography, bindings, printing and illustrations.

“These books are always produced in small editions so they can be eminently collectable.

“They can also be very innovative in the the way they are produced, in terms of the design and technique.

“We will be bringing a range of books from our stock, from the earliest presses to the present day.”

Mr Gott said some major works on sale could cost thousands of pounds.

But he added there would also be greeting cards and other ephemera on sale which would cost much less – from just a few pounds.

The fine press book fair takes place every two years and it is hoped the Kassam Stadium will continue as the venue.

The fair is backed by the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association and also by the Fine Press Book Association.

Oxford Book Fair, held every year at Oxford Brookes University, takes place at Headington Hill campus on April 21 and April 22.