OXFORD United fan Simon Parker is delighted the season so far is going swimmingly for the Yellows.

But he is gutted he will miss their big game at Wembley as he will be in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at the time, about 8,000 miles from the cradle of the game.

The U’s have sold more than half their 40,000 tickets for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley on Sunday, April 3, but Mr Parker will not be among the lucky supporters.

The Chipping Norton resident is a travel journalist who is embarking on the trip of a lifetime next month.

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The 28-year-old said: “From March 20 to July 30 I’m embarking on my toughest story yet – to sail and cycle from China to London in 133 days.

“We start out from the east coast of China and I will be sailing across the Pacific in a round-the-world yacht race.

“I have worked out that the day the Wembley final is being played I will be almost exactly in the middle of the Pacific and I will be trying to stay in touch with the game via satellite phone.

“I have been all over the world and when I am away from home I always try to catch up with Oxford United games.

“I have even tuned in from the Kalahari Desert, but I think the Pacific Ocean will be the remotest location I have followed the team from.

“I’m very disappointed I won’t be at Wembley – I was at the play-off final in 2010 – but the reality of my job as a travel correspondent is that you have to take these opportunities when they come along.”

Mr Parker said he previously worked as part of the media team at the Kassam Stadium and tried to attend every home game when he was in the UK.

He added: “Lots of people see the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy as a bonus.

“I was there in 2010 and I will be there in spirit this time round – hopefully Oxford will score lots of goals.”

Mr Parker said he had visited almost 100 countries in the past decade – from Bhutan and Belgium to Peru and Portugal.

He added: “I’ve reported on stories as diverse as product shortages in Venezuela, the migrant crisis in Greece and social inequality in the barrios of Northern Colombia, to paragliding through the Andes, hiking Bali’s highest volcanoes and driving a rickshaw the length of India.”

Mr Parker said although he has worked with children’s charity Unicef, the main aim of his latest journey was not charity fundraising.

He added: “It appeals to my love of sport, and investigating the competitive spirit.”

For further information visit simonwparker.co.uk