A PUB landlord hopes to raise £5,000 for Oxford United’s 12th Man appeal by Christmas.

Tim Rackley, the tenant at The Priory, next to the Kassam Stadium, has backed the scheme to raise cash for new players.

The Oxford Mail has teamed up with the club to sell wristbands in aid of the appeal, and Mr Rackley said he hoped to swell the coffers by thousands of pounds by holding a 12th Man race night on Saturday.

He said: “We’ve already sold all 64 horses and we should get £2,000 or £3,000 on the night.

“Initially we had been hoping for £1,000 but we’ve already sold about £500 in raffle tickets and by the time we give 10 per cent of the bar takings from 11am until 11pm I’m sure we will have got a decent amount.”

The pub has been supporting the 12th Man idea – which was set up by fans – since it began in the summer.

It runs ‘correct score’ and ‘time of first goal’ competitions every match day in aid of the project.

In September, Oxford United bought back former player Jamie Cook from Crawley for £5,000 in a transfer wholly funded by the 12th Man project.

Mr Rackley, whose pub now sponsors Cook’s playing kit, said: “We’ve handed over cheques for £750 and £687 already and with the race night I’m quite confident we will top £5,000 by Christmas.

“Everyone’s been very generous, but it’s often the regular punters, who aren’t Oxford United fans, who are having a go on the correct score game during the week.

“It’s really brought everyone together.”

The Oxford Mail launched the 12th Man wristbands this week.

The bands are on sale around the city for a suggested minimum donation of £1.

A total of 3,000 have been produced and all the money from sales will go to the fund.

Mr Rackley said: “Lots of people are getting involved with the wristbands and I’m sure they will be a success.

“It will be interesting to see what they come up with next year.”

“Hopefully I think we will get about 150 or 200 people for the race night and I’m sure they will all back it.

“If it’s a success, which I’m sure it will be, we hope to run a nother race night in March which might be in aid of the youth team.”

The race night begins at 7.30pm on Saturday and will also feature a raffle and auction of Oxford United shirts.

Three TV screens will show the racing throughout the evening.

Places where you can buy the bands are: Eidco, Botley Road, West Oxford; Acorn, St Nicholas Road, Littlemore; Delteys, Blackbird Leys Road, Blackbird Leys; Spar, Dunnock Way, Greater Leys; Lal News, Barns Road, Cowley; Old Man’s Premier, Rose Hill; Daudhar News, Horspath Road, Cowley; Horspath Post Office and Stores; Premier, London Road, Headington; John Irvin stall, St Ebbe’s, Oxford; Oxford Mail offices, Osney Mead, Oxford