Chairman Kelvin Thomas hailed the Oxford United fans who turned up to help try and ensure today’s clash with Macclesfield goes ahead.

The Kassam Stadium pitch has been covered throughout the bad weather, with a thick layer of snow helping keep the pitch insulated.

But it needed a mammoth effort from the groundstaff and a hardy group of volunteers yesterday to help shift the snow from the pitch ahead of today’s npower League Two clash which kicks off at 3pm.

And Thomas said that barring any really bad weather overnight, the game will go ahead.

“The pitch is absolutely fine,” United’s chairman said after helping clear the pitch.

“It’s only the weather overnight that is going to stop us.

“The fans who turned up to help us shift all the snow were excellent – there was a real community spirit all around the place.

“We had children here, with parents, men and women of all ages – everyone helped out.

“It has been a really great effort from everyone involved and we’re very hopeful we will have a game now.”

Thomas did urge spectators, however, to leave plenty of time in getting to the game.

“I would ask that people try and get to the game as early as possible because there are obviously areas around the stadium that are still snowy,” he said.

“If they can use public transport to get here, all the better, but it is going to be a big gate and so people may have to leave that little bit earlier considering the conditions – and make sure they take great care.

“We’re all very hopeful though that the weather will be kind and we can have some football again.”

The car park has been cleared as much as possible, but some places are still understood to be icy.

The game will see United’s biggest crowd of the season with more than 9,000 expected.

Chris Wilder’s side have not had a game since December 4.