Oxford United fans will get a flashback to the 1970s when they take on arch-rivals Swindon Town later this month.

Train operator First Great Western (FGW) is running a football special service direct to the Wiltshire town on Sunday, August 21, sparing fans from changing trains at Didcot Parkway.

Just 2,920 United supporters were able to get tickets for the first Football League clash between the sides for a decade, and 560 of them will be able to get seats on the train.

Mark Sennett, 27, chairman of Oxford United supporters’ trust OxVox, said: “I think it is great that fans are being given another option to get to the game, whether it’s the train, the supporters’ coaches from the Kassam Stadium, or driving themselves.

“The key thing is they all get there safely, cheer on the team and we get our first win there for many years.

“It is a day we cannot wait for and means the world to so many supporters. I was not even born when we last won there in 1973.”

The win, the only time the U’s have tasted victory in 25 visits to the County Ground, came in February 1973, when they triumphed 3-1.

The special will leave Oxford station at 11.23am and run non-stop to Swindon, via the West Curve avoiding line at Didcot, arriving at 11.55am.

This will give fans plenty of time to complete the 15-minute walk to the County Ground ahead of the 1pm kick-off.

The return train will depart from Swindon at 3.40pm and is due into Oxford at 4.11pm. Tickets for the train are only available by calling a dedicated First Great Western booking line, on 08450 711950. The fare for adults is £9 and £4.50 for children up to 3pm on August 17. Tickets will be sent by first class post. Any unsold tickets will be available until 3pm on August 18, but prices will be subject to a £5 surcharge to cover the cost of next-day delivery.

United’s communications officer Adam Jankiewicz said: “We are very happy to work with FGW to help our fans get to and from the game.”

Officially, there will be 2,920 Oxford fans travelling to Swindon, with away fans housed in the Arkells Stand and Stratton Bank It will be United’s first visit to the County Ground since they lost 2-1 in October 2000.