OXFORD United’s community drive in lockdown continues to gather pace with the first batch of face masks being delivered.

Head coach Karl Robinson was among the volunteers from across the club to start despatching them from the Kassam Stadium.

It is part of a wide range of initiatives the U’s have put in place since the country went into lockdown, despite many staff being put into the government’s furlough scheme.

The club are looking to do more, but managing director Niall McWilliams believes they can be proud of their efforts.

He said: “I think Karl is a real asset in this because he’s genuinely community-minded.

“But look at what else we’ve done – the community department have put out homework, there’s free fitness classes starting this week, there’s mental health tips, we’re calling all season ticket holders over 60.

“There’s the masks, we have some staff volunteering for the NHS and Oxford Together.

“I think we’ve done as much as any football club.

“The phrase I use is ‘deeds, not words’. We have stepped up to the plate.”

The 10,000 fabric masks arrived on Monday from Thailand, via chairman Sumrith ‘Tiger’ Thanakarnjanasuth.

Among the first to receive the fabric masks, which include logos of the U’s badge and sponsors Singha, were the Sobell House Hospice and the Oxford Vaccine Centre.

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They are also set to be distributed to local councils, charities and the NHS.

Season ticket holders aged over 55, plus others in higher-risk categories who had got in touch with the club, will have a mask posted to them over the next couple of days.

Robinson told the club’s website: “I think we can feel very proud as a group of people and the team spirit really shone through.”

One approach which has been really appreciated has been the calls to older supporters.

Rod Calcutt, from Watlington, is among those to be on the receiving end.

The 75-year-old has watched the U’s since the 1950s, but admitted at first he did not believe goalkeeper Simon Eastwood was at the other end of the line.

“It was definitely a surprise,” he said. “We are so used to scam calls, if there had been a slight wrong accent there I think the phone would have been put down.

“But it was a really enjoyable call and what a lovely man he is.

“I think it’s an excellent idea and the first thing he said was ‘how are you?’ I thought that was nice.

“I told Simon that I would give him a big shout when we are allowed back into the Jim Smith Stand again, to which he replied ‘make yourself known to a member of staff, as I would love to meet you’.

“Little things like this go a long way and mean a lot.”