DAVID Oldfield hopes the coming campaign finally sees normality return to Oxford City’s calendar.

The Vanarama National League South club shortly begin pre-season, as they prepare to start 2021/22 on August 14.

Oldfield has not experienced a normal football campaign since becoming City boss in March 2020, his first game coming just before the coronavirus pandemic halted fixtures.

Last season did not start until October and was suspended in January over funding issues, before being declared null and void a month later.

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City were fourth in National League South and wanted to play on, but Oldfield is not dwelling on the past.

He said: “We believed there could have been a way to maintain the integrity of the league.

“But we move on and we’re just looking forward to getting into normal football timing.

“We were out of sync and got to Christmas having played a handful of games.

“Hopefully everyone stays safe and we can get back to focusing on the football.

“We’ve hardly seen our fans face to face, so it’ll be fantastic to see them again.”

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City were excellent on three fronts in 2020/21, holding out until extra time against Sky Bet League One side Shrewsbury Town in the Emirates FA Cup second round.

They also reached the Buildbase FA Trophy quarter-finals for the first time, losing 3-1 at Notts County on February 27 – their most recent competitive game.

Seven players from last season’s squad have re-signed for the coming campaign, while Joe Iaciofano joins from Havant & Waterlooville.

The 22-year-old striker has been on Oldfield’s radar since he was a youngster at Northampton Town.

But captain Joe Oastler and 2020/21 top-scorer James Roberts have gone in the other direction.

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“James was fantastic, but we move on with the players we’ve recruited,” Oldfield said.

“Joe was an influential person around the place, but we need to look forward and have players to step into those leadership positions.”

City will never know if they could have maintained a promotion challenge last season.

Oldfield, though, is treating the coming campaign as a clean slate.

He said: “We aren’t taking anything for granted.

“We need to make sure we’re progressing as a club.

“We’re almost back to square one and we need to make sure our attitude is just as good.”