DAVID Oldfield is looking forward to a long-overdue sight when Oxford City host Oxford United next month.

The pre-season friendly was announced yesterday and will see Karl Robinson take his U’s side to Court Place Farm on Friday, July 16, with kick-off at 7pm.

While a meeting between the two clubs every summer has become traditional, coronavirus has given this year’s game added significance.

It will be the first time City have welcomed fans to Court Place Farm since December, albeit with limited capacity.

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Nevertheless, Oldfield is excited for what will be only his third home game in front of supporters since he took over in March last year.

The City boss, who played for the U’s between 2002 and 2004, said: “It’s fantastic that we can welcome Oxford United back and it’ll be amazing to see the supporters there.

“We still have to take this Delta variant (of coronavirus) seriously, so we need to make it safe and enjoyable for the supporters.

“We can’t wait to see them.

“To have them back will make it feel worthwhile.

“I’ve been to Oxford City as a player with Oxford United and it’s an important game for both clubs.”

Ticket details will be released when more is known about social distancing guidelines, with the removal of restrictions initially planned for yesterday pushed back until July 19.

Under the current rules, outdoor sporting venues are allowed up to 4,000 people or 50 per cent capacity, whichever, is lower.

In the case of Court Place Farm it would be the latter, with the stadium’s record attendance of 2,276 coming in their pre-season meeting with United in July 2017.

However many fans are allowed in on July 16, it will almost certainly be the biggest crowd to watch a game at the ground for well over a year.

Just 142 and 200 fans could attend the visits of St Albans City and Dulwich Hamlet respectively in December and Oldfield feels the return of a crowd will give his side a huge boost in 2021/22.

He said: “It’s going to be such a different dynamic having them back in the coming season.

“We want to build on our work last season and that’s down to the players’ attitude being as good as it possibly can.”

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United won 5-3 at City in July 2019 with 797 supporters watching on and there has not been a higher attendance at the ground since.

The sides met in a behind-closed-doors friendly last August, with Matty Taylor’s double and Cameron Brannagan’s strike securing a 3-0 triumph for the U’s.

United have teased another ‘innovative’ friendly for later next month, set to be announced today, while there are multiple other games lined up before their Sky Bet League One campaign kicks-off on Saturday, August 7.

City’s Vanarama National League South season begins a week later, with six other pre-season matches confirmed.