Oxford United are to stage an All-Star and Celebrity benefit match on Friday, May 29 to raise money for youth development.

Admission prices will be £10 per adult and £4 for kids in any stand.

Players will include some squad members, 1986 Milk Cup winners, manager Chris Wilder and international celebrities, according to the club, who see the game as a way fans can contribute to youth development while also having a good time.

They are hoping for a sell-out.

Woodstock Partners Ltd have funded youth development for about £450,000 over the past two and a half years, at a cost of around £180,000 a year. They say this will continue for the 2009-2010 season.

But a major fundraising effort is needed. And as well as the benefit game, the U’ Youth Lottery is to be relaunched.

Some £400 was raised for youth development at the fans’ forum on Monday night.

It was revealed that night how United have agreed a three-year new kit deal with Nike, distributed through Just Sport.

The new home kit will be launched at the Open Day in the summer, with the away kit likely to be launched during pre-season.

“We are very excited to be forming a partnership with the major sportswear brand in the world,” said chairman Kelvin Thomas.

Other clubs who work with Nike/Just Sport include Fulham, Southend, MK Dons, Hartlepool, Dundee, Aberdeen, Crystal Palace, York and Kidderminster.

Among other topics to come out of the fans’ forum were details about how United are working very hard to improve commercial activity, and the planned announcement of the OUFC Loyalty Membership Card in June.

Despite the tough economic times for businesses, United have had 95 per cent of existing executive box holders verbally commit to next year, and they are now working on signed contracts and the other five per cent now.

And the club are already in advanced negotiations with three new businesses for boxes next year.

The 50-50 draw has been a major success for both the club and the fans, and they are looking at ways to expand.

The Membership Scheme will give members significant discounts at businesses all over Oxfordshire, and members priority behind season ticket holders for big games.

Another marketing idea is to have a student representative marketing the club among fellow students.

This comes following a meeting with Oxford University and Oxford Brookes.

The points deduction and appeal was explained by Thomas, while club secretary and general manager Mick Brown said how his position on the Conference Board “was untenable” following “the whitewash” of the Conference’s own internal review, and that was why he had resigned from it.