Scott Rides Out For The 12th Man

Oxford United fan Scott Humphries is the latest to come forward with a 12th Man fundraiser. He is 15 years old and he has set himself the challenge of a sponsored cycle ride over the Easter weekend to raise money for the first team squad.
Most fans will get in their cars or on the coach and travel back home after the match at Hayes on Good Friday. Not Scott - after cheering on the Us on at Hayes, he will get on his bike and set out for the Kassam Stadium in Oxford, over 60 miles away!

Scott says: “I will be cycling, wearing Oxford United kit, on mainly minor roads on a carefully planned route. I will spread the journey back to Oxford over the days of the holiday weekend, shadowed and supported by my family in a car. When I was thinking about what sort of organisation to do this for, I thought of the 12th Man straight away. I thought of Hayes to Oxford because of the weekend games, and I hope to finish just before the home game against Salisbury. I hope it will help the 12th man a little bit.”

We hope the timing will work out for Scott, so that the crowd at the Salisbury match on Easter Monday can welcome him as he arrives.

Scott is gathering his own sponsors, but he would very much like any United fan who wants to sponsor him to do so. OxVox will arrange a collection point for donations at the Kassam Stadium on Easter Monday, so look out for details. Also, online donations can be made by visiting the OxVox website at www.oxvox.org.uk and clicking on the donation button for Scott’s challenge on the front page of the site.

Trevor Lambert on behalf of the 12th Man said,“It’s great to see younger fans like Scott coming forward and helping the 12th Man fund. He’s taking on a significant challenge and fans will wish him well, and success in his fundraising. We’ll look forward to seeing him back on Easter Monday.”

United Chairman Kelvin Thomas added, "This is another great effort and we wish Scott the best of luck. It has been great to see so many fans, of all ages, getting behind the 12th Man Fund and we look forward to welcoming him back."

Marathon 12th Man.......whatever next?

Marathon 12th Man!

Oxford United fan and OxVox supporters’ trust member Andy Hill will be putting on his running shoes to raise money for the 12th Man Fund next month.

Andy has been fortunate enough to secure a coveted place in the Flora London marathon to be run on Sunday April 25th, just one day after the Us wind up their Conference league programme at Eastbourne Borough. Andy has run the Marathon several times and he is looking forward to the challenge. We will be following his progress in training and posting reports from time to time on the 12th Man blog and the OxVox website.

But fans can sponsor him now. You can make a donation by visiting the OxVox website www.oxvox.org.uk and clicking on the 12th Man Fund donation buttons. Or you can send a cheque payable to ‘The 12th Man’ to OxVox at 18 Harvest Way, Witney, Oxon OX28 1EG, indicating that your donation is prompted by Andy’s run. The OxVox site will carry updates of the total raised so far, and we trust Andy’s efforts will be well rewarded.

We are pleased to confirm that at Andy’s suggestion anyone who sponsors him for £20 or more will receive a free one year membership of OxVox.

Andy adds “I have been extremely fortunate to obtain an entry, in the official ballot, to run The Virgin London Marathon this year and am VERY proud to be able to use my run to raise funds for this excellent cause. The ballot for the race is always 3 or 4 times oversubscribed for the 35,000 places on offer so places are at a premium.

“I am a lifelong Oxford United supporter and watch the team home and away throughout the season. I also play for Raging Fever, the supporters’ team, who play opposition fans up and down the country on the morning of Oxford United matches, before cheering the team to victory in the afternoon!

“Whenever I run The London Marathon I wear an Oxford United shirt and always get support from Oxford United supporters as I pound the streets of the capital for 26.2 miles! Marathon running is very similar to the trails and tribulations of a football season, there are highs and lows, agony and ecstasy and the knowledge that you have a long hard slog ahead of you........but step by step you get nearer to the final prize.

“I hope that London based Oxford United supporters and people travelling back home after an overnight stay in Eastbourne will be kind enough to come along and offer vocal support. It is always a fun day out with bands playing outside pubs so come along and give me a cheer...............and afterwards everyone would be welcome to join me in for a celebratory beer in a pub somewhere not too far from the end of the course! Let’s hope that we are celebrating another successful occasion at the same time...............and that the 'P' word is no longer banned!”

Club Chairman Kelvin Thomas said: “We wish Andy the best of luck in the Marathon. It is another example of fans supporting the 12th Man Fund and we wish him success in his training and on the day.”

Oxford's 12th Man

We have had a difficult start to March but with "The 12th Man Initiative" having parted with £25,000 this season, it is time for the wonderful fans of Oxford United to continue to "roar" on our side over the next six weeks.

Chris Wilder and Kelvin Thomas will be more determined than ever to deliver success this season and the 12th Man will once again play its part, as it has done all season!

It is just getting exciting!

Come on You YELLOWS!