It is over 50 years since we last met Stratford Town in a league game, as you have to go back to April 1966 for that when both sides were members of the West Midlands League. This was Banbury’s final season in that league before being elected to the Southern League. There have though been a few games between the sides since then, one in the FA Cup during our Hellenic League days and four Birmingham Senior Cup encounters.

Stratford are now in their second season at Southern League Premier Division level and though finishing in 19th place last season, to their credit they never looked likely to be relegated. This season they have become the draw specialists of the division with nine in total and this means though having lost less games than ourselves the proliferation of one point from games means they occupy a bottom half of the table position.

As for ourselves, the club’s first ever competitive game on an artificial pitch saw us lose 2-0 to Slough Town on Tuesday evening. This was our third consecutive defeat after losing 1-0 to both Dunstable Town and King’s Lynn.

Manager Mike Ford is expected to have a full squad to choose from.

There will be a minute’s silence before the start of tomorrow’s game in memory of the 19 Chapecoense players and staff who were among the 71 who died when the Brazilian's team plane crashed on Monday and also in memory of George Parish who died last Saturday. George was a Honorary Vice President of the Football Club, a local counciller for many years and former Town Mayor, a great friend of the Football Club as well as a regular down at the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium until he became ill. He is of course well known locally for his sterling work for the successful Save the Horton Hospital campaign of a few years ago.

A reminder to supporters that, as usual, the small bar will not be available before the game or at half-time as it is required for sponsors and guests. It will be open to all after the game.

Away supporters are advised to use OX16 5AB for their Sat-Nav as the club’s official postcode may well take you elsewhere!

Tomorrow’s match is sponsored by L. Jarvis & Sons

Admission Prices: Adults £10, Concessions (Over 60s and Full Time Students) £6, Under 16s £1.

Programme: £2

Kick-off 3.00pm

Free to sit in the stand

Hot Food available in the Clubhouse.

Free parking

Supporters should note that the old Chiltern Railways Car Park on the Tramway Industrial Estate is still available for parking free of charge. This will provide a quick getaway after the game, avoiding the problems of getting out of Station Approach and help ease possible parking congestion at the ground. Entrance is via Swan Close Road and car park is at the bottom on the right, it is free to park there, thanks to Chiltern Railways. Post Code for the Chiltern Railways Car Park is OX16 5TB. Turn right out of car park, through the bollards and turn right down Station Approach – ground is 300 yards on the right.