You may have seen or heard about the layout of the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium changing for the upcoming season. A lot of thought has gone into these changes with consideration to practicalities around the use of the new grandstand and improving our provision for away supporters, and following a review of our first season in the National League North with the police and Cherwell District Council. But mainly, we have been aiming to “get our ground back” for the Puritan faithful.

Banbury United fans will now be able to congregate behind both goals to give the side a lift, as used to be the case.

The main change that supporters will notice when attending the first home pre-season friendly v Solihull Moors on July 15th is the change in location of the segregated area and away end. Last season saw away fans occupy the entirety of the Sutton End of the ground. This was the first time any real permanent segregation had been put in place. The off-season has given us the opportunity to analyse the placement of fans and it has been decided that away fans will enter and exit the stadium via the Town End turnstiles and be housed in the Ann’s Tea Bar corner of the ground – from a newly-allocated block of covered seating in the John Nicholls grandstand around to a portion of the terraced spectator area that ends roughly in line with the first goal post. Safety barriers will separate home and away supporters.

From now on, United fans will only enter and exit the ground via the two turnstiles at the main entrance accessed via the clubhouse car park.

Home fans preferring to sit can choose between our fantastic new Riverside grandstand or the majority of the John Nicholls grandstand.

The Club believes that by distancing home and away fans’ access in and out of the ground, there will be a much more pleasant matchday experience, as will ensuring only home supporter proximity to the clubhouse.

It is hoped that these changes will improve the experience for all visitors to the Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium.

The club shop can now be found where the media building used to be, close to the main entrance, meaning it is easily accessible for fans wishing to purchase Banbury United merchandise including our brand new home and away first team kit that will be revealed tomorrow.