THE county’s young footballers could grace Oxford United’s pitch in cup finals for the first time since the Kassam Stadium opened if the arena is sold to the community.

Youth teams regularly played trophy deciders on the hallowed turf of the Manor Ground but have not been allowed to use the Kassam pitch for matches.

Oxford City Council leader Bob Price and Oxford Mail Youth League fixtures secretary Paul Lyon said the days of youngsters taking to the same field as their heroes could return if plans revealed in the Oxford Mail to make the ground community owned are successful.

Mr Price said he wanted to see the move happen as soon as possible and added it could allow many more community activities to be held at the stadium.

He said: “A community trust owning the stadium would be a very good idea.

“The club is a huge asset and if the stadium became a community asset it could potentially be opened to other uses.

“That could be as a conference venue, a venue for youth activities and you would have a potential for the playing surface to be used too.

“It is very much up to Firoz Kassam, he has to make a decision.

“The city council is very happy to work with him and anybody else to establish a good outcome”.

On Saturday the Oxford Mail revealed talks were underway between stadium landlord Mr Kassam and club supporters’ trust OxVox regarding the sale of the ground.

The proposals would see the 12,500-seater stadium become owned by the community, but may take years to come to fruition.

Mr Lyon said the Oxford Mail Youth League struggled to host its end of season prize ceremonies at the Kassam Stadium because it cost about £6,000 to hire the venue for two nights.

He said: “Community ownership would be something that would be really beneficial for the club.

“We could probably do more events there if it was a community venue.

“We used to hold cup finals at the Manor Ground but Mr Kassam restricts the use of the pitch so we cannot do that any more.

“The kids lose out on the experience of playing in a stadium.

“For them, playing there is the equivalent of a professional walking out at Wembley.

“Fingers crossed it happens.”

Oxford United chairman Darryl Eales has also backed the “hugely positive” plans.