A LONG-SERVING Oxford United fan has opened up his disabled season ticket at the Kassam Stadium to young disabled supporters.

Seamus McArdle was paralysed from the chest down following a moped accident in 1974 when he was just 16.

He now lives in Scotland and goes to a handful of games a season and said he doesn't want to leave his seat empty.

Oxford United praised his generosity and said it would make his ticket available to a different fan under 18 - along with their carer - for every home game next season.

Mr McArdle was paralysed after he came a moped crash on Eynsham Road in 1974.

By this point he was an avid Yellows fan, going to games from the age of 12 when he lived in Botley and then Kennington.

When he was recovering at Stoke Mandeville Hospital his brother even snuck him out via the fire exit so he could watch United take on Southampton at the Manor Ground

He said: “I had the get up and go as a child to go to the football and I had to carry on after my accident because it was in my blood by then.

“As soon as I could get into my wheelchair one of my brothers snuck me out to hospital to make a game.

“But I’m not sure I would have gone if I was in a wheelchair before I became a fan.

“So I hope young disabled people will make use of the ticket and consider going up to Oxford United - the club really look after you and it’s a fantastic family club.”

He said he watches several games a year, meeting up with fellow exiles.

The 60-year-old said he wanted to keep his season ticket but didn’t want his seat going empty.

He said: “I kept seeing pictures from the games on the Oxford Mail website and seeing my seat and just thought ‘that shouldn’t be empty’.

“There must be plenty of young people who could make use of it and get to watch a game.”

The retired BT employee, who now lives in Nairn in northern Scotland, said disabled access at the Kassam Stadium was ‘much better’ than the Manor Ground and praised the club for making fans feel welcome.

His north stand seat will now be used by a different fan and their carer at every home game - not attended by Mr McArdle - of the 2018/19 season.

Oxford United praised the long-time fan.

It said: “We are always overwhelmed by the generosity of our supporters and this week we received a fantastic email from long time fan Seamus McArdle.

“We would like to thank Seamus for his kind thoughts and would like to extend this offer to allow as many disabled young fans as possible to come and enjoy a game for free.”

Any disabled fan under the age of 18 can use the ticket by emailing the club’s support liaison officer Kath Faulkner on kfaulkner@oufc.co.uk