Telephones and Internet connections were busy today as the first wave of Oxford United fans snapped up tickets for Wembley.

Season-ticket holders and club members were online and dialling from 9am to book seats for the promotion clash with York City on May 16, while general sale tickets for the remainder of the club’s 37,500 tickets are available from tomorrow.

Ticket prices, which are £35 or £40 for adults and £15 for under-16s, were set by the Conference and the FA.

However, fans had to pay a £3 booking fee per ticket plus £4.95 postage per batch of tickets. Oxford United does not have a say in the prices.

Michael Owen, 24, from Littlemore, bought six tickets for £232.95, meaning each “£35 ticket” cost almost £39.

He said: “I’m delighted Oxford are going to Wembley and pleased I was able to book a ticket, but I do think it is taking advantage of loyal supporters.

“The Conference and Wembley know fans aren’t going to want to miss it, so they’re making as much money as possible.”

Rebecca Norris, 24, said: “It may be OK for businessmen who get thousands of pounds, but £35-£40 is a lot of money to people who put in a very hard day’s work.”

OxVox spokesman Mark Sennett praised Oxford United for thinking of season-ticket holders first, and hoped the prices would not put too many people off.

Asked if the prices were expensive, Dave Boddy, the Conference’s events manager, said: “I guess you could argue that, but at the end of the day it’s an important final at Wembley.

“We assessed the prices of the Football League play-offs and they’re cheaper than the League Two final.”

When we pointed out there would be £28 tickets available for this year’s League Two final, he added: “If I had to qualify it then on average their tickets will be more expensive as there are a lot more dearer tickets for that game.”

Seetickets said additional fees were part of its contract with the Conference.

A spokesman for the FA said the Conference, as “event owners”, both set the ticket price and look after sales.