I know I have drunk with a few of you pre game before and saw you in the Oxford Blue pre match last season. With this seasons match not a million miles away please note the Oxford Blue closed a few months ago and there were no obvious signs of it re-opening soon on Sunday. Thought I'd better flag it up now incase I forget nearer the time.

If you want a couple of pubs to try that are different to last year, the Port Mahon on St Clements Road and The Chester on Chester Street are worth a look.

The Port Mahon is a Greene King pub but on my three visits it has only had one Greene King beer on, usually 3 guests. The Chester re-opened after the end of last season and has 4 hand pumps, 3 on yesterday and a policy of preferring local beers, Abingdon brewed Loose Cannon beers on pump yesterday. It has a few keg craft beers as well. Mainly set up for Sunday lunches inside, it is getting good reviews for food, but has a decked outside area to crash in on a nice day. The Port Mahon also does food.

Note also that the Iffley Road pedestrian entrance wasn't open when I went past at 2.30ish yesterday so be wary of rocking up there out of a pub at 2.58 this season.

See you in a few weeks.