Update - Banbury Utd is forced to make token charge for historic match livestream

The community-owned club had planned to make the livestream free of charge so no one has to miss the game. But now complications around the FA Cup broadcasting rights means the match cannot be screened via YouTube.

Board director James Pope said: "We had decided not charge for view and wanted to give it away so everyone had the chance to see the match as it's our biggest game for a long time.

"We did everything in our power to do 'free to air' but we couldn't due to international rights holders of the FA Cup and also the unlimited liability to costs if we use platforms other than YouTube. If we had more time, we could have made it free to air but we couldn't achieve it in the short turnover time."

The solution has come thanks to the invaluable help of Oxford City FC and a livestream link will be published on the Banbury Guardian website and social media as soon as it is available. The cost per view will still be low, at £1.50. Banbury Plant Hire has helped by sponsoring some of the coverage.

Banbury Utd has been allowed to distribute 600 pitch tickets in accordance with Covid-19 rules but with the Bury St Edmunds club getting their share and shareholders and season-ticket holders being sold entry, passes are as rare as hens' teeth. Kick off is at 3pm on Saturday (October 24) at Spencer Stadium.

"We'd expect a crowd of 1500 - 2000 for a match like this but with Covid restrictions we can't do that. However we wanted everyone to have the opportunity to see it, especially the elderly and people who are shielding it a bit. It gives them access to the game.

"It's the fourth round qualifier of the FA Cup - if we were to win we'd go into the first round proper where we could be drawn against Sunderland, Bolton or Oxford Utd among others," said Mr Pope.

"We've been waiting for this game for a long time. The club's gone through huge changes in the last few years, becoming a community club. A lot of supporters will have been itching to get this far for a number of years. 1980 was the last time we made it to the fourth round qualifier - one game away from the FA Cup proper.

The last time Ban Utd got into the first round of the FA Cup qualifying round was in 1973 playing Northampton Town. The club's current finance director, Paul Duester played in that match. It ended with a 0-0 score but Northampton won the replay 1-0 with a last minute winner.

For a preview of the match see Sport (back page) of this week's Banbury Guardian.