CLUBS up and down the country start pre-season this week and Oxfordshire is no different.

Banbury United hold their first training session of the summer tomorrow evening as they build up to their maiden campaign in Vanarama National League North, beginning on August 6.

The Puritans kick-off a run of friendly is next Saturday, at home to Easington Sports, and manager Andy Whing explained why time is of the essence.

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He said: “It’s probably a week earlier than we would have done, but there are full-time teams in our league going back.

“With those teams training every day, there’s going to be a gap.

“We’ve got a few friendlies lined up that we’re looking forward to and we can’t wait to get going.”

Meanwhile, Oxford United and Oxford City start their preparations for the new campaign later this week.

U's players and staff fly out to Spain on Thursday for an eight-day training camp near Marbella.

The first session takes place on Friday as United begin to blow away the cobwebs, more than seven weeks after the final game of last term against Doncaster Rovers.

United return in time for next Saturday’s annual friendly at City, their first match of the summer.

It is the first of eight summer fixtures for the U’s ahead of the new Sky Bet League One campaign, which begins on the weekend of July 30.

City also begin pre-season on Thursday as head coach Ross Jenkins gets his squad together for the first time.

The Vanarama National League South club have already confirmed four players have re-signed, with more expected in the coming weeks.