Oxford United F.C.

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Oxford United
Oxford United badge
Full name Oxford United Football Club
Nickname(s) The U's, Yellows
Founded 1893[1] (as Headington)
Ground Kassam Stadium
Oxford
(Capacity 12,500)
Chairman Flag of England Nick Merry
Manager Flag of Northern Ireland Darren Patterson
League Conference National
2007–08 Conference National, 9th
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
Home colours
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
　
Away colours
For the Northern Irish football club, see Oxford United Stars F.C.

Oxford United Football Club is an English football team playing in the fifth tier of English football for the 2007-08 season.

The club is owned by chairman Nick Merry and managed by Darren Patterson. Its home ground is the Kassam Stadium in Oxford with a capacity of 12,500.[2] The club moved to the stadium in 2001 after leaving the Manor Ground, which was its home for 76 years.

Oxford United joined the Football League in 1962 after winning the Southern Premier League, reaching the Second Division in 1968. After relegation in 1976, between 1984 and 1986 the club earned successive promotions into the First Division, and also won the League Cup. Oxford were unable to enter the 1987 UEFA Cup because of the UEFA ban on English clubs in European competitions. Relegation from the top flight in 1988 began an 18-year decline which saw the club relegated to the Conference in 2006. This was the first time in the history of English football that a team which had previously won a major trophy was relegated from the Football League.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Headington United

Oxford United was formed as amateur club Headington in 1893,[1] adding the suffix United the following year. It was created by Rev John Scott-Tucker, the vicar at the local church and a local doctor named Robert Hitchings.[3] The team was created as a way to keep the cricketers fit during the winter break. The first game played was against Cowley Barracks. Headington had no permanent home until 1913, when they were able to purchase Wootten's Field on London Road, but this was developed on in 1920.[3] A permanent home was finally found in 1926, when they purchased the Manor Ground site.[3] The facility was used as a cricket pitch in the summer, and a football pitch in the winter, until the cricketers moved out during the 1940s. Headington United competed in local leagues until being elected to the Southern League and becoming professional in 1949.[1] From 1925 to 2001 Headington United / Oxford United played at the Manor Ground on the London Road in Headington. The club installed floodlights in 1952, one of the first clubs to do so.[4] Headington United first started wearing yellow as the colour for their home shirt in the 1957–58 season.[5] The reason for the change is unknown. In 1960, Headington United was renamed Oxford United in order to give it a higher profile.[1]

[edit] Promotion and Robert Maxwell takeover

Two years later, in 1962, the club won the Southern League title for the second successive season and was elected to the Football League Fourth Division,[6] occupying the vacant place left by bankrupt Accrington Stanley. Two successive eighteenth place finishes followed,[7][8] before promotion to the Third Division was achieved in 1965.[9] In 1964, they had become the first Fourth Division club to reach the quarter-final of the FA Cup,[10] but have not progressed that far in the competition since. Oxford won the Third Division title in 1967–68,[11] their sixth season as a league club, but after eight years of relative stability the club was relegated from the Second Division in 1975–76.[12]

In 1982, while a Third Division side, Oxford United was taken over by controversial business tycoon Robert Maxwell (1923–1991).[13] Maxwell proposed to merge United with neighbours Reading to form a single club called the Thames Valley Royals,[14] to play at Didcot. The merger was called off after fans of both clubs protested against the decision.

Oxford won the Third Division title in 1984 under the management of Jim Smith,[15] who also guided them to the Second Division title the following year.[16] This meant that Oxford United would be playing First Division football in the 1985–86 season, 23 years after joining the Football League. Smith moved to Queens Park Rangers shortly after the promotion success,[17] and made way for chief scout Maurice Evans, who several seasons earlier had won the Fourth Division title with Reading.[15]

[edit] Oxford at the top

The Milk Cup, which is still proudly displayed in the club's trophy cabinet.
The Milk Cup, which is still proudly displayed in the club's trophy cabinet.

Oxford United finished eighteenth in the 1985–86 First Division campaign,[18] avoiding relegation on the last day of the season. They also won the Milk Cup, beating Queens Park Rangers 3-0 in the final at Wembley. They would have qualified for the UEFA Cup the following season had it not been for the ban on English teams that had arisen from the previous year's Heysel Stadium disaster.[19] Oxford begin life as a top-division side after winning the League Cup, although they never really competed with the best. 1986–87 saw another relegation battle which was narrowly won. Robert Maxwell resigned as chairman in May 1987 to take over at Derby, handing the club to his son Kevin. Maurice Evans was sacked in March 1988 with Oxford bottom of the First Division and destined for relegation after three years in the top flight.

Oxford started their 1986 League Cup campaign with a second round tie against Northampton Town. The home leg was won 2–0 by Oxford, with the return leg also being won by Oxford, this time with a 2–1 scoreline.[20] Their reward was a third round tie at home to Newcastle United. The result of the single leg was 3–1 to Oxford. The next two rounds were both held at the Manor Ground, against Norwich City and Portsmouth respectively. Both ties finished with Oxford running out 3–1 winners. The semi-final was played in January 1986 against Aston Villa, the aggregate score being Oxford 4–3 Aston Villa after a 2–1 home victory for Oxford in the second leg. The final was held at Wembley Stadium on 20 April 1986. The opponents were Queens Park Rangers, themselves reaching the final after beating a number of First-Division opponents. The final result was 3–0 with goals from Trevor Hebberd, Jeremy Charles and Ray Houghton. After the match, manager Maurice Evans asked long-serving physio, 72-year-old Ken Fish, to collect a winner's medal instead of himself.[21] It was the last time the League Cup was played under the name 'Milk Cup'.

[edit] Life in the second tier

Oxford's league positions from 1963 to 2007
Oxford's league positions from 1963 to 2007

Before relegation was confirmed, former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson was named as Oxford's new manager. However, he was sacked three months into the 1988–89 Second Division campaign after a dispute with the chairman over the £1 million sale of striker Dean Saunders to Derby County[22]; Derby were owned by Robert Maxwell, father of the then Oxford United chairman, Kevin Maxwell. Brian Horton was named as Oxford's new manager, and remained in charge until September 1993 when he was lured away to Manchester City in the recently-formed FA Premier League.Oxford, now a side in the new Football League Division One, briefly restored Maurice Evans to the manager's seat before turning to Bristol City manager Denis Smith. By the time Smith was hired, Oxford were deep in relegation trouble. Despite Smith's efforts, Oxford slid into Division Two at the end of the 1993–94 season.[23]

Oxford's poor form continued into the 1999–2000 season, forcing Shotton to resign in late October with the club deep in relegation trouble. However the team's form improved and they finished 20th in the Division Two final table, one place clear of relegation.[24] After the 2000–01 campaign, Oxford were relegated back to the basement division of the league after a 35-year absence, with 100 goals conceded.[25] They suffered 33 league defeats, the second-highest number of league defeats ever endured by a league club in a single season.

[edit] The Division Three years

Oxford began the 2001–02 season with a new stadium and a new manager. They finally completed their relocation to the Kassam Stadium, named after new owner Firoz Kassam, after six years of speculation. Former Liverpool and England defender Mark Wright was given the manager's job, but resigned in late November after being accused of making racist remarks to referee Joe Ross.[26] Wright's successor Ian Atkins was unable to make much of a difference and Oxford finished the Division Three campaign in 21st place, their lowest-ever league position, although there was never any real threat of them losing their league status.[27]

Oxford did better in 2002–03, spending most of the season in either the automatic promotion or playoff places. But defeat in their final game of the season meant an eighth-place finish, not even enough for a playoff place.[28]

An positive start to the 2003–04 season suggested that Oxford's three-year spell in Division Three might soon be over, but manager Ian Atkins was sacked in March after agreeing to take charge at rivals Bristol Rovers, and under his successor Graham Rix the club plummeted to ninth place in the final table.

[edit] Another setback

Rix was sacked the following November, with Oxford in the bottom half of Coca-Cola League Two. Oxford replaced him with the Argentine Ramón Díaz, who was unable to secure anything higher than a mid-table finish. Diaz and his team of assistants left the club at the beginning of May 2005 and ex-England midfielder and former West Bromwich Albion, Rushden and Oldham manager Brian Talbot was immediately signed on a two-year contract as replacement. Apart from a brief winning streak in September which saw United reach eighth in the table, Talbot found little success and was sacked in March 2006 with the club in 22nd place. He was replaced by youth team coach Darren Patterson.

On 21 March 2006, Firoz Kassam sold the club for approximately £2 million (including the club's debts) to Florida-based businessman Nick Merry, who had played for United's youth team in the mid-1970s. Merry immediately initiated changes to the upper hierarchy of the club. Jim Smith, the club's most successful ever manager, returned to the helm bringing in five new players on his first day in charge.

Smith was unable to prevent relegation in the 2005–06 season. After 44 successive years in English league football, Oxford were relegated to the National Conference from League Two after finishing in 23rd place,[29] becoming the first former winners of a major trophy to be relegated from the league.

[edit] Life in the Conference

Current manager Darren Patterson
Current manager Darren Patterson

Jim Smith was retained as manager for 2006-07. The season started brightly for Oxford, with 14 wins and 8 draws from their opening 25 games. However, this was followed by a run of eleven league games without a win from November, which saw them drop into second place just after Christmas, a position in which they remained until the end of the season. On Boxing Day 2006 a crowd of 11,065 watched United draw 0–0 with Woking at the Kassam Stadium, the largest-ever attendance for a Football Conference match (excluding playoffs). They qualified for the playoffs by coming second,[30] facing Exeter in the playoff semi-finals. After winning 1–0 in the first leg at Exeter, Oxford lost the second leg 2–1 and after extra time lost 4–3 on penalties, thus failing in their attempt to return to the Football League at the first attempt.

On 9 November 2007, Jim Smith resigned as manager and first team coach Darren Patterson was named as the new manager.[31] Oxford spent most of the 2007–08 season in mid-table, though a run of 9 wins in their last 11 games saw them finish in 9th place, 10 points outside the playoff places.

[edit] Financial crisis

In June 1995, Oxford United's board of directors had unveiled plans for a new 16,000-seat stadium at Minchery Farm to replace the dilapidated Manor Ground. The club had hoped to move into the new stadium near the Blackbird Leys housing estate by the start of the 1998–99 season, but construction was suspended during the 1997–98 season because of £13 million debts, which almost bankrupted the club. [2]

During October and November 1998 the backroom staff at the club went unpaid, due to United's financial situation, and supporters rallied round, delivering food parcels to the ground. Supporters set up a pressure group called Fighting for Oxford United's Life (FOUL),[32] which began to publicise the club's plight through a series of meetings and events. Chairman Robin Herd had effectively given up on the club, and in April 1999 Firoz Kassam bought Herd's 89.9% controlling interest in Oxford United for £1, with which he also inherited the club's estimated £15 million debt. Kassam reduced £9 million of the debt to £900,000 by virtue of a Company Voluntary Arrangement, by which unsecured creditors who were owed over £1,000 were reimbursed with 10p for every pound they were owed. Secured creditors were paid off when Kassam sold the Manor to another of his Firoka companies for £6,000,000. Kassam set about completing the unfinished stadium, gaining planning permission for a bowling alley, a multiplex cinema, and a hotel, among other things, following a series of legal battles which were eventually all settled.

[edit] Stadium

Main articles: Kassam Stadium and Manor Ground, Oxford
Kassam Stadium
Location Grenoble Road,
Oxford,
OX4 4XP,
England
Built 1997
Opened 2001
Owner Firoka Group
Operator Oxford United
Construction cost £15m
Tenants Oxford United
Capacity 12,500
Kassam Stadium

Oxford United played at the Manor Ground between 1925 and 2001. The ground hosted United's record crowd of 22,750 against Preston North End in an FA Cup 6th round match on 29 February 1964.[1] The four stands were: Beech Road (west), London Road (home), Cuckoo Lane (north) and Osler Road (east). In the 1990s, the Taylor Report was published calling for the improvement of football stadiums.

Oxford's average league attendances at from 1963 to 2007. Note the red line represents the move to the Kassam Stadium
Oxford's average league attendances at from 1963 to 2007. Note the red line represents the move to the Kassam Stadium

The Manor Ground's terracing was becoming redundant and redeveloping the ground was too costly, so the club decided to move to a purpose-built all-seater stadium on the outskirts of the city. Construction work began in the early part of 1997, but was suspended later that year due to the club's financial problems.[2] Construction of the new stadium resumed in 1999 following a takeover deal and Oxford moved there in 2001. The last league match at the Manor on 1st May 2001 saw a 1–1 draw with Port Vale. The stadium was later demolished and is now the site of a private hospital.

Since 2001, Oxford United have played at the Kassam Stadium. The all-seater stadium has a capacity of 12,500 and is unique in the English League in having only three stands; when first planned in 1995 it was originally going to have a 16,000-seat capacity, but by the time the stadium opened Oxford were playing in a lower division, so the smaller capacity was deemed adequate. Construction of the fourth stand is not expected to take place before Oxford have progressed to at least the third tier of English football.

The record attendance is 12,243, which was achieved in the final game of the 2005–06 season, when a defeat against Leyton Orient condemned them to relegation from the Football League. The stadium has also hosted Rugby Union matches, an Under-17 international football tournament and a music concert. [33]

[edit] Crest

The bronze Ox outside the stadium.
The bronze Ox outside the stadium.

The crest reflects the name and history of the city. Originally, Oxford was a market town, situated near to a ford on the River Isis which was used by cattle. The club crest thus depicts an ox above a representation of a ford. [34]

The shape and design of the crest has changed numerous times since it was first produced. When playing as Headington and during the early years of Oxford United, the crest included a full ox crossing the ford, as well as the initials H.U.F.C. (pre-1962) or the name Oxford United (post name-change). Between 1972 and 1979, [35] the crest became circular, showing just the ox's head on a yellow and black background. The words 'Oxford United Football Club' were placed around the ox. For the next 17 years, the crest was simply the ox's head coloured blue. In 1996, the crest had a shield shape and contained the ox's head over the ford, on a yellow background. This version was retained until the move to the Kassam Stadium in 2001, when club steward Rob Alderman designed the current version. It has a similar design to the preceding crest, but the ox and ford are contained in a circle with a yellow background, with the remainder of the crest being coloured blue. The club name also returns to the crest.

[edit] Supporters

Oxford have a number of independent supporters' clubs and groups such as OxVox (the Oxford United Supporters' Trust) with a current membership of over 300, and the Oxford United Exiles.[36][37] The club itself also runs a Juniors club, aimed at younger fans and offering a number of bonuses to its members such as birthday cards and a free T-shirt.[38]

Oxford United's main rivals are Swindon Town. In their last encounter, Oxford beat Swindon 1–0 in the FA Cup live on BBC television in December 2002. Oxford City are the city's other significant club; however, there is little rivalry between the clubs or their supporters.

[edit] Current squad

As of 31 May 2008.[39]
No. Position Player
1 Flag of England GK Billy Turley
4 Flag of Ireland MF Barry Quinn (first team captain)
5 Flag of England DF Chris Willmott
8 Flag of England MF Eddie Hutchinson
10 Flag of England FW Yemi Odubade
16 Flag of England DF Luke Foster
18 Flag of England MF Phil Trainer
19 Flag of England MF Joel Ledgister
No. Position Player
20 Flag of France DF Alex Jeannin
21 Flag of England DF Matt Day
23 Flag of England MF Adam Murray
29 Flag of England FW Matty Taylor
37 Flag of England FW Alex Fisher
38 Flag of England MF Declan Benjamin
41 Flag of England DF James Clarke

[edit] Notable players

For more details on this topic, see List of Oxford United F.C. players.

[edit] Club officials

The Chairman, Nick Merry (L) and director, Jim Smith (R).
The Chairman, Nick Merry (L) and director, Jim Smith (R).

Oxford United football club

  • Chairman: Nick Merry
  • Directors: Jim Smith and Kelvin Thomas
  • General Manager & Club Secretary: Mick Brown

Coaching and Medical Staff

  • Manager & First Team Coach: Darren Patterson
  • Assistant Manager & Youth Team Coach: Mickey Lewis
  • Goalkeeping Coach: Alan Hodgkinson
  • Fitness Coach: Dave Wates

[edit] Managerial history

Main article: List of Oxford United F.C. managers

Below is a list of Oxford United managers since Harry Thompson's appointment in 1949 to the present day.

Jim Smith had two spells as manager.
Jim Smith had two spells as manager.
Name Dates Achievements Games Win % Notes
Flag of England Harry Thompson August 1949 – December 1958 Southern League Champions (1953);
Southern League runners up (1954);
Southern League Cup Winners (1953,1954)		 466 47.20 [40][41]
Flag of England Arthur Turner January 1959 – February 1969 Southern League runners up (1960);
Southern League Champions (1961,1962);
Fourth Division Promotion (1965);
Third Division Champions (1968)		 504 43.25 [42][43]
Flag of England Ron Saunders March 1969 – June 1969 12 50.00 [44]
Flag of England Gerry Summers July 1969 – October 1975 293 31.74 [45]
Flag of England Mick Brown October 1975 – July 1979 187 28.88 [46]
Flag of England Bill Asprey July 1979 – November 1980 81 27.16 [47]
Flag of England Ian Greaves December 1980 – January 1982 50 44.44 [48]
Flag of Scotland Roy Barry (caretaker) February 1982 – February 1982 6 33.33 [49][50]
Flag of England Jim Smith March 1982 – June 1985 Third Division Champions (1984);
Second Division Champions (1985)		 167 53.30 [51][52]
Flag of England Maurice Evans June 1985 – March 1988 League Cup Winners (1986) 140 31.51 [53][54]
Flag of England Mark Lawrenson March 1988 – October 1988 23 17.39 [55]
Flag of England Brian Horton October 1988 – August 1993 251 31.47 [56][57][58]
Flag of England Maurice Evans (caretaker) August 1993 – September 1993 3 0.00 [59][60]
Flag of England Denis Smith September 1993 – December 1997 Second Division runners up (1996) 248 40.08 [61][60][62]
Flag of England Malcolm Crosby (caretaker) December 1997 – January 1998 5 0.00 [63][64]
Flag of England Malcolm Shotton January 1998 – October 1999 88 29.95 [65]
Flag of England Micky Lewis (caretaker) October 1999 – February 2000 22 27.27 [66][67]
Flag of England Denis Smith February 2000 – October 2000 30 26.67 [61]
Flag of England Mike Ford (caretaker) October 2000 – October 2000 6 0.00 [68]
Flag of England David Kemp October 2000 – April 2001 31 22.58 [69]
Flag of England Mike Ford (caretaker) May 2001 – May 2001 1 0.00 [68]
Flag of England Mark Wright May 2001 – November 2001 22 18.18 [70]
Flag of England Ian Atkins November 2001 – March 2004 122 38.52 [71]
Flag of England Graham Rix March 2004 – November 2004 29 20.69 [72]
Flag of Northern Ireland Darren Patterson (caretaker) November 2004 – December 2004 3 33.33 [73]
Flag of Argentina Ramon Diaz December 2004 – May 2005 25 40.00 [74]
Flag of England Brian Talbot May 2005 – March 2006 44 22.73 [75]
Flag of Northern Ireland Darren Patterson March 2006 – March 2006 3 33.33 [73]
Flag of England Jim Smith March 2006 – November 2007 82 41.46 [51]
Flag of Northern Ireland Darren Patterson November 2007 - present 34 44.11 [73]

[edit] Honours

For more details on this topic, see Oxford United F.C. seasons.

[edit] Records

The largest recorded home attendance at an Oxford United game was a match against Preston North End in the sixth round of the FA Cup at the Manor Ground on 29 February 1964. The attendance was 22,750 [77] which exceeded the normal capacity. Scaffolding was needed to put up make shift stands for the excess supporters. The largest attendance at the Kassam Stadium within a football match was 12,243 for the final match of the 2005–06 League Two season against Leyton Orient.

Oxford's largest-ever scoreline was 9–1 win in the FA Cup first round versus Dorchester Town on 11 November 1995. In the league, their largest win was 7–0 versus Barrow in Division 4. Their largest defeat was 7–0 away to Sunderland in 1998.

John Shuker holds the most league appearances with 478 between 1962 and 1977. John Aldridge hold the record for the most league goals with 82. He also scored the most league goals in a season in the 1984-85 season, scoring 30.[76]

The most capped player in international appearances is Jim Magilton with 18 caps for Northern Ireland. The largest amount of money Oxford have received from a player sold was £1,600,000 for Matt Elliot's transfer to Leicester City in January 1997. The largest transfer fee Oxford have paid for was £475,000 for Dean Windass' transfer from Aberdeen in August 1998.[76]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e "History", Oxford United. Retrieved on 2007-09-11. 
  2. ^ a b c "The United Stadium", Minchery Farm. Retrieved on 2007-09-07. 
  3. ^ a b c "Headington United History", Headington.org. Retrieved on 2007-10-26. 
  4. ^ "A history of Oxford United", Oxford United. Retrieved on 2007-09-07. 
  5. ^ "United Kits", Oxkits. Retrieved on 2007-09-12. 
  6. ^ "Promotion to Fourth Division", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  7. ^ "1962/1963 Fourth Division Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  8. ^ "1963/1964 Fourth Division Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  9. ^ "1964/1965 Fourth Division Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  10. ^ Arthur Turner. Abingdon Herald. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  11. ^ "1967/1968 Fourth Division Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  12. ^ "1975/1976 Fourth Division Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  13. ^ "History", Historical Kits. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  14. ^ "Merge", Rage online. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  15. ^ a b "1983/1984 Third Division Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  16. ^ "1984/1985 Second Division Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  17. ^ "QPR History", Queens Park Rangers. Retrieved on 2008-03-29. 
  18. ^ "1985/1986 Third Division Table", F.C.H.D.. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  19. ^ "Heysel Disaster Aftermath", Spiritus Temporis. Retrieved on 2007-10-10. 
  20. ^ "full League Cup results", Rsssf. Retrieved on 2007-09-12. 
  21. ^ "Football Obituary", afs. Retrieved on 2007-09-12. 
  22. ^ "Last 20 Years", Banbury Cake. Retrieved on 2007-10-06. 
  23. ^ "1993/1994 Division One Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  24. ^ "1999/2000 Division Two Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  25. ^ "2000/2001 Division Two Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  26. ^ "Wright resigns", This is Oxfordshire. Retrieved on 2007-10-06. 
  27. ^ "2001/2002 Division Two Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  28. ^ "2002/2003 Division Two Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  29. ^ "2005/2006 Division Two Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  30. ^ "2006/2007 Division Two Table", F.C.H.D. Retrieved on 2007-09-13. 
  31. ^ "Smith steps down as Oxford boss", BBC Sport, 2007-11-09. Retrieved on 2007-11-09. 
  32. ^ "FOUL", Fortune City. Retrieved on 2007-10-06. 
  33. ^ "Elton John Gig", BBC News. Retrieved on 2007-11-18. 
  34. ^ "Oxford United Crest", Football Crests. Retrieved on 2007-11-18. 
  35. ^ "Oxford United Crests", Oxkits. Retrieved on 2007-11-18. 
  36. ^ Oxfox Homepage oxvox.org.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2007
  37. ^ Oxford United Exiles ouexiles.org.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2007
  38. ^ Join the Juniors oufc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 August 2007
  39. ^ Oxford United Team. Oxford United FC. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
  40. ^ Harry Thompson. Abingdon Herald. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  41. ^ "A Complete Record", p.276–294.
  42. ^ Arthur Turner. Abingdon Herald. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  43. ^ "A Complete Record", p.294–314.
  44. ^ "A Complete Record", p.314.
  45. ^ "A Complete Record", p.316–328.
  46. ^ "A Complete Record", p.328–335.
  47. ^ "A Complete Record", p.336–338.
  48. ^ "A Complete Record", p.338–340.
  49. ^ "Last 20 Years", Abingdon Herald. Retrieved on 2008-04-27. 
  50. ^ "A Complete Record", p.101.
  51. ^ a b Jim Smith managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  52. ^ "A Complete Record", p.340–349.
  53. ^ Andy Howland. "QPR 1986", Abingdon Herald. Retrieved on 2008-04-05. 
  54. ^ "A Complete Record", p.350–354.
  55. ^ "A Complete Record", p.354–356.
  56. ^ Brian Horton. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  57. ^ Full Members Cup. English Football Archive. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  58. ^ The Anglo-Italian Cup Results 1993. English Football Archive. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  59. ^ Maurice Evans managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  60. ^ a b The Anglo-Italian Cup Results 1994. English Football Archive. Retrieved on 2008-04-30.
  61. ^ a b Denis Smith managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  62. ^ Associated Members Cup. English Football Archive. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  63. ^ "Crosby: I should have stayed", Oxford Mail, 2000-02-19. Retrieved on 2008-04-27. 
  64. ^ 1997/1998 Results. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-04-27.
  65. ^ Malcolm Shotton managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  66. ^ David Crabtree, Heather Jan Brunt and Chris Williams (2007-06-15). A history of Oxford United Football Club. Oxford United F.C.. Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  67. ^ 1999/2000 results. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
  68. ^ a b Mike Ford managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  69. ^ David Kemp managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  70. ^ Mark Wright managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  71. ^ Ian Atkins managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  72. ^ Graham Rix managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  73. ^ a b c Darren Patterson managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  74. ^ Ramon Diaz managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  75. ^ Brian Talbot managerial career. Soccerbase. Retrieved on 2008-03-29.
  76. ^ a b c d "Oxford United Achievements", Napit. Retrieved on 2007-11-18. 
  77. ^ "Club History", Oxford Times. Retrieved on 2007-11-18. 

[edit] Further reading

  • Swann, Geron; Ward, Andrew (1996). The Boys from up the Hill: An Oral History of Oxford United. Oxford: Crowberry. ISBN 0-9507568-2-2. 
  • Howland, A and R (2001). Oxford United: The Headington Years. Marlow: Perfitt-Bayliss. ISBN 0-9541797-0-6. 
  • Williams, Chris (2006). Lords of the Manor. 
  • Murray, Jon (May 9, 2007). "Smith Considers Future". Oxford Mail/This Is United.#
  • Howland, Andy and Roger (1989). Oxford United: A Complete Record (1893-1989). Breedon Books. ISBN 0-907969-52-6. 

[edit] External links

[edit] Official

[edit] Independent media sites

[edit] Major fan sites

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