Andy Woodman
Squad Number: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 31 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 14st 8lbs
Born: Camberwell
Career (316 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Crystal Palace (0/0), Exeter City (6/0), Northampton Town (163/0), Brentford (61/0), Peterborough United [loan] (0/0), Southend United [loan] (17/0), Colchester United (54/0), Oxford United (15/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 29/0
Details: Woodman is a reliable goalkeeper who had a three-month spell at Roots Hall at the end of David Webb’s third spell in charge of the Shrimpers, keeping seven clean sheets (including a run of five in six games) in his eighteen League and Cup appearances for the club. However, he was surprisingly allowed to return to Brentford, who promptly sold him to arch rivals Colchester. He was the first choice at Layer Road until the emergence of Simon Brown, and he moved to Oxford in January 2002. He was warmly received at the Hall last time out. The shotstopper started his career at Crystal Palace, where he played understudy to former England ‘keeper Nigel Martyn for five years before joining Northampton after a short spell at Exeter. He was first choice there, but after the departure of Oxford boss Ian Atkins he left to join Brentford.
Scott McNiven
Squad Number: 2
Position: Defender
Age: 24 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 10st 8lbs
Born: Leeds
Career (222 League Appearances/ 3 Goals): Oldham Athletic (222/3)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 28/0
Details: Former Scotland Youth and Under-21 star who moved from Oldham at the end of his contract in the summer. He made his one and only Scotland Under-21 appearance as a substitute against San Marino in 1996. Despite his youthful age, he has well over 250 League and Cup appearances to his name over a nine year career. The son of former Leeds and Bradford player David McNiven, he is a right back, who can also be employed as a wing-back or central defender. McNiven has a long throw and good distribution, and set up the winner in the F.A. Cup Second Round tie with Swindon.
David Savage
Squad Number: 4
Position: Midfielder
Age: 29 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 13st 6lbs
Born: Dublin
Career (287 League Appearances/ 25 Goals): Millwall (132/6), Northampton Town (113/18), Oxford United (42/1)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 27/1
Details: Savage was only at Northampton at the end of Ian Atkins reign, but made enough of an impression at Sixfields for the manager to sign him. Having started out in his home country of Eire at Longford Town, he moved to England in 1994 to play for Millwall. Whilst at The Den he played five times for the Republic of Ireland, although three were as a substitute. In 1998 he moved on to Northampton, and after three seasons there in the centre of midfield he joined Oxford at the beginning of last year. He was a regular in his first year, and he has remained integral to the U’s plans in this campaign.
Andy Crosby
Squad Number: 5
Position: Defender
Age: 29 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 13st 13lbs
Born: Rotherham
Career (368 League Appearances/ 13 Goals): Doncaster Rovers (51/0), Darlington (181/3), Chester City (41/4), Brighton & Hove Albion (72/5), Oxford United (23/1)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 29/4
Details: Central defender with bags of experience, Crosby joined Oxford midway through last season from Brighton. He had spent two-and-a-half seasons at the Withdean, where he experienced the Third Division promotion success of the 2000/1 season. Under Micky Adams he was a regular player in the team, but Peter Taylor’s arrival signalled the end of his career with Albion, and he moved to Oxford in the December of last year. Born in Yorkshire, he joined Doncaster having failed to make the grade as a trainee with Leeds United. Having established himself at Belle Vue, he moved north to Darlington, where he underpinned the Quakers defence. After five seasons, and over 200 appearances at Feethams, he spent one year with Chester before the move to Brighton. This season has been one of his most successful yet at any club, with Oxford in 3rd place and having netted four goals already.
David Waterman
Squad Number: 6
Position: Midfielder
Age: 25 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 11st 13lbs
Born: Guernsey
Career (85 League Appearances/ 0 Goals): Portsmouth (80/0), Oxford United (5/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 14[1]/1
Details: A tough-tackling and hard-working midfield player, Waterman was born in Guernsey, but has fourteen Under-21 appearances for Northern Ireland to his name. Born on the Channel Islands, he made the short hop to Portsmouth as a youngster, and it was there that he made his League debut in the 1996/7 season having progressed through the youth ranks at Fratton Park. His steely nerve earned him a number more matches for the First Division club, but despite his pedigree, he did not make the impact that he would have liked on the South Coast, and linked up with Ian Atkins’ men on deadline day of last season. He has still yet to make a real impression on the side, although he netted his first senior goal in the 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth in the LDV Vans Trophy in October.
James Hunt
Squad Number: 8
Position: Midfielder
Age: 26 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 12st 7lbs
Born: Derby
Career (191 League Appearances/ 9 Goals): Notts County (19/1), Northampton Town (172/8)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 26/2
Details: Another hard-working midfield player, Hunt has played most of career out at Northampton. Although starting out at Notts County, he only made a small number of appearances at Meadow Lane, and joined the Sixfields outfit in 1997. Under the influence of current United boss Atkins, he established himself in the Cobblers first team, and continued in a similar vein after Atkins left. Available at the end of the season, Oxford snapped him up, and he has contributed a lot of guile and skill to the midfield, as well as spirit and determination.
Lee Steele
Squad Number: 9
Position: Forward
Age: 29 Height: 5ft 7ins Weight: 12st 6lbs
Born: Liverpool
Career (173 League Appearances/ 48 Goals): Northwich Victoria (no figurers available), Shrewsbury Town (113/37), Brighton & Hove Albion (60/11)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 0[1]/1
Details: Another signing from Brighton, this time at the termination of his contract in the summer, the short and nippy striker has a decent enough record of a goal every three-and-a-half League games. Having been born in Liverpool, he found himself signed by Shrewsbury Town in 1997 from non-League Northwich Victoria. He scored 13 goals in both of his first two seasons at Gay Meadow, and reached double figures again the third time around. With Bobby Zamora (and to a lesser extent Danny Webb) on the book at the Withdean, his move to Brighton in 2000 was not quite as successful, although his nine goals helped propel the South Coast side into the First Division last season. He was not deemed good enough for that standard, but his experience should stand him in good stead at Oxford. Having come off the bench, Steele’s only goal in his only game at the club was an equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Exeter City at the Kassam Stadium.
Andy Scott
Squad Number: 10
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Age: 30 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 12st 3lbs
Born: Epsom
Career (257 League Appearances/ 50 Goals): Sheffield United (75/6), Chesterfield [loan] (5/3), Bury (8/0), Brentford (118/28), Oxford United (51/13)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 14[7]/5
Details: The current joint top scorer at Oxford with Jefferson Louis, Scott started out his League career at Sheffield United, who strangely employed him as a left-back. Many of his appearances were as a sub, and he only scored five goals whilst at Brammal Lane. However, a brief loan spell at Chesterfield showed what he was capable of, hitting three goals in five games. He eventually joined Brentford during the 1997/8 campaign, and after 28 goals in 118 games at Griffin Park, moved to Oxford along with Robert Quinn. In two seasons at the Kassam he has thirteen League goals, with another five this year.
Matt Robinson
Squad Number: 11
Position: Defender
Age: 28 Height: 5ft 11ins Weight: 11st 8lbs
Born: Exeter
Career (148 League Appearances/ 1 Goal): Southampton (14/0), Portsmouth (69/1), Reading (65/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 25[1]/1
Details: Experienced left full-back or wing-back who signed in the summer on a free transfer from First Division Reading. Robinson started his career at Premiership Southampton, but after 14 appearances at The Dell he made the short move to Portsmouth. He never really broke through there either, and was transferred to Reading in 2000. His chances were limited at the Majeski Stadium, and now at the Kassam he appears to have found his niche.
Dean Whitehead
Squad Number: 12
Position: Midfielder
Age: 20 Height: 6ft Weight: 12st 7lbs
Born: Oxford
Career (60 League Appearances/ 1 Goal): Oxford United (60/1)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 9[7]/1
Details: A local lad born and bred, Whitehead has been at Oxford since he was just a little kid. Progressing through the youth ranks, he made his debut against Luton in an Auto Windscreens Shield game in the 1999/2000 season, and after a feeler season two years ago became a regular last time out. He has not had as many chances to shine this campaign, but still has the ability to produce deadly passes or build play up from the back. Often used in the middle of the park, many at Oxford rate him highly.
Jefferson Louis
Squad Number: 17
Position: Forward
Age: 23 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 14st 12lbs
Born: Harrow
Career (1 League Appearance/ 0 Goals): Thame United (no figures available), Oxford United (1/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 10[9]/5
Details: The man whose naked bottom was broadcast across the terrestrial airwaves after the 1-0 F.A. Cup Second Round victory against local rivals Swindon Town. That jubilation was partly at scoring the winner in the match itself, and partly to do with the fact that his club had drawn Arsenal in the Third Round. Signed from local side Thame United, Louis is currently nearing the end of his initial five month contract offered at the start of the season. However, with five League and Cup goals to his name already, there seems little chance of the pacy front runner being released.
Matthew Bound
Squad Number: 18
Position: Defender
Age: 30 Height: 6ft 2ins Weight: 14st 6lbs
Born: Bradford-upon-Avon
Career (256 League Appearances/ 15 Goals): Southampton (5/0), Hull City [loan] (7/1), Stockport County (44/5), Lincoln City [loan] (4/0), Swansea City (174/9), Oxford United (22/0)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 27/1
Details: Born in the same place as Blues boss Rob Newman, Bound began his career a little way higher up the Football League ladder at Southampton. Five fruitless years at The Dell and a moderately successful loan spell at Hull later, he moved to Stockport County. He never really made it at Edgeley Park either, or at Sincil Bank where he had a loan deal with Lincoln, but in 1997, Swansea took a gamble on the defender, and it paid off until he was snapped up by Oxford in December of last year.
Bobby Ford
Squad Number: 21
Position: Midfielder
Age: 28 Height: 5ft 8ins Weight: 10st 6lbs
Born: Bristol
Career (271 League Appearances/ 13 Goals): Oxford United (116/7), Sheffield United (155/6)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 16[4]/0
Details: A firm crowd favourite, Ford rejoined United after a five year spell at First Division Sheffield United. Born in Bristol, he was nevertheless a trainee with Oxford and he made his League debut as an eighteen year-old in the 1993/4 season. He eventually contributed seven goals in 116 games to the side over the next five years, but Sheffield United saw his potential and signed him midway through the 97/8 campaign. He was a regular for the Blades, but, much to the joy of the Oxford faithful, Ford returned to his spiritual home in the close season, although he has by no means been guaranteed a place in the starting eleven this time around.
David Oldfield
Squad Number: 22
Position: Midfielder
Age: 34 Height: 6ft 1in Weight: 13st 4lbs
Born: Perth, Australia
Career (520 League Appearances/ 71 Goals): Luton Town (29/4), Manchester City (26/6), Leicester City (188/26), Millwall [loan] (17/6), Luton Town (117/18), Stoke City (65/7), Peterborough United (78/4)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 19[5]/3
Details: Well travelled England Under-21 player, despite the fact that he was born on foreign shores in Perth, Western Australia. His one Under-21 cap came whilst at Luton the first time round against Sweden. Luton was his first club, but it was at Leicester that he made his real breakthrough. In six years there, he finally tasted Premiership action in 1994/5, but as the Filbert Street side were relegated, Oldfield found himself on loan at Millwall. A move back to Kenilworth Road followed, where he racked up over a hundred more appearances, and then on to Stoke and Peterborough. So far he has contributed three goals from nineteen starts at the Kassam.
Steve Basham
Squad Number: 23
Position: Forward
Age: 25 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 11st 3lbs
Born: Southampton
Career (92 League Appearances/ 16 Goals): Southampton (19/1), Wrexham [loan] (5/0), Preston North End [loan] (17/10), Preston North End (51/5)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 14[3]/3
Details: Basham started his career at Southampton, where he managed one Premiership goal, as a substitute to seal a 2-0 victory at Ewood Park over Blackburn Rovers in the last minute. All but one of his matches for the Saints were as a sub, and after a goal-less loan spell at Wrexham, the front man joined Preston on loan. He smashed ten goals in seventeen games, convincing then manager David Moyes to sign him permanently. The following three seasons saw Basham net just five goals in over forty games at Deepdale, and it was no surprise that he moved on. So far this term he has three goals to his name, although he almost nicked Louis header against Swindon.
Roy Hunter
Squad Number: 27
Position: Midfielder
Age: 29 Height: 5ft 10ins Weight: 12st 8lbs
Born: Saltburn
Career (186 League Appearances/ 18 Goals): West Bromwich Albion (9/1), Northampton Town (177/17)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 4[1]/1
Details: Another player from Ian Atkins spell at Northampton, Hunter was a midfielder at West Brom as a trainee, but scored once in four seasons for The Hawthorns-based team, admittedly from only nine games. Atkins signed him in his first season at Sixfields, and he remained in the side until his contract ran out in the summer. It took until October for Atkins to give him the switch to the Kassam Stadium, having briefly joined non-League Nuneaton Borough for three games. Hunter scored in the recent 3-0 demolition of Bournemouth.
Abdou Sall (on loan from Kidderminster Harriers)
Squad Number: 28
Position: Defender
Age: 22 Height: 6ft 3ins Weight: 12st 13lbs
Born: Senegal
Career (27 League Appearances/ 2 Goals): Toulouse (no figures available), Kidderminster Harriers (27/2)
This Season (Total Appearances [as substitute]/Goals): 7[2]/1 (0[2]/0) for Oxford United)
Details: Sall is a tall and distinctive central defender with an eye for goal. Confined to the bench for much of his three-month loan for Kidderminster, he has made just two appearances, both predictably as a substitute. Being Senegalese by birth, he holds a French passport (much like Patrick Vieira), and he joined Toulouse from the lower reaches of the French League and Montauban. He linked up with Kidderminster last season, and was added to the Oxford squad by Ian Atkins as cover before the F.A. Cup tie. With a distinctive dreadlocked haircut, he may come in for some light-hearted abuse from the Roots Hall faithful should he find himself warming up in front of the East Stand come New Years Day. Has a powerful header than many would be envious of, and this explains his goalscoring prowess.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com