Preview: Oxford United V Southend United

THE BLUES

Cup pub bore question: One hundred years ago we famously beat the Kings Rifles 6-0 in the F.A. Cup 4^th Qualifying Round, blimey where did they play their home games?! Which present league rivals did we knock out in the 3^rd Qualifying Round?

Good to see Richards back last weekend but Hammell is not a midfield player. Maher + Bailey = Lost souls and lost confidence in front of goal.

OK, that's enough about the Luton debacle, let's move on. I can't even be bothered to take the piss out of Harry. A trip to Oxford in the cup could be just what the team needs, or not as the case may be, and all will be revealed around 5pm on Saturday.

Still no cup tied Leon and with my fave MacDonald becoming a bit of a sicknote, it looks as if it could be Harry and Hooper again, thank God the beers good in Oxford. (Sorry, positive, must be positive. However, I do hope Gower gets over whatever struck him down at the last minute as we need some width badly, as well as another penalty taker. (Sorry, sorry!)

Come On Blues, Arsenal away in the third round, we've got to play them some time and I know some cracking North London pubs!

Cup pub bore Answer: Yes we can beat them at home. It was the now Leyton Borient, then Clapton Borient, who we beat 3-1 in a replay after an away 1-1 draw.

THE OPPOSITION

Jim Smith stepped down as manager of Oxford United to allow former youth team coach Darren Patterson to take charge for the F.A. Cup first round win against fellow Blue Square Premier team Northwich, where they won 3-1.

A win and a draw since has taken them to 10^th, nine points of the play off places. Former Blue rivals Aldershot looking good for a return to the football league in that division. Last time out Matthew Green and Ashley Barnes earned Oxford a 2-0 win at Kidderminster in an ill-tempered affair which saw both sides reduced to 10 men. Harriers' James Constable was shown the red card for an elbow against James Clarke around the half-hour mark. Oxford's former Shrimper Carl Pettefer was then sent off for serious foul play. But Green slotted home in the 30th minute and Barnes headed in another midway through the second half to seal the win for the visitors.

Sadly, Mr. Pettefer will not be playing against his old buddies as his appeal for the red card he picked up was turned down. A decision not universally agreed with, or as one local website put it, "Hmm……maybe they just pocketed the appeal money and watched Harry Potter rather than the match video." We've all been there mate!

The team that finished against Kidderminster; Turley, Clarke, Quinn, Foster, Jeannin, Anaclet (Willmott 80), Hutchinson, Pettefer, Trainer, Odubade (Barnes 51), Green (Twigg 58). Subs Not Used: Warrell, Ledgister. Sent Off: Pettefer (44). Booked: Hutchinson. Goals: Green 31, Barnes 69.

THE MATCHES

Played 31; Won 10, Drawn 4, Lost 18. (Never in the F.A. Cup).

Oxford have the surreal distinction of being the only team that Slater and Firmani scored against the first two times we played them, one win and one defeat. Aug. 25 and Nov. 22 1965 were the historic dates, 2-3 the first ever game away, a 2-1 win the next at Roots Hall. I can confidently state this will never happen again.

Our worst defeat came on Aug. 24 1996, a horrible 0-5, while our biggest win came after England were last knocked out of a major tournament. On the Saturday after Holland had ended Graham Taylor's World Cup hopes we cheered ourselves up with a 6-1 win; a Mooney hat-trick, Otto with a brace and Eagle. (Slightly more enjoyable than a freezing cold 0-1 defeat at Luton). There was another big win the last time Oxford visited Roots Hall, 4-0 on Nov. 6 2004; Gower, Eastwood, Barrett and a Dudfield penalty. (Nice to see Dudders knocking them in for Notts. County). However, there are bad memories of the last visit to the Varsity town when a second half Eastwood goal was not enough to change a 1-2 defeat which helped put us in the play off's when a result could have seen automatic promotion very close.

THE GROUND

The club moved from the Manor Ground in the Summer of 2001, (their home for 76 years and a real dump), to the purpose built Kassam Stadium (named after then Oxford Chairman Firoz Kassam. The owner now being Florida based Nick Merry). The stadium was built at a cost of around £15m and is located on the outskirts of Oxford. It has only three sides, with one end remaining unused. Each of the stands are of a good size, are all seated, covered and are roughly of the same height. The South Stand on one side of the pitch is a two tiered stand with a row of executive boxes. This is a particularly impressive looking stand with police control and press boxes situated at the back. Opposite is the single tiered North Stand, primarily given to away supporters. This has a number of strange looking floodlights protruding from its roof. At the one end is the Oxford Mail Stand, which is also single tiered. There is a special type of pitch, one of the first to have artificial grass woven into the live turf. One disappointment is the large gaps in the corners, which sets the stands back from the playing surface and means cold winds whistling through in winter. Foundations have been put in place for the future construction of a fourth stand, at the West End of the stadium. However it is unlikely that this will be built for at least a couple of years.

Away fans are housed on one side of the North Stand, towards the open end of the ground. This stand may be shared with home supporters, or as was the case on my visit, the whole stand was given to the away support. There is little around the ground in terms of pubs and eating establishments, so you may have to find such comforts within the ground itself. The refreshments on offer are okay, with a range of rollover hot dogs and pies on offer. Bottles of Carlsberg Lager are also available at £2.20. However, it has been reported that it still takes an eternity to get served in the refreshment area and/or that they have run out of hot food/drinks. One visiting supporter even suggested taking a flask and packed lunch. Please note that you are not allowed to smoke within the ground, apart from the concourses where the refreshment areas are located. The Kassam is light years away from the old Manor Ground. The facilities within and pitch view are excellent, and there is also good leg room. The atmosphere within the ground is not bad, with the Oxford fans in the Oxford Mail Stand doing their best to raise it.

THE CAR

The stadium is quite well signposted from the main routes into Oxford, with brown football signs pointing the way. The stadium can be found in between the Oxford Science Park & Blackbird Leys Estate. From the A423 Ring Road, take the A4074 towards Reading. After the roundabout with Sainsbury's on one corner, take the left turning sign posted Cowley/Wallington/Oxford Science Park and you eventually come to the ground on your left. There are 1,600 car parking spaces at the stadium itself, which are free. However, the car parks tend to fill up fast, so try and arrive early if you can (at least 75 minutes before kick off). An additional 400 car parking spaces are now available at the Ozone cinema and bowling alley complex adjacent to the stadium, which are also free to use. Don't get tempted to park on a grass verge as you may well end up with a parking ticket!

THE TRAIN

Trains to and from London Paddington are regular and take under an hour. If you phone First Great Western direct, 08457 000 125, you may get some £4 single fares or certainly cheaper than the £17.50 day return, as they have disappeared off the website, sorry, may have got the last ones! Oxford railway station is over four miles from the ground and it is really not advisable to try to walk it. The football special that used to run directly to the stadium, is no longer in operation. Instead the Oxford Bus Company Service, Number 5, runs from Oxford Railway Station via the city centre to Knights Road in Blackbird Leys, which is a short walk away from the ground. On Saturday afternoons the bus runs every five minutes. Alternatively a taxi will cost you in the region of £10, from the station to the stadium

THE PUB

The nearest Public House is 'The Priory' which is just behind the car park at the open end of the ground, its quite an historic looking building but it's horrible, I really don't recommend it, Oxford is one of the best real ale towns in the country so get their early and have a real pint in town, out of a glass! The Bear Inn dates back to 1242 and was seen starring in an Inspector Morse episode, the cricket one. Very small inside, covered in old school and club ties, you will find it at 6, Alfred Street, you can get to it through an alley found half way down St. Aldates, which itself is a fifteen minute walk turning left from the station then literally in a straight line. Hopefully it will be warm enough to stand outside. Two others to try and both in St. Aldates, with Christ College at the bottom, is Old Tom, not as good as in its Varsity ale days but still home to a decent pint of Green King. Also, St. Aldates Tavern, which always has a fine selection of guest beers. On the outskirts of the town are several alternatives, some including food if you have too. Get on a website and enjoy the choice.

THE HISTORY

Oxford United were formed as amateur club Headington in 1893. It was created to keep the cricketers fit during the winter break! Headington first started wearing yellow as the colour for their home shirt in the 1957-58 season, the reason for the change is unknown. In 1960, Headington United was renamed Oxford United to give it a higher profile.

They 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, (then Milk), Cup beating Q.P.R. 3-0. Oxford were sadly unable to enter the 1987 UEFA cup because of the 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. It is the first team in the history of English football to have won a major trophy and to be relegated from the football league, but at least they've been there and won one, something I'm not sure I will ever see the mighty Shrimpers do.

Best run in the F.A. Cup was the sixth round in 1964, a shared record for a Fourth Division club. (Not sure of the other, please let it not be Colchester!)

(Thanks to everyone, including the excellent S.U.F.C. Database and Internet Ground Guides, for their help with this article.)