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Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: CT on April 29, 2020, 03:33:53 PM

Title: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: CT on April 29, 2020, 03:33:53 PM
We were talking about players mental strength today, and blocking out noisy, abusive crowds.

Now a long, long time ago, we played Oxford at the Manor Ground. We were stood behind the goal, packed in a terrace that was quite steep with fences at the front.

Oxford's keeper was, let's say, folically challenged and he received some absolutely merciless stick from our travelling fans. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't the sort who could block out the abuse.

When it was clear how much it was affecting him, naturally, we gave him more.

He had a stinker and ended up making once massive howler for one of our goals.

But I can't remember who he was, or even the score! I know we won. Anyone got any memories of this?
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: cdbearsfan on April 29, 2020, 03:49:58 PM
If you're certain that we won, and that it was at the old ground, then it could only have been a 2-1 win in the League Cup in 1992 or, more likely given the thread title, a win by the same scoreline in our promotion year of 1975.

 https://www.11v11.com/teams/aston-villa/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Oxford%20United/

If it is that game, our goalscorers were (Brian) Little and Nicholl, but I can't find their team online.

According to this...

https://www.11v11.com/teams/oxford-united/tab/players/season/1975/

Their two keepers used that season were Roy Burton and John Milkins. The latter looks like he has less hair but the former played for them much more often.

Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Damo70 on April 29, 2020, 03:58:21 PM
We were talking about players mental strength today, and blocking out noisy, abusive crowds.

Now a long, long time ago, we played Oxford at the Manor Ground. We were stood behind the goal, packed in a terrace that was quite steep with fences at the front.

Oxford's keeper was, let's say, folically challenged and he received some absolutely merciless stick from our travelling fans. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't the sort who could block out the abuse.

When it was clear how much it was affecting him, naturally, we gave him more.

He had a stinker and ended up making once massive howler for one of our goals.

But I can't remember who he was, or even the score! I know we won. Anyone got any memories of this?


The prematurely bald keeper was only in his early twenties. Paul Kee. He made nine appearances for Northern Ireland. The 'bants' went on all through the game as I recall. I think we won 2-1 with goals from God and Shaun Teale. The only other goalkeeper who got as much stick was when Siralex had fallen out with Bosnich and hung him out to dry by picking him in what was basically a Manure reserve XI in a league cup game at Villa Park. We won 3-0 I think and Bosnich got pelters. I seem to recall David Beckham was also getting the old 'Posh Spice takes it up the arse' chants. I think Bosnich and Beckham were the only two first choice players in the side so I presume they were both in Siralex's bad books at the time.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on April 29, 2020, 03:59:43 PM
Paul Kee

Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Brend'Watkins on April 29, 2020, 04:00:02 PM
@ cdbullyweefan ....you should change your name to PC Bullyweefan.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: cdbearsfan on April 29, 2020, 04:09:45 PM
I still fucked it up and researched the wrong game!
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: CT on April 29, 2020, 04:10:16 PM
Paul Kee



Cheers Rudy, that's brilliant. Brought back some memories!

No hair, the goalies got no hair....
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Damo70 on April 29, 2020, 04:14:15 PM
If we had been a bit more quick witted in the away end that night we could have sung "No hair, the goalies got no hair" in the first half and "No confidence, the goalies got no confidence" in the second half.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: eamonn on April 29, 2020, 05:34:12 PM
I still fucked it up and researched the wrong game!

It was a brave claim to take PWS' statto title. Give it another go after a few more weeks of lockdown, you'll be hungrier.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Steve67 on April 29, 2020, 07:32:52 PM
We were talking about players mental strength today, and blocking out noisy, abusive crowds.

Now a long, long time ago, we played Oxford at the Manor Ground. We were stood behind the goal, packed in a terrace that was quite steep with fences at the front.

Oxford's keeper was, let's say, folically challenged and he received some absolutely merciless stick from our travelling fans. Unfortunately for him, he wasn't the sort who could block out the abuse.

When it was clear how much it was affecting him, naturally, we gave him more.

He had a stinker and ended up making once massive howler for one of our goals.

But I can't remember who he was, or even the score! I know we won. Anyone got any memories of this?

I think we drew 2-2. Garry Thompson ran from the half way line to score in the second half.  Or was that a different season?  Probably the year we were relegated.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: PeterWithe on April 29, 2020, 08:02:18 PM
I’ve told this one before but a mate borrowed his works van for this one and we all piled in the back, we had a few beers in Oxford and piled back in to go to the game. No one knew where the ground was and as we pulled into traffic the car in front had an Oxford United sticker in the back window so our intrepid driver thought he must be going to the game and decided to follow him. All the way to the front drive of his house.

And the van got towed away during the game.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: tomd2103 on April 29, 2020, 10:14:49 PM
Paul Kee



Cheers Rudy, that's brilliant. Brought back some memories!

No hair, the goalies got no hair....

Full strength side for us there. 
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: pauliewalnuts on April 29, 2020, 10:26:16 PM
Bantz i can remember at away matches with opposition keepers.

1. Throwing snowballs at Steve Ogrizovic at Highfield Road.
2. Major bantz with David Seaman at Loftus Road.
3. Err, that's it.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Pat McMahon on April 29, 2020, 10:30:32 PM
Bantz i can remember at away matches with opposition keepers.

1. Throwing snowballs at Steve Ogrizovic at Highfield Road.
2. Major bantz with David Seaman at Loftus Road.
3. Err, that's it.

Tony Coton at Watford in the 80s too.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: LeeB on April 29, 2020, 10:35:50 PM
Bantz i can remember at away matches with opposition keepers.

1. Throwing snowballs at Steve Ogrizovic at Highfield Road.
2. Major bantz with David Seaman at Loftus Road.
3. Err, that's it.

Mark Crossley was getting some stick over his weight at Forest in 95, and some wag chucked a Mars bar at him, which he then picked up, opened, and took a bite out of.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: kippaxvilla2 on April 29, 2020, 11:01:39 PM
Gary Walsh away art Bradford was pretty merciless.  Along with a rendition of my garden shrub is bigger than this.’
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Pete3206 on April 30, 2020, 01:08:37 AM
I seem to remember Peter Shilton getting some stick after he got caught dipping his wick.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: eamonn on April 30, 2020, 09:13:16 AM
Bantz i can remember at away matches with opposition keepers.

1. Throwing snowballs at Steve Ogrizovic at Highfield Road.
2. Major bantz with David Seaman at Loftus Road.
3. Err, that's it.

Mark Crossley was getting some stick over his weight at Forest in 95, and some wag chucked a Mars bar at him, which he then picked up, opened, and took a bite out of.

Crossley in better shape now than when he played professionally:
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Des Little on April 30, 2020, 09:21:51 AM
I seem to remember Peter Shilton getting some stick after he got caught dipping his wick.

Tina! Tina! Tina! Tina!
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Duncan Shaw on April 30, 2020, 09:22:36 AM
The only away trip to Oxford I ever did was the league cup semi - and I don't want to remember that!!
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: ADVILLAFAN on April 30, 2020, 10:19:14 AM
At home I can remember Robinson and Joe Hart both taking stick and coming across well.

I can also remember Given seeming really pissed off with
us, when we beat Newcastle.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Brend'Watkins on April 30, 2020, 12:45:37 PM
Bantz i can remember at away matches with opposition keepers.

1. Throwing snowballs at Steve Ogrizovic at Highfield Road.
2. Major bantz with David Seaman at Loftus Road.
3. Err, that's it.

Mark Crossley was getting some stick over his weight at Forest in 95, and some wag chucked a Mars bar at him, which he then picked up, opened, and took a bite out of.

3. Pat Jennings, “Unipart” chant.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: usav on April 30, 2020, 01:27:26 PM
Les Sealey got a lot of stick from the Holte End in one particular game.  I want to say it was West Ham around Christmas time, but I could be wrong.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Damo70 on April 30, 2020, 03:27:32 PM
I seem to remember Peter Shilton getting some stick after he got caught dipping his wick.

Tina! Tina! Tina! Tina!


I think he had to put up with that chant for a few years. Alongside 'Did you have reclining seats"? He was still getting "Tina" chants when he had left Forest for Southampton.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Mister E on May 02, 2020, 09:16:32 AM
The best intimidation of an oppo keeper was Bob Wilson in the FA Cup replay at VP on a foul Wednesday night in January 1974.  Wilson had ensured the sending-off of Sammy Morgan at Highbury the previous Saturday. Wilson was absolutely pelted "I'd walk a mile and a bit ..." and has said since that it was the most intimidating game he'd ever played in.
The game was attended by 48,000 and Sammy Morgan scored the 2nd goal.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: dcdavecollett on May 02, 2020, 05:34:59 PM
I think Sammy got the first; Alun Evans scored the second.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: itmustbe_it is! on May 02, 2020, 06:07:56 PM
Random one, but I remember standing behind the goal at Notts County 1992 I think, very small crowd and Steve Cherry getting a lot of stick in the goal in front of us, probably because it was such a dire game and there was nothing better to do !
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Damo70 on May 02, 2020, 07:53:27 PM
Random one, but I remember standing behind the goal at Notts County 1992 I think, very small crowd and Steve Cherry getting a lot of stick in the goal in front of us, probably because it was such a dire game and there was nothing better to do !


Was that the midweek game that I think finished 0-0 with Staunton missing a penalty? If it was that game it was probably the coldest I have ever been at an away game.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: ChicagoLion on May 02, 2020, 07:55:35 PM
The one I remember was 1 1 at Oxford, Walters kept beating his man and then putting some wonderful crosses into the Box and eventually Stainrod got on the end of one.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Damo70 on May 02, 2020, 08:03:57 PM
The one I remember was 1 1 at Oxford, Walters kept beating his man and then putting some wonderful crosses into the Box and eventually Stainrod got on the end of one.

I think that was 1986, we were in a relegation battle and just before the Oxford game we signed Steve Hunt from Albion and Andy Blair from Sheffield Wednesday. They both made their 'second Villa debuts' at Oxford.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Des Little on May 02, 2020, 10:40:18 PM
Random one, but I remember standing behind the goal at Notts County 1992 I think, very small crowd and Steve Cherry getting a lot of stick in the goal in front of us, probably because it was such a dire game and there was nothing better to do !


Was that the midweek game that I think finished 0-0 with Staunton missing a penalty? If it was that game it was probably the coldest I have ever been at an away game.

I was there too. As bad a game as I’ve seen when we haven’t lost. Garbage.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 03, 2020, 12:23:25 AM
Random one, but I remember standing behind the goal at Notts County 1992 I think, very small crowd and Steve Cherry getting a lot of stick in the goal in front of us, probably because it was such a dire game and there was nothing better to do !




Was that the midweek game that I think finished 0-0 with Staunton missing a penalty? If it was that game it was probably the coldest I have ever been at an away game.

I was there too. As bad a game as I’ve seen when we haven’t lost. Garbage.

But notable for one event, when we had three players line up in front of a free-kick and they all ran over the ball.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Damo70 on May 03, 2020, 02:28:27 PM
I think for that Notts County game we sat in seats alongside one side of the ground. It was cold, so so bloody cold.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: dcdavecollett on May 05, 2020, 06:15:51 PM
Stan Staunton's penalty was saved, not missed.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: LeeB on May 05, 2020, 06:29:46 PM
Was it the cup game?
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: dcdavecollett on May 05, 2020, 06:55:10 PM
No, in the league.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: sid1964 on May 06, 2020, 06:17:58 AM
Remember going to Notts County in the FA Cup we won 6-0? and then going in the league 82-83 season losing 4-0? Hopkins played and I think Withe got sent off, we were truly appalling.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: dcdavecollett on May 06, 2020, 02:54:49 PM
I recall it as 2-5.

Also, after the 6-0 cup win, we played County at their place in the league just a few weeks later -and lost 1-0!!
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Damo70 on May 06, 2020, 03:01:19 PM
Remember going to Notts County in the FA Cup we won 6-0? and then going in the league 82-83 season losing 4-0? Hopkins played and I think Withe got sent off, we were truly appalling.


Wasn't the 0-6 a night game? I don't think it was a replay so I am guessing it was a game that had originally been postponed due to the weather. It was the FA Cup third round I think.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Exeter 77 on May 06, 2020, 05:12:38 PM
Remember going to Notts County in the FA Cup we won 6-0? and then going in the league 82-83 season losing 4-0? Hopkins played and I think Withe got sent off, we were truly appalling.


Wasn't the 0-6 a night game? I don't think it was a replay so I am guessing it was a game that had originally been postponed due to the weather. It was the FA Cup third round I think.

Didn't David Geddis get a hat trick and Sid scored from closer to the halfway line than the penalty  area?
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: brian green on May 06, 2020, 06:47:20 PM
The Oxford United game I remember at the Manor Ground was when Spinky got booked for time wasting after 8 minutes.  Really bad temoered coppers and that's about all I remember of it.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Damo70 on May 07, 2020, 11:36:38 AM
There was a bit of trouble after the 1986 semi and the 1991 cup tie. Oxford had an alleyway you had to walk through and out of to exit the ground. Oxford fans could basically lash out at you as you exited the bottleneck coming out of the stadium. In 1991 one of their charming fans spat in my face.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: WassallVillain on May 07, 2020, 08:57:40 PM
Remember going to Notts County in the FA Cup we won 6-0? and then going in the league 82-83 season losing 4-0? Hopkins played and I think Withe got sent off, we were truly appalling.


Wasn't the 0-6 a night game? I don't think it was a replay so I am guessing it was a game that had originally been postponed due to the weather. It was the FA Cup third round I think.

Yes it was a night game and the coldest I’ve ever been at football match. Arrived late with score at 0-2 due to train trouble and left early 0-5
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Damo70 on May 08, 2020, 02:56:56 PM
Remember going to Notts County in the FA Cup we won 6-0? and then going in the league 82-83 season losing 4-0? Hopkins played and I think Withe got sent off, we were truly appalling.


Wasn't the 0-6 a night game? I don't think it was a replay so I am guessing it was a game that had originally been postponed due to the weather. It was the FA Cup third round I think.

Yes it was a night game and the coldest I’ve ever been at football match. Arrived late with score at 0-2 due to train trouble and left early 0-5


There is clearly a recurring theme here concerning how cold Meadow Lane was/is.

The 1992 game there was the coldest I have ever been at an away game.

Huddersfield early on in the 1987/88 season was the wettest I have ever been at an away game.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: LeeB on May 08, 2020, 05:04:50 PM
The coldest I've been at a game was Hamburg in the UEFA Cup, -6 on the scoreboard.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: CT on May 08, 2020, 05:32:18 PM
The coldest I've been at a game was Hamburg in the UEFA Cup, -6 on the scoreboard.

I reckon that wasn't bad compared to Oldham away in the FA Cup.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Damo70 on May 08, 2020, 05:32:49 PM
The coldest I've been at a game was Hamburg in the UEFA Cup, -6 on the scoreboard.

Minus 6 on the scoreboard sounds like one of our results under Lambert.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Damo70 on May 08, 2020, 05:36:05 PM
The coldest I've been at a game was Hamburg in the UEFA Cup, -6 on the scoreboard.

I reckon that wasn't bad compared to Oldham away in the FA Cup.


The quarter final in 1990? Oldham was always cold and windy in my experience but that night I was more dejected and depressed than cold.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: CT on May 08, 2020, 06:06:52 PM
The coldest I've been at a game was Hamburg in the UEFA Cup, -6 on the scoreboard.

I reckon that wasn't bad compared to Oldham away in the FA Cup.


The quarter final in 1990? Oldham was always cold and windy in my experience but that night I was more dejected and depressed than cold.

That's the one. The 3-0 and the plastic pitch added to the balticness!! I'm sure I've never been colder than that night.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Chico Hamilton III on May 08, 2020, 07:55:13 PM
The only thing keeping us warm that night was the scrapping amongst our own fans
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Des Little on May 08, 2020, 08:34:08 PM
The only thing keeping us warm that night was the scrapping amongst our own fans

Some things don’t change
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Rudy Can't Fail on May 08, 2020, 08:48:04 PM
The coldest I've been at a game was Hamburg in the UEFA Cup, -6 on the scoreboard.

I reckon that wasn't bad compared to Oldham away in the FA Cup.


The quarter final in 1990? Oldham was always cold and windy in my experience but that night I was more dejected and depressed than cold.

That's the one. The 3-0 and the plastic pitch added to the balticness!! I'm sure I've never been colder than that night.

One of those very rare away games where there was absolutely nothing positive to say about the night. Not even the pre-post match pint. Nothing. Five of us drove over in a bloody Mini from Leeds. I don't think a word was said on the way back. Horrible night on so many levels.
Title: Re: Oxford away, a long time ago....
Post by: Richard E on May 08, 2020, 08:50:11 PM
If we’d won that game that would have been the year we won the FA Cup again.
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