Oxford away, a long time ago....

[CT]

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?

[cdbearsfan]

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.

[Damo70]

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.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Paul Kee

[Brend'Watkins]

@ cdbullyweefan ....you should change your name to PC Bullyweefan.

[cdbearsfan]

I still fucked it up and researched the wrong game!

[CT]

Paul Kee

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

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

[Damo70]

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.

[eamonn]

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.

[Steve67]

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.

[PeterWithe]

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.

[tomd2103]

Paul Kee

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

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

Full strength side for us there. 

[pauliewalnuts]

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.

[Pat McMahon]

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.

[LeeB]

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.