Dark Days A Day Out In Oxford

[originaltrueblade]

I remember arriving in Oxford for our away game in Div 3 a typical Cold rainy January in 1981 we were on our way down to Div 4.
What an absolute snobby town it was. asking people where’s the ground. No one knew. Mentioned the football ground and the answer came back in a posh voice that they only knew where the rugger pitch was. Eventually asking bus drivers who said Try that bus over there I think, well fourth bus later. There were about six of us and the bus prices weren’t Sheffield prices.
Their kop was open with a large drop at the back and no fencing. We heard later some lad had fallen off the back of the kop. The rain showers came soaking wet and a performance that had relegation written all over it
Yep we lost and I remember the bus driver saying when we got on to go back to the snobby place, how did game go how many tries were there.

We looked at each other and laughed because we had just lost to a team that no one knew nowt about. Yep fourth division arrived dark days indeed BUT Darlington beckoned UTMB

 

[gaz kay]

I went mid 90's and we got hammered 4.1
Martin Aldridge gor a hat trick for them (rip)

 

[Pollingtonblade]

My first visit to Oxford was the league cup in 86/87 season, sure we lost 3-1, that season was absolutely dire, we had players like David Frain, Andy Barnsley and Mark Dempsey, the bright spot in the season was Peter Beagrie and the most notable thing that happened was getting a new electronic scoreboard. #memries

 

[Silent Blade]

My first visit to Oxford 30th January 1971

Post in thread '50 years ago today'

Jan 30, 2021

30/1/1971

Oxford 1 (Smithson pen) Blades 2 (Dearden 2)

One of my favourite away matches ever! New signings John Hope and Trevor Hockey made their debuts, Frank Barlow was recalled to the side, Gil Reece, who was in and out of the side for most of the season also returned (although he played at the Chesterfield friendly the previous week). John Tudor had left us for Newcastle, John Barnwell was dropped from the side, Geoff Salmons relegated to the sub's bench and sad to say, I think Hodgy did travel with the team and in his autobiography he said Harris had told him in the coach that he...

• Silent Blade

• 

 

[Gin&Juice]

Bobby Ford making a reyt save

 

[SLB]

My first visit to Oxford 30th January 1971

Post in thread '50 years ago today'

Jan 30, 2021

30/1/1971

Oxford 1 (Smithson pen) Blades 2 (Dearden 2)

One of my favourite away matches ever! New signings John Hope and Trevor Hockey made their debuts, Frank Barlow was recalled to the side, Gil Reece, who was in and out of the side for most of the season also returned (although he played at the Chesterfield friendly the previous week). John Tudor had left us for Newcastle, John Barnwell was dropped from the side, Geoff Salmons relegated to the sub's bench and sad to say, I think Hodgy did travel with the team and in his autobiography he said Harris had told him in the coach that he...

• Silent Blade

• 

One of mine too. I think we'd also signed David Ford but can't remember if he played. I was also at Bolton (2 weeks prior?) for what I believe was Hodgys last game.

 

[Silent Blade]

One of mine too. I think we'd also signed David Ford but can't remember if he played. I was also at Bolton (2 weeks prior?) for what I believe was Hodgys last game.

Ford's debut was a week later at home to Luton. Yes, Hodgy's last league game was at Bolton on 16th January but his last 1st team match was in a friendly match at Saltergate in the 23rd (we lost to a goal by Fenoughty). I went to all the games that month.

 

[Moan? Nope-I saw Longhorn]

Aye
1st time we went would be early eighties
Left alehouse 3ish (pre all day opening) & proceeded to the ground where, not unusually, bumped into Shred .
We learned that the away end was a 10/15 minute hike round the houses & it was pissing it down. Following appraisal of situation / circumstances Shred decided this wasn’t a viable option & decided to go through the home turnstiles.
We were young(er) & naive & (for once) made the ‘sensible’ decision to gain access through the ‘correct’ entrance thus missing 20 minutes or so of the game.
A little time later, to acclaim from the travelling Blades Shred is observed (& serenaded) progressing around the side of the pitch towards , (& ultimately joining) us on the ‘away’ end.
Not sure if the result - like many (most) games of that time it was expunged by / through copious imbibing of alcoholic beverage of a intoxicating nature.

 

[Winn Gardens Blade]

First time I went it was a 2-2 draw no idea of when or who scored though

 

[Willie Carlin]

My first visit to Oxford 30th January 1971

Post in thread '50 years ago today'

Jan 30, 2021

30/1/1971

Oxford 1 (Smithson pen) Blades 2 (Dearden 2)

One of my favourite away matches ever! New signings John Hope and Trevor Hockey made their debuts, Frank Barlow was recalled to the side, Gil Reece, who was in and out of the side for most of the season also returned (although he played at the Chesterfield friendly the previous week). John Tudor had left us for Newcastle, John Barnwell was dropped from the side, Geoff Salmons relegated to the sub's bench and sad to say, I think Hodgy did travel with the team and in his autobiography he said Harris had told him in the coach that he...

• Silent Blade

• 

We went that day silent. You could have heard Hockey shouting out the whole match. We travelled back on the train from Birmingham with John Hope our new goalie. Four of us went and when we got back we only had a shilling between us.

 

[reedy63]

We went to Oxford, and they equalised to draw 2-2 in the last minute.I forgot what season Eighties I think. I am sure Stancliffe was captain. We were the better side that day.

 

[Blade1959]

We went to Oxford, and they equalised to draw 2-2 in the last minute.I forgot what season Eighties I think. I am sure Stancliffe was captain. We were the better side that day.

1983/84

 

[Rochdaleblade]

I went mid 90's and we got hammered 4.1
Martin Aldridge gor a hat trick for them (rip)

I arrived at that game half an hour late due to train issues and left after the 4th went in. Probably saw less than half the match in total.

 

[Rufus Smalls]

I remember arriving in Oxford for our away game in Div 3 a typical Cold rainy January in 1981 we were on our way down to Div 4.
What an absolute snobby town it was. asking people where’s the ground. No one knew. Mentioned the football ground and the answer came back in a posh voice that they only knew where the rugger pitch was. Eventually asking bus drivers who said Try that bus over there I think, well fourth bus later. There were about six of us and the bus prices weren’t Sheffield prices.
Their kop was open with a large drop at the back and no fencing. We heard later some lad had fallen off the back of the kop. The rain showers came soaking wet and a performance that had relegation written all over it
Yep we lost and I remember the bus driver saying when we got on to go back to the snobby place, how did game go how many tries were there.

We looked at each other and laughed because we had just lost to a team that no one knew nowt about. Yep fourth division arrived dark days indeed BUT Darlington beckoned UTMB

My one and only visit was the season before in 1980.

1-1 draw, bloody terrible open away end if I remember rightly.

UTB !

 

[originaltrueblade]

My one and only visit was the season before in 1980.

1-1 draw, bloody terrible open away end if I remember rightly.

UTB !

It was a shocking ground

 

[ancientblade]

We went that day silent. You could have heard Hockey shouting out the whole match. We travelled back on the train from Birmingham with John Hope our new goalie. Four of us went and when we got back we only had a shilling between us.

yeah i was there as well on side terrace of the old manor ground 4 of us remember it snowing at some time that day hockey on his debut was brilliant that day dominated midfield

 

[Coily]

We went to Oxford, and they equalised to draw 2-2 in the last minute.I forgot what season Eighties I think. I am sure Stancliffe was captain. We were the better side that day.

 

[Hartley Hare]

My memory of Oxford from a visit a good few years ago, was parking in the centre of the city in a surprisingly empty'ish pay & display car park.

When I returned a few hours later, like the fella in front of me squaring up at the machine we were shocked to have to pay something like £16!

I knew then why the convenient car park was empty.

HH

 

[KeyffSmyff]

my last visit to the manor ground was the 97 game when we were 2up in a few minutes and then changed formation and won 4 2.

 

[SGBlade]

I went mid 90's and we got hammered 4.1
Martin Aldridge gor a hat trick for them (rip)

Same. Marked this one down as my worst ever game on another thread. It was absolutely freezing as well.

 

[silver blade]

I remember arriving in Oxford for our away game in Div 3 a typical Cold rainy January in 1981 we were on our way down to Div 4.
What an absolute snobby town it was. asking people where’s the ground. No one knew. Mentioned the football ground and the answer came back in a posh voice that they only knew where the rugger pitch was. Eventually asking bus drivers who said Try that bus over there I think, well fourth bus later. There were about six of us and the bus prices weren’t Sheffield prices.
Their kop was open with a large drop at the back and no fencing. We heard later some lad had fallen off the back of the kop. The rain showers came soaking wet and a performance that had relegation written all over it
Yep we lost and I remember the bus driver saying when we got on to go back to the snobby place, how did game go how many tries were there.

We looked at each other and laughed because we had just lost to a team that no one knew nowt about. Yep fourth division arrived dark days indeed BUT Darlington beckoned UTMB

Me & a couple of mates were walking along a street in Oxford, one lad all 6' 5" of him was hit on the head by a cup of hot tea coming from a students hall of residence, he tried to get in & sort the culprit out but a purser or what ever they call them wouldn't let him in, it turned out a student had tried to sweeten the tea with jam but as it tasted disgusting threw it out of the window, purser said he deserved a good hiding but it was more than his jobs worth to let us in.

 

[Revolution]

My Manor Ground visits:

1996-7: lost 4-1, freezing
1997-8: won 4-2, sunny
1998-9: won 2-0, wettest ever game