The Boys from Up the Hill

What the Stats Say...Macclesfield

2012-02-25T12:01:00.000Z

Havingpreviously bemoaned the fact that we always seem to play sides whenthey're out of form,along come a woefully out of form Macclesfieldto prove me wrong. With Oxford marooned in seventh place, six pointsbehind Torquay and five points ahead of Port Vale, this match must beseen as a good chance to get points on the board. And yet, this beingOxford, we all know it won't be that straightforward. Here's MattPeck with the stats on a fixture that has become rather a regularoccurrence in the last decade.

Clarke the Saviour

2012-02-23T07:19:00.000Z

Notfor the first time in the last few years, we (and Damian Batt inparticular!) owe Ryan Clarke a huge debt of gratitude for hispenalty-saving brilliance, without which the Barnet match wouldprobably have ended in another frustrating home draw. More impressiveis that he played at all, given that he had been up all night withillness.

Subsequently,there have been plenty of figures flying around; some say it's 11saves from 14, others say 10 from 15. Having scoured the archivestoday, I make it that Clarke has faced 17 penalties in competitivematches, saving 7 of them. Not as sensational as some thought butpretty impressive nonetheless. Interestingly, of the 9 penaltiesClarke has faced in the Football League, he has saved 6.

What the Stats Say...Barnet

2012-02-21T16:01:00.000Z

Asseems to have been the case all season with our opponents, it is anin-form Barnet who make the relatively short trip to Oxford for thisrearranged game, as well as a return for former player Sam Deering.Matt Peck looks overthe stats ahead of the match.

What the Stats Say...Bristol Rovers

2012-02-17T21:44:00.001Z

Our next test is a tricky away tie against an in-form Bristol Rovers. Bristol Rovers have had a poor season so far, but have picked up considerably following the dismissal of Paul Buckle and the appointment of Mark McGhee. With the final playoff place on the line, Oxford will be hoping to push on from Tuesday's stuttering win over Dagenham, while Rovers are hoping to mount a late charge to sneak into that final place. Here's Matt Peck with the stats.

Youth Begins to Bear Fruit for OULFC

2012-02-15T13:30:00.000Z

Picture from Manchester City Ladies FC

TheOxford United Ladies team has had a remarkable season so far,currently boasting a 100% record in the league (with a goaldifference of +44) and coming off the back of a run to the third roundof the FA Cup for the first time in the club's short history. Thatbeing the case, it's about time they were featured on these pages,where their success has gone criminally unreported.

Mehdi Kerrouche - From Red to Yellow

2012-02-14T10:50:00.000Z

Withno actual football to keep us occupied, the big news recently hasbeen the loan signing of Mehdi Kerrouche from rivals Swindon Town.With the current strikeforce lettingus down so far this season, manager Chris Wilder has moved toaddress the problem by signing severalattack-minded players. With this in mind, YoucefEl Barhdadi runs the rule over our new signing and assesses whatnew-boy Kerrouche can bring to our attacking options.

My First Oxford Match: Youcef El Barhdadi

2012-02-13T07:59:00.000Z

Next in our ever-popular 'My First Oxford Match' series is Youcef El Barhdadi, recalling an era when Ian Atkins seemed destined to lead Oxford to promotion. What could possibly go wrong? If, like Youcef, you'd like to write about your first Oxford match, please don't hesitate to email it to tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk.

My First Oxford Match: Adam Brown

2012-02-09T20:18:00.000Z

Our My First Oxford Match series returns with these fantastic reminiscences of the Beech Road benches from Adam Brown. We're still looking for contributions to this series, and would really appreciate your memories of your first match, no matter how hazy they may be. If you're interested just email your recollections to tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk and they will be gratefully received!

Important Decisions

2012-02-06T15:39:00.000Z

Picture from @OUFClive

Withthe transfer window shut and a steady stream of games from now untilthe end of the season, we appear to be reaching a critical point inthe season. Currently clinging onto the final playoff place and witha sizeable 7-point gap separating us from Torquay in sixth, there isa lot of work to be done in the coming weeks, firstly to pullourselves away from the chasing pack and secondly to catch up withthe sides ahead of us. And with our somewhat ordinary recent formshowing six points from our last five matches, our season is – ifnot completely stuttering – currently lacking the momentum requiredto mount a serious challenge. The decisions made now will be key todeciding the trajectory of this season: getting it right will see theside begin to push forward and cement our place in the playoffs,while getting it wrong will see us fall away from the promotion chasealtogether.

In Profile: January Signings

2012-02-01T10:39:00.000Z

In truth, the Januray transferwindow has been more about shifting players on than bringing new onesin for Oxford United. However, four fresh faces have arrived at Grenoble Road duringthis period, so here is a (not so) brief introduction to them.

What the Stats Say...Burton

2012-01-28T22:54:00.000Z

Wemake the trip to Burton Albion this week on a Sunday, due to the homeside sharing stewards with Derby, who were at home to Stoke in the FACup on Saturday. With our league rivals all playing on Saturday weknow that a win will move us back into seventh place, aboveAccrington who beat Gillingham 4-3 to move one point ahead of us.Matt Peck (whose firstmatch piece can be found here)has been digging through the stats to bring you this look ahead tothe match.

My First Oxford Match: Simon Berendt

2012-01-26T11:54:00.000Z

Our 'My First Oxford Match' series is back again for another installment, this time provided by Simon Berendt - something of a trial by fire for a young Mr Berendt, as not many people experience a 5-3 local derby thriller in their first match! Don't forget to send your memories of your first Oxford match to tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk.

Oxford United 5-3 Swindon Town (07/03/92)

In Defence of Michael Duberry

2012-01-25T18:28:00.000Z

Ataround half past five on Saturday evening, an Oxford Unitedfootballer was trending nationally on Twitter. Unfortunately, itwasn't for the right reasons. Michael Duberry's bizarre hat-trick(including two own goals) made him one of the most talked-abouttopics in the country and many of those comments were mocking. It'sfrustrating that Duberry's consistently excellent performances allseason have gone unnoticed, but after one poor performance (in whichhe redeemed himself with a last minute equaliser, let's not forget)the national spotlight is suddenly thrust upon him. So in thisarticle, I will attempt to defend the good name of our MichaelDuberry, who is fast becoming a cult hero here at Oxford.

My First Oxford Match: Ed George

2012-01-25T12:30:00.000Z

Another entry in our My First Oxford Match series, this time provided by Ed George. It's testament to his loyalty that he kept coming back, despite experiencing relegation in his first taste of Oxford United! If you'd like to contribute your own memories to us, you can do so by emailing tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk.

My First Oxford Match: Olly Howells

2012-01-24T10:05:00.000Z

The latest contribution to our My First Oxford Match series comes from Olly Howells, who recalls the match which caused him to fall in love with this wonderful football club. If you would also like to get in on the act and write about your first OUFC experiences, you need only email tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk, where your contribution will be gratefully received!

My First Oxford Match: Matt Peck

2012-01-23T11:00:00.000Z

Next to regale us with memories of his first Oxford match is statistician extraordinaire, Matt Peck, with his account of a Conference clash against Cambridge United in front of the Setanta Sports cameras. To add your own experience to this growing collection, simply email your recollections of your first Oxford United match to tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk.

My First Oxford Match: Simon Smith

2012-01-22T15:01:00.000Z

Our 'My First Oxford Match' series continues, with Simon Smith's recollections of his first match - an encounter with Chester in November 1980. Don't forget to send your memories of your first Oxford match to tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk!

My First Oxford Match: Gareth Brown

2012-01-21T23:59:00.000Z

Apparently, I wasn't the only one who got my first taste of the mighty yellows that day in April 1996. In the latest of our 'My First Oxford Match' series, Gareth Brown reveals his first and only visit to the Manor Ground. As ever, your contributions to this series would be hugely appreciated, just write down your memories of your first match and email them to tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk.

Oxford United 1-0 Blackpool (06/04/96)

It'salmost like a rite of passage, being taken to your first footballgame by your dad. We got the tickets from the club as I used to doOxford United football courses at the Didcot Lesuire Centre. My dadwasn't an Oxford supporter, he was a Chelsea supporter from theIslington area, despite having Arsenal-supporting parents.

What the Stats Say...Hereford

2012-01-20T16:44:00.000Z

Thoughthis weekend's visit of Hereford United has been overshadowedsomewhat by the JamesConstable transfer saga, this match is by far the more pressingmatter as we seek to correct the mistakes of lastweekend. Once again, MattPeck's excellent statistical analysis is enlightening, revealingthe tough challenge that Hereford will pose.

My First Oxford Match: Simon Atkinson

2012-01-20T10:00:00.000Z

Our First Oxford Match series continues with some wonderful recollections from Simon Atkinson of early visits to the Manor in 1982. If, like Simon, you want to share your nostalgic memories of your first Oxford match, then please email tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk.

Oxford United 1-1 Chesterfield (27/03/82)

Then,as now, OUFC gave out free tickets to schools. I think our school gottickets because the Youth Team played there and a few of us showed upto cheer them on. We had four tickets in the Beech Road stand for thegame against Chesterfield.

Constable to Swindon: Someone is Making a Mistake

2012-01-19T18:53:00.001Z

The news coming in today is that Oxford have agreed a fee with hated enemies Swindon Town for the talismanic James Constable, thus confirming our worst fears. Though no move has been finalised at the time of writing, the reports have left Oxford fans angry and betrayed by both the player, who had been considered a legend in these parts, and the club. The very notion of James Constable playing his football at Swindon is wrong for Oxford United and James Constable.

My First Oxford Match: Graham Deacon

2012-01-19T11:47:00.000Z

Graham and Ollie with Matt Green

The next entry in our My First Oxford Match series comes from Graham Deacon, recalling his early experiences of the Manor in the late 60s and the rediscovery of his love for the club after taking his son Ollie to his first match. We're currently inviting contributions for this series, so if you'd like to share your memories of your first Oxford match, please email tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk.

My First Oxford Match: George Dugdale

2012-01-18T10:30:00.000Z

Next in our 'My First Match' series, George Dugdale, editor of the fantastic Rage Online fansite, recalls his first trip to a very cold Manor Ground on Boxing Day 1998. If you'd like to submit your own recollections of your first ever Oxford match, they will be gratefully received at tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk.

Oxford United 1-3 Crystal Palace (26/12/98)

I'mseven years old and I'm at the Manor Ground. I've not got an OxfordUnited shirt on. I don't own one. If you had spoken to me 24 hoursearlier as I tore open my Christmas presents, you would have beeninformed that I was a Liverpool fan. Dad is a Liverpool fan, so I'm aLiverpool fan. Robbie Fowler is my hero and I love watching the oldseason reviews on video tape. I know that Oxford has a football teambut at this moment in time, the Milk Cup is merely a vessel used tostrengthen my bones and enhance the quality of my smile.

My First Oxford Match

2012-01-17T13:03:00.000Z

In the first of what I hope will prove to be a very interesting series of posts, I have posted by time-ravaged recollections of my first ever visit to the Manor Ground back in April 1996. I'm really keen to hear from as many of you as possible, so if you would like to jot down your recollections of your first Oxford match, no matter how vague or unremarkable, it would be really appreciated. The more contributions we get to this, the more of an insight we can get into the reasons why we choose to follow this wonderful club. Please email all submissions to tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk.

Oxford United 1-0 Blackpool (06/04/96)

1996was, in many ways, a perfect storm. English football was resurgentonce again following the sweeping changes that had changed the faceof the sport in the early 90s. The exciting and glamorous image ofthe new Premier League had reformed football from the 'slumsport for slum people' of the 80s into a game that was now onceagain socially acceptable for the middle classes to enjoy. 'CoolBritannia' was at its height, football being central to theBritish cultural renaissance of the time, and with Euro 96 on thehorizon the buzz was that football was 'coming home'.

Some Observations from Today's Match

2012-01-14T21:00:00.001Z

Wedon't make a habit of writing match reports here on The Boys fromUp the Hill (there are plenty of other people who write fantasticmatch reports that we couldn't match), but the match against Crewehas raised several points which seem noteworthy and worth reflectingon.

He's Peter Leven, He'll Do What He Wants

2012-01-10T04:29:00.001Z

Anew cult has been sweeping across Oxfordshire, as 'Levenism' hasbegun to recruit new followers with astounding momentum. The arrivalof Peter Leven from the MK Dons inthe summer was perhaps one of the biggest eyebrow-raisers, as oneof the strongest performers in League One last season confounded allexpectations by moving down a league. It is little surprise, then,that Peter Leven has been in majestic form this season, and followinganother domineering performance as midfield puppet-master thisweekend, the Oxford United Twitterati have chosen to honour him withthe hashtag #ThatPeterLevenHeDoesWhatHeWants,the number one trending topic in Oxfordshireon Sunday evening.

What the Stats Say...Aldershot

2012-01-07T00:29:00.000Z

Oxfordface Aldershot this weekend and, as MattPeck reveals, this match sees an Oxford side that have begun tore-find their form who will be facing off against an Aldershot whoare in the midst of a poor run. The two sides have already met twicethis season, Oxford recording a 2-1 victory at the Rec in the JPT,and Oxford fans will be hoping for a repeat performance this timeout.

A Chat with Nicky Banger

2012-01-05T20:04:00.000Z

NickyBanger played for Oxford for two years between 1997 and 1999, but nowworks as Commercial Manager at Aldershot Town – our next opponents.Nicky was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about his timeat Oxford, and also about his role in the commercial side of thegame.

What the Stats Say...Crawley

2012-01-01T21:46:00.000Z

Table-toppersCrawley are the first to visit the Kassam in 2012, their first visitin the Football League. MattPeck looks over the stats once again, examining each side'srespective record and comparing our progress this season with ourrecord at the same point last year.

What the Stats Say...Torquay

2011-12-30T22:33:00.000Z

Expectgoals and cards galore on the South coast, as Oxford make the trip toPlainmoor to face Torquay United this weekend, in a fixture that hasproduced regular goalfests. MattPeck compares the respective records of the division's leastdisciplined sides.

The January Sales

2011-12-29T10:49:00.000Z

Anew year approaches and that means one thing: out with the old and inwith the new. January, and the opening of the transfer window, sparksa frenzy of movement in the football world as managers, chairmen,agents and players get to work on securing the moves that may come toshape the rest of the season. So what are our hopes and fears forthis transfer window?

On This Day - 26/12/01

2011-12-26T15:00:00.000Z

Thisyear, as with last year, Oxford have been denied a lucrative homefixture on Boxing Day. But ten years ago, in our first season atMinchery Farm, the then-new stadium was to play host to a fieryencounter between Oxford and Luton in front of what was then a recordcrowd of 11,121.

What the Stats Say...Wimbledon

2011-12-26T01:16:00.000Z

Oxfordmake a Boxing Day trip to Kingsmeadow to face AFC Wimbledon in theFootball League for the first time. The original Wimbledon werefamiliar opponents before their defection to Milton Keynes, but thiswill just be United's second trip to the newly-formed phoenix club.Wimbledon are currently enjoying their first season back in theFootball League, but have struggled of late, as MattPeck reveals.

Merry Christmas from TBFUTH!

2011-12-24T07:45:00.000Z

The festive season is well and truly upon us now, and that means one thing...a busy football schedule! Keep checking back over the holidays, we'll be taking a look back in time at an early Kassam Boxing Day fixture, as well as trying to keep things ticking over with our Christmas and New Year's fixtures and looking ahead to the January transfer window.

And if you've left left it until now to do your Christmas shopping, read this quick! It may not be too late!

The Bipolar Relationship Between Chris Wilder and Oxford United Supporters

2011-12-21T06:17:00.000Z

SoChris Wilder has reached the milestone of three years in the job atOUFC, something I doubt many would have predicted three years ago,given that we had endured ten managerial changes in the precedingdecade. One striking aspect of Wilder's reign – and this has beenthrown into sharp relief in recent weeks – is the extreme extent towhich he polarises the opinion of supporters. To a certain extent we would experience thisno matter who is in charge (let's not forget the 'Pattonistas' and the'anti-Pattos' during Darren Patterson's ill-fated tenure) but Wilderin particular appears to be divisive like no other figure currentlyat the club.

What the Stats Say...Northampton

2011-12-16T14:20:00.000Z

StrugglersNorthampton Town are the next visitors to the Kassam, and with newmanager Aidy Boothroyd at the helm they may be confident of getting aresult against an out of form Us side. However, as MattPeck reveals, the stats show that they will have a tough task ontheir hands, as Oxford seek to banish memories of our last homematch, which ended in defeat to Cheltenham Town.

Northampton's Loss is Oxford's Gain

2011-12-14T09:00:00.000Z

Thiswon't be popular among a certain (small but very vocal) section ofour fanbase, but I'm going to praise Chris Wilder. With the recentrun of poor results he's come in for a lot of criticism, and thoughsome of it was justified, some amounted to little more than avindictive personal attack on the man. Wilder is rightly criticisedfor what appears to be a scattergun approach to signings, and whilesome of the big name signings from the summer have so far beendisappointing, in the interest of balance we should remember thatsome of Wilder's unheralded signings have proven to be unexpectedstars.

What the Stats Say...Morecambe

2011-12-09T11:41:00.001Z

Unitedreturn to action after what feels like an eternity, having had spentthe previous weekend watching other teams play in the second round ofthe FA Cup. Morecambe is the destination this weekend, a place wherewe have fared well on our few visits. MattPeck mulls over previous encounters, examines each side's poorrecent form and also compares disciplinary records.

Youth Team Unlucky to Lose Out

2011-12-08T01:00:00.001Z

Theunder 18s were desperately unlucky to exit the FA Youth Cup at thehands of Premier League Bolton Wanderers on a bitterly cold eveningat the Kassam Stadium. This was the first time any of these playershad had the chance to play at the ground and they were all clearlyeager to make the most of the opportunity. The match was watched by agood crowd of 451, curious at the opportunity to see future Oxfordstars in action. Oxford progressed to the Third round after beating ahighlyfancied Dulwich Hamlet team, while Bolton, as a Premier AcademyLeague team, entered the competition at this stage. However, withBolton at the bottom of their league the tie was ripe for a cupupset.

Loanees Progress Report

2011-12-02T10:07:00.000Z

With the January transfer window fast approaching, a flurry of activity is imminent, and given Wilder's track record at the club we can expect to see a host of new signings pulling on the famous yellow shirt in January. However, our ability to deal in the transfer market will be dependent on whether we can ship out some of the unwanted players on our books, many of whom are currently out on loan to other clubs. With several players currently out on loan, from the youngsters gaining experience lower down the pyramid to those players who have served their purpose here and will be looking to put themselves in the shop window, now seems a good time to catch up with those Oxford players currently plying their trade elsewhere.

Reflections on a Free Weekend

2011-11-30T09:58:00.000Z

Thisweekend raises something of a dilemma. While many of our League Tworivals turn their attention to Cup action, we're left with a blankweek. Morale is understandably low after five defeats on the bounceand some of the more reactionary elements among the support havebegun to embarrass us all (further examples hereand here).The enforced break from competitive first team football does,however, give us a chance to take stock of what has gone wrong overrecent weeks and perhaps allow some time to recover from that awkwardknee-jerking.

What the Stats Say...Cheltenham

2011-11-25T22:37:00.001Z

Thisweekend sees Cheltenham make the short trip down the A40 to contestthe 'Cotswold Derby' (apparently) and look likely to bring a largefollowing...for Cheltenham, anyway. MattPeck is on hand to examine the relatively short Football Leaguehistory between the two sides and to compare Cheltenham'sfrighteningly impressive form to our own.

The TBFUTH Christmas Shopping Guide

2011-11-21T03:35:00.000Z

WithChristmas just a month away now the time for giving is upon us (andby that I'm not referring to the way our defence gifted Crawley fourgoals on Saturday), which means one thing: the Christmas shoppingseason has begun. Christmas offers football clubs and merchandisersplenty of opportunity to offload their tat on unsuspecting footballfans, so expect to see all manner of club-branded nonsense in storesover the coming weeks. So, for the benefit of those of you luckyenough to be buying for an avid Oxford fan, we thought we'd makethings easier for you by producing this simple guide of essentialOUFC purchases this Christmas, from the sublimeto the ridiculous.

What the Stats Say...Crawley

2011-11-18T23:40:00.001Z

Followinga terrible week which saw Oxford lose to Southend twice and then getdumped out of the FA Cup by Sheffield United, the tough prospect of atrip to second-placed Crawley now beckons. However, this week'sevents (i.e. thereturn of Robert Hall) mean that the mood amongst Oxford fans issurprisingly upbeat. That optimism will be further buoyed by a quickread of Matt Peck'slatest stats package, which reveals Oxford's impressive record at theBroadfield Stadium.

The All-Important Final Piece

2011-11-17T11:11:00.000Z

Oxfordfans awoke to good news yesterday, with reports that West Hamwonderkid Rob Hall has returnedto Oxford onloan for a further month. In fact, it’s difficult to overstate howimportant he has been to us already this season. After 3 defeats in arow, news of Robbie’s return has immediately lifted spirits aheadof a difficult trip to Crawley, but most promising is that his returnis “with a view to a longer stay”. If Hall’s services can besecured for the rest of the season, he could just be the final piecerequired to make a sustained tilt at automatic promotion this year.

What the Stats Say...Sheffield United

2011-11-12T00:04:00.001Z

Four-timesFA Cup winners Sheffield United, of League One, host no-times FA Cupwinners Oxford, of League Two, this weekend at Bramall Lane for an FACup 1^st round fixture – the first time the clubs havemet in an FA Cup fixture. The yellows make their second trip toSheffield this season (the first coming on the opening day of theseason to Rotherham's temporary home at the Don Valley Stadium)hoping to cause something of a cup upset. Regular contributor MattPeck brings us the lowdown on the clubs' respective FA Cuprecords.

Wilder at the Blades

2011-11-10T22:41:00.001Z

Oxfordface a trip to Sheffield this weekend for an FA Cup fixture againstSheffield United and it's a match that will have particularsignificance to Chris Wilder, Blades fan and former player. In lightof this, Ian Rands, Sheffield United supporter and creator of AUnited View on Football, gives us his insight on Wilder thefootballer from his time at Bramall Lane.

Andy Whing: Oxford's Utility Player

2011-11-09T10:52:00.000Z

Nowon TBFUTH we cast an eye over the much-maligned Andy Whing. Whing hasso far attracted the ire of the Kassam's boo boys, but is he justmisunderstood? Instead of moaning at him because he's different to what we're used to, or because he is a less attack-minded full-back, perhaps we should instead look at what he can bring to the team and focus on some of his unique attributes. Could the slow, steady and so far misunderstooddefensive big boy go on to become a key squad member over the courseof the season?

What the Stats Say...Southend (JPT)

2011-11-07T10:04:00.000Z

Oxfordface Southend again, as the Shrimpers visit for a Johnstone's PaintTrophy tie just days after their league clash which saw Southend takea two-point lead at the top of the table. Southend are now 9 pointsahead of the Us in the league, but after being thoroughly outplayedon Saturday they will arrive at the Kassam with a battle on theirhands. They do, however, have a far superior record in thiscompetition, though this will be the first meeting between the twosides in the Football League Trophy, due in no small part to Oxford'sabysmal record in it, as MattPeck reveals.

What the Stats Say...Southend

2011-11-05T01:37:00.000Z

Oxfordvisit Roots Hall to take on Southend this weekend, before welcomingthe Shrimpers as guests to the Kassam Stadium just days later for aJohnstone's Paint Trophy match. Ahead of this double-header, MattPeck examines the records as United attempt to topple the formteam at the start of a very toughsequence of matches.

Great Form, Crap Fixtures

2011-11-01T19:29:00.000Z

Sixmatches into the season we examinedOxford's form so far and concluded that we hadn't yet seensignificant signs of improvement compared to last season. Aftersixteen matches, the picture looks rather different; United arecurrently placed 4 ^th in the table with 29 points, while at the same point last seasonwe were 18^th with 17 points and in the midst of a run offive straight defeats. With the side in impressive form of late, havewe found the winning formula that will steer us to promotion thisseason?

On This Day - 29/10/96

2011-10-29T18:04:00.000+01:00

Today,Oxford played out a thrilling 2-1 victory over Port Vale at the Kassam Stadium. On this day15 years ago, it was their potteries rivals, Stoke City, who made thetrip to the Manor. The intervening 15 years demonstrate how fortunescan change, as Oxford and Port Vale have both tumbled from the secondtier to make today's match a Fourth Division affair, while Stoke ofcourse find themselves in the Premier League and contesting cupfinals.

Cult Hero: Martin Foyle

2011-10-27T07:51:00.000+01:00

WithPort Vale the next visitors to Grenoble Road this Saturday, we turnour attention to a well-known veteran of both clubs: Martin Foyle.Foyle is a legendary figure at Port Vale (he is their post-war recordgoalscorer and later went on to manage the club), but he also madeover 150 appearances and scored 44 goals for Oxford before he was sold to Port Vale. Morerecently he was manager of York City on that fateful day at Wembleylast May, at the same time creating an unusual space for himself inthe history books of Oxford United.

What the Stats Say...Plymouth

2011-10-25T02:46:00.000+01:00

Nextup for Oxford are Plymouth Argyle, bottom of the entire FootballLeague, and Matt Peckis on hand to examine the stats. Crisis club Plymouth have not had aneasy start to life in League Two and currently find themselves 5points from safety, however they have seen an upturn in form of lateand will be eager to winning ways, following defeat to 'the A420s' atthe weekend.

What the Stats Say...Gillingham

2011-10-22T01:29:00.000+01:00

Oxfordmake the trip to Gillingham aiming to earn their first win atPriestfield since 1983, but with the one of best away records in theleague are in a very good position to do so. MattPeck once again brings his statistical expertise to these pagesto reveal Oxford's record away at the Gills.

A Lack of Common Sense and Consistency from the FA

2011-10-18T21:08:00.000+01:00

Welearned in the week that United and Bristol Rovers have been chargedby the FAfollowing their match at the Kassam for 'failingto ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashionand/or refrained from provocative behaviour'.Here is our take on the situation.

What the Stats Say...Macclesfield

2011-10-14T22:29:00.000+01:00

Oxfordmake the trip to Macclesfield's Moss Rose this weekend and as usualMatt Peck is on hand to recall previous encounters between the twoclubs. Also in this bumper stats package Oxford's impressive form isexamined, and Oxford's historically poor attacking record isrevealed.

A Wealth of Positives

2011-10-10T16:32:00.000+01:00

Thereare so many positives for Oxford fans to take from this game thatit's difficult to know where to start. Saturday's performance rightedall the problems from United's string of home draws in emphaticfashion, as the team really turned on the style for UltimateSupport Saturday in front of an impressive crowd of 9291.

What the Stats Say...Bristol Rovers

2011-10-07T14:21:00.000+01:00

MattPeck returns to give us the stats on Bristol Rovers, ahead oftomorrow's UltimateSupport Saturday match. With over 20 league matches between thetwo sides at Oxford going back as far as 1965 there's plenty ofhistory to this fixture. Bristol Rovers will be looking to getrevenge for the 6-1 pasting we gave them in the League Cup lastseason, but their manager Paul Buckle is unbeaten at the Kassam fromhis time in charge of Torquay.

Ultimate Support Saturday

2011-10-05T12:30:00.000+01:00

OnSaturday it's Bristol Rovers' turn to visit the Kassam and the matchhas been designated as 'UltimateSupport Saturday' to drum up support for the Yellows. Supportersare asked to invite friends along, turn up in numbers and back theteam vocally. For those still unsure of what it's all about, we spoketo Joe Nicholls, the fan behind the initiative, to get the lowdown.

What the Stats Say...Hereford

2011-10-01T01:44:00.000+01:00

Herefordwere another side who, like Accrington,somehow managed to avoid us through the years until last season. Infact, Oxford and Hereford had only been in the same division as eachother once before, that being in 1977/78 – though the two clubsfaced off in the League Cup in the 1980sand 1990s.Matt Peck casts somelight on Oxford's league record at Edgar Street.

Tim Russon's Greatest Moments

2011-09-30T08:34:00.000+01:00

AsOxford prepare to make the relatively short hop to Hereford tomorrow,we thought we'd pay homage to Hereford's vice-chairman Tim Russon,who is now into his second year as a club director after taking overin Juneof last year. Perhaps a director of an opposing team is an oddchoice of subject matter for a blog to choose, but Oxford fans willbe familiar with Russon from the many years he spent as the face ofCentralSouth TV sports round-ups throughout the 1990s. With reports characterised byelaborate and frankly ridiculous metaphors and cheesy puns, TimRusson provided the voice to some of the most hilarious footballhighlights packages ever to grace local news.

Trouble at Home

2011-09-27T08:45:00.001+01:00

Saturday's 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley was another disappointing home result for Oxford. After two impressive away wins, optimism was running high amongst supporters before this match as many of us sniffed an opportunity to go on a winning streak, but a lacklustre performance and poor result has severely dented the optimism, and the knives are out for Chris Wilder once again.

What the Stats Say...Accrington

2011-09-22T21:36:00.003+01:00

Despite its uncanny resemblance to binary code, Matt Peck's stats this week are in fact related to Oxford's home meeting against Accrington Stanley (last season's 0-0 draw). Not a long history of fixtures between these two clubs, with both clubs still looking to score their first ever goal against the other.

The Unusually Intertwined Histories of Oxford and Accrington

2011-09-21T08:20:00.004+01:00

For years Oxford United and Accrington Stanley were two clubs, inextricably linked by history, who had never played each other. Of course, all that changed last season when Accrington visited the Kassam Stadium to play out a 0-0 draw in League Two (neither side has ever scored against the other yet). On Saturday, Accrington make their second visit and now seems as good a time as any to revisit the circumstances in which the two clubs came to be joined in the history books.

Why 4-3-3 is the right formation for Oxford United

2011-09-17T00:48:00.003+01:00

It has been one of the great forum debates of the Chris Wilder era: is Wilder right to set the team up in a 4-3-3 formation? With many supporters questioning this formation and many nostalgically longing for a return of the classic 4-4-2, George Dugdale explains why he feels 4-3-3 is the right formation for OUFC.

What the Stats Say...Barnet

2011-09-16T18:23:00.002+01:00

As Oxford prepare for their third ever league visit to Underhill, Matt Peck looks back at previous encounters and predicts a draw. Can James Constable repeat last season's brace, or will Sam Deering get revenge on the club that released him in the summer?

What the Stats Say...Dagenham

2011-09-13T14:09:00.000+01:00

Despite the fact that we've only once played Dagenham away in the league, Matt Peck provides some more fascinating statistical insight ahead of tonight's match. Caution is advised for those who are still traumatised by our first season in the Conference.

League Two's Surprise Packages

2011-09-12T10:08:00.001+01:00

In every league, in every season, there's at least one club who exceeds everyone's expectations by doing remarkably well. They may win promotion, qualify for the playoffs, or even just beat the drop against the odds. For example, who would have predicted that Accrington, Stevenage and Torquay would have qualified for the playoffs last season? When I wrote my League Two season preview a few weeks ago, I wrote about who I expected to be challenging, but tried to keep half an eye on potential surprises this season. In this article, I'll try and expand on that by examining the sides who look set to cause a few surprises this season.

What the Stats Say...Burton

2011-09-08T18:03:00.002+01:00

Burton are the latest visitors to the Kassam for Saturday's Bridle Bonanza and Matt Peck looks back at our short history of home fixtures against the Brewers, the last of which provided 3 goals (all for Oxford), 2 red cards (both for Burton) and the end of a very long run of matches without a clean sheet.

Déjà Vu

2011-09-05T03:53:00.000+01:00

The start of the season has been something of a mixed bag for Oxford, and we have already witnessed a high point of victory away at Swindon followed by frustrating results in our last two fixtures. At the time of writing the Us currently find themselves in 13^th, and if this form is carried throughout the season we're likely to witness another year of midtable mediocrity in the basement division. The inconsistency of the performances so far have inspired a sense of d

éjà

vu amongst Oxford supporters, and left many of us asking if this season is going to be more of the same.
Read more »

What the Stats Say...Crewe

2011-09-03T15:02:00.000+01:00

As we travel northwards to face a Crewe side that has struggled so far this season, Matt Peck brings us some stats from previous visits to Gresty Road. With Crewe losing four of their first five fixtures, Oxford will be hopeful of earning their first victory at Crewe in fifteen years.

What's in a Captaincy?

2011-08-30T22:35:00.001+01:00

In his first contribution to The Boys from Up the Hill, Longliveclarkey examines the poisoned chalice that is the Oxford United captaincy. Is Jake Wright (or James Constable before him) suitable captain material? Is the selection of a captain of any significance or is it merely a token gesture? Does the weight of responsibility hinder the captain's performance?

On This Day - 28/08/06

2011-08-28T09:06:00.001+01:00

We take a trip down memory lane and turn the clock back five years to remember a Bank Holiday fixture from our first season in the Conference.

What the Stats Say...Aldershot

2011-08-27T13:29:00.000+01:00

With Aldershot coming to Oxford this afternoon, Matt Peck looks at our home record against the Shots. Both sides will be looking to kick on from impressive victories (ours over Swindon last weekend, Aldershot's over West Ham in the League Cup during the week), but recent history appears to be on Aldershot's side, having won on their last two visits to the Kassam.

An Aldershot Giant-Killing

2011-08-24T16:05:00.002+01:00

Aldershot Town have been a familiar league opponent for Oxford over recent years. Since the two clubs first met in the 2006-07 season, they have played each other eight times in four different competitions. The original Aldershot FC were perhaps a less familiar opponent, but it is to them – and a particular FA Cup tie – that I now turn my attention to, ahead of the visit of the reformed Shots on Saturday.

TBFUTH on Facebook

2011-08-24T13:28:00.002+01:00

You can now find The Boys from Up the Hill on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Boys-from-Up-the-Hill/254236444596570

We've been on Twitter since the blog was started, but for the benefit of non-Tweeters, you can now 'Like' us on Facebook and every new post on TBFUTH will appear directly on your News Feed. Not bad, eh? Another reminder for those who aren't so into social media, you can also keep up to date with the blog through our RSS feed, which will also keep you up to date with all new blog posts.

James Constable: Oxford Legend?

2011-08-22T20:10:00.000+01:00

James Constable's brace yesterday at the County Ground was just the latest in a series of heroic acts during his time at the club. Beano's reputation as cult hero was never in any doubt before yesterday's match, his goalscoring record was already the most impressive since Paul Moody, but yesterday's events and the circumstances surrounding them could prove to be enough to elevate him to the status of 'Oxford legend' in the eyes of many fans.

What the Stats Say...Swindon

2011-08-20T13:58:00.002+01:00

Those of a nervous disposition should look away now. Matt Peck returns with a statistical look at our away form at Swindon. And it doesn't make for pretty reading...

A Timeline of the Oxford-Swindon Rivalry

2011-08-17T18:46:00.002+01:00

On Sunday, Oxford and Swindon will meet for the first time in many years in a match that Oxford fans have been eagerly anticipating since Swindon were relegated at the end of last season. After such a long time without playing them, for some this will be the first time they have ever been to a match against our biggest rivals, while others will have plenty of memories from this fixture. For those who are less familiar with the rivalry, this is your chance to read up on the history of the rivalry, while for those who've been there and done it, why not re-live the memories?

What the Stats Say...Shrewsbury

2011-08-16T00:58:00.002+01:00

Shrewsbury are the next visitors to the Kassam and the ground staff have been working hard to accommodate them by burning their initials into the pitch. Last season we weren't quite so accommodating, beating the Shrews 3-1 as James Constable ran riot against his former club. Matt Peck's stats are back, so how does our home record against Shrewsbury stack up?

What the Stats Say...Bradford

2011-08-13T08:18:00.003+01:00

Matt Peck's stats are back, this time concerning our home record against Bradford City. Last time the clubs met, Oxford ran out 2-1 victors at the Kassam, but who has the better record historically? Has Oxford been a happy hunting ground for the Bantams, or have we traditionally held strong at home?

Early Pressure

2011-08-12T22:37:00.002+01:00

Two early defeats and speculation about the future of key players has provided something of a come-down after all the preseason positivity around Oxford. Wednesday's performance against Cardiff has certainly kept much of the hope alive and shown the undoubted quality of the side, so at this early stage of the season optimism and uncertainty meet to create an unusual tension around the club.

What the Stats Say...Cardiff

2011-08-09T13:36:00.003+01:00

After providing a great stats package ahead of Saturday's opening day defeat to Rotherham, we again extend thanks to Matt Peck, who has dug out these stats on Oxford's League Cup record against Cardiff.

VIDEO: Girls Academy

2011-08-08T21:08:00.000+01:00

I stumbled across this video on Youtube the other day and found it quite interesting, so it's worth sharing. It was filmed by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle ahead of this summer's Women's World Cup, when the England women's team played Sweden in a friendly at the Kassam ahead of the tournament. As well as some stuff about the history of the women's game and England's preparation for the World Cup, the main feature is on Oxford's Girls Academy. It's not terribly informative, but it gives an interesting insight into a part of the club that we as fans don't often see.

What the Stats Say...Rotherham

2011-08-06T08:35:00.005+01:00

Many thanks to Matt Peck, who has produced this fantastic stats package ahead of the season opener against Rotherham. Who has traditionally had the best of the encounters between the two sides? Who has scored the most goals? It's all here!

And so it begins...

2011-08-05T19:24:00.001+01:00

Que sera sera

Whatever will be, will be

We're going to Don Valley....

A Sign of Things to Come, or Jamie Guy Syndrome?

2011-08-03T02:13:00.001+01:00

So, preseason is finished and the club has come through it unbeaten (that is, if we ignore the youth team's 4-2 defeat to Witney Town). However, as previous experience has taught us, good preseason results have little bearing on the team's actual competitive performance once the league campaign gets underway. This doesn't mean, however, that there is nothing that we can learn from this year's preseason performances.

2011-12 League Two Season Preview (Part 3)

2011-07-31T10:16:00.002+01:00

The third and final part of this rather wordy series is here. Featuring the remaining 8 League Two clubs (last but certainly not least): Dagenham & Redbridge, Accrington Stanley, Barnet, Hereford United, Cheltenham Town, Macclesfield Town, Burton Albion and Morecambe. Also, if you haven't already, don't forget to read parts 1 and 2.

2011-12 League Two Season Preview (Part 2)

2011-07-30T12:13:00.004+01:00

Following on from part 1 published yesterday, here is part two of our League Two season preview, featuring Aldershot Town, Southend United, Plymouth Argyle, Port Vale, Shrewsbury Town, Rotherham United, Crewe Alexandra and Bradford City. If you haven't yet read part 1, featuring previews of Crawley, Northampton, Bristol Rovers, Torquay United, Swindon, Oxford, Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon you can do so here.

2011-12 League Two Season Preview (Part 1)

2011-07-29T02:44:00.000+01:00

The new season will soon be upon us and so it's time to take a look at how clubs will be lining up in a few weeks time. Despite being something of a fallow period for us fans while no matches are being played, this period between the end of one season and the beginning of another can actually be an incredibly busy one for football clubs. Within the flurry of transfer activity around over the past weeks some clubs have been spending big whilst others are cutting back, some looking to make minor improvements while others rebuild from scratch, and while some clubs grab headlines others go about their business quietly. So who looks set to challenge and who is in for a season of struggle?

Two Legends, One Match

2011-07-25T09:01:00.002+01:00

Here's one to bookmark for when you have two hours going spare. Local internet broadcasters OxBox TV have uploaded the benefit match for Joey Beauchamp and David Langan in its entirety, complete with interviews and commentary from Jack FM's Selfy. It's a marathon watch but a pretty fantastic effort and great coverage, worth watching for those who still need another football fix before the season starts; after all, you can only watch the playoff final DVD so many times in one summer!

In Profile: Summer Signings

2011-07-22T10:00:00.001+01:00

Oxford have returned home from their tour of the States and begin their home friendlies on Saturday which, for many fans, will be the first opportunity to see the new signings in the flesh. Some of the new players will already be familiar to Oxford fans, others less so, but as we will be kicking off the new season with so many new faces in the squad, we thought it might be helpful to provide you with a brief introduction as well as a little information on our new recruits ahead of their debut appearances on Oxonian soil.

Tour Highlights

2011-07-21T02:21:00.004+01:00

The US tour is now over and our hosts Seacoast United have kindly uploaded video highlights of all three of Oxford's matches to YouTube. I'm sure this is old news to some, but for the benefit of those who haven't yet had the chance to see any of the action from those matches you can now see all of them at the bottom of this page.

Some Concerns About Our Preseason Preparations

2011-07-17T15:21:00.001+01:00

As a football club with a tendency to start the season in title-winning form only to suffer a catastrophic capitulation in the later stages (think 94/95, 03/04, 06/07, 09/10), it seems we are traditionally better prepared than most clubs at the start of the season – it's only later on that problems appear! However, this year I feel we may have made some mistakes which could later come back to haunt us.

TBFUTH's Guide to Oxford's American Tour

2011-07-10T12:40:00.003+01:00

On July 11^th the players and staff of Oxford United will fly out to America for their preseason tour, to play two matches against the Seacoast United Phantoms of New Hampshire and one match against Mass United FC of Massachusetts. Both clubs play in the fourth tier of American 'soccer', but like most of us over here I knew nothing about the lower levels of football in America, so I decided to do a little digging to see if I could get a feel of what to expect when the yellows take to the (artificial) turf out in the US of A.

In Profile: David Langan

2011-07-06T11:47:00.003+01:00

Following on from yesterday's article on Joey Beauchamp, we now turn our attention to David Langan, League Cup winner and now registered disabled, ahead of Friday's 'Two Legends, One Match' testimonial. David Langan played at the highest level with Oxford and was an important member of the squad throughout the club's finest hour, playing in the Milk Cup final. But since he left Oxford he has fallen on hard times. Football has taken a lot from David Langan and it's time for it to give him something back.

In Profile: Joey Beauchamp

2011-07-05T20:07:00.003+01:00

Ahead of Friday's 'Two Legends, One Match' testimonial for Joey Beauchamp and David Langan we'll be taking a look at the careers of both players and examining their contribution to OUFC. First we'll look at Joey Beauchamp. A local boy come good he is a true Oxford United legend, though other events mean he may not be so popular with fans of either West Ham or Swindon! So is he a local hero or simply a mummy's boy?

Introducing...

2011-07-04T22:53:00.000+01:00

Welcome to The Boys from Up the Hill, a brand new blog about all manner of aspects of Oxford United FC, which I hope will be interesting both to read and to write.

I hope to kick things off with a couple of posts about Joey Beauchamp and David Langan ahead of the 'Two Legends, One Match' testimonial and then maybe a guide to Oxford's USA tour and other preseason fun.

Those posts will be hopefully surface at some point over the next few days but in the meantime you can follow TBFUTH on Twitter or subscribe to the RSS and Atom feeds. If you're interested in writing an article for the blog or have something interesting to say you can get in contact by email at tbfuth@hotmail.co.uk.