My First Oxford Match: Gareth Brown

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's almost like a rite of passage, being taken to your first football game by your dad. We got the tickets from the club as I used to do Oxford United football courses at the Didcot Lesuire Centre. My dad wasn't an Oxford supporter, he was a Chelsea supporter from the Islington area, despite having Arsenal-supporting parents.

My First Oxford Match

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)

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