Matches Fake rivalry (wycombe)

[Kamal]

Oxfords main rival are Swindon because, so I've been told, we used to play them regularly in 70s/80s, they were local(ish) to us, and we were often competing in the same leagues.

For a young fan growing up now watching Oxford, is that any different to us and Wycombe?

(P.S. I'm nearly mid 20s and I don't see Wycombe as a rivalry).

 

[Wanderer]

Well I'm going to 'stick up for' this Wycombe fan, whose points above are valid. I have a question though. Judging by this forum, a few OUFC fans like to deride Wycombe's status while most OUFC fans seem non-plussed by the whole subject and don't bother contributing to the debate. I don't read the WWFC fans' forum or know any WWFC fans myself, so how do they regard OUFC? How many accept there is a genuine rivalry, how many deny the rivalry and how many couldn't care less? If I were a betting man I'd suggest the latter.

It's a bit of a weird one on our end too. I think that Oxford fans make such a thing (rightly or wrongly) about Wycombe not being a rivalry, that our fans kind of play into that too, in a bemused way. Saying we're not be bothered in return, etc. But also enjoying the delicious irony of outperforming you (when we do) despite being known as the plucky non-leaguers, especially when you guys were in the Conference for a few years

As I say, there isn't a hatred there. I know loads of Oxford fans and they are almost all sound people who have a grudging respect for Wycombe. But there's definitely a sense of wanting to beat Oxford more than almost every other team apart from MK. As I say, that's probably mostly because of the local aspect, as most Wycombe fans also know lots of Oxford fans

I also think the away day is brilliant and much anticipated because we nearly always sell out, and can enjoy the great pubs in the town centre after a very short train journey. I don't think anyone would deny that Oxford city centre is a brilliant place to go before the game

 

[SteMerritt]

In my mind, it is unarguably a local derby - geographically the teams are fairly close. The problem is that 'local derby' as a phrase implies a passionate rivalry - which this doesn't really approach. For me, there is some irritation still about the Wembley defeat and the manner of it so a win tomorrow would be welcome. But really, it's just a game about three points.

It's a local clash for sure, but not a derby, for the reasons you go on to say. The problem is the word 'derby' has become so undermined by marketeers recently (The Southampton v Bournemouth "New Forest Derby"???? Give me strength...) that it has begun to lose all meaning. It was taken to the extreme in 'The Hundred' this summer when I heard one of the commentators say 'Well for a London Derby, the crowd here for Spirit v Invincibles is not very partisan'... FFS they had invented these teams when down the pub one night, just because you call it a derby it doesnt mean it is one.

I want us to beat Wycombe, I'll be in a bit of a grump Saturday night if it hasn't gone our way, but I'd take us losing 5-0 to them twice this season if we can finish top 2.

 

[Marked Ox]

Oxfords main rival are Swindon because, so I've been told, we used to play them regularly in 70s/80s, they were local(ish) to us, and we were often competing in the same leagues.

For a young fan growing up now watching Oxford, is that any different to us and Wycombe?

(P.S. I'm nearly mid 20s and I don't see Wycombe as a rivalry).

There was the smokebomb incident and crowd trouble incidents that have started and then reinforced the Oxford/Swindon rivalry.

There hasn't been that with Wycombe. The biggest hassle is getting away from either game afterwards due to traffic.

 

[Wandering Yellow]

It's a bit of a weird one on our end too. I think that Oxford fans make such a thing (rightly or wrongly) about Wycombe not being a rivalry, that our fans kind of play into that too, in a bemused way. Saying we're not be bothered in return, etc. But also enjoying the delicious irony of outperforming you (when we do) despite being known as the plucky non-leaguers, especially when you guys were in the Conference for a few years

As I say, there isn't a hatred there. I know loads of Oxford fans and they are almost all sound people who have a grudging respect for Wycombe. But there's definitely a sense of wanting to beat Oxford more than almost every other team apart from MK. As I say, that's probably mostly because of the local aspect, as most Wycombe fans also know lots of Oxford fans

I also think the away day is brilliant and much anticipated because we nearly always sell out, and can enjoy the great pubs in the town centre after a very short train journey. I don't think anyone would deny that Oxford city centre is a brilliant place to go before the game

If only we played a bit closer to it!!

I'm mid-20s and have no strong feeling about Wycombe either way. The games I've seen us play v Swindon you can almost feel the tension in the air, the matches we've had against them have been tense both on and off the pitch.

The play-off final I was more angry at the lads for not turning up than Wycombe themselves, I do hate all that "game management" stuff you either used to or still currently do though. But, if we're being honest with ourselves I think our fans would love our team to be less "nice" and get stuck in a bit more, I think it's why when players like Mackie, Taylor and Hylton show up here they develop cult status because we're not as accustomed to "antics" as other sets of fans are.

I'm looking forward to the game tomorrow, but reckon we'll probably lose so there's a bit of trepidation there too!

 

[Banbury2018]

They’re well down the order of rivals…..there’s only one really

Swindon comfortably number 1 then Reading (some will be too young to remember) followed by Luton for me. Wycombe like Cheltenham next Saturday will make far more of it than us . It’s great to beat them but that’s no different to the other clubs although the 3 named rivals mean more.

 

[Wandering Yellow]

Swindon comfortably number 1 then Reading (some will be too young to remember) followed by Luton for me. Wycombe like Cheltenham next Saturday will make far more of it than us . It’s great to beat them but that’s no different to the other clubs although the 3 named rivals mean more.

Teams like Luton and Pompey seem to be a bit of a thing, but they'd fade in a way Swindon or Reading wouldn't even if we weren't playing each other regularly.

 

[Pete Burrett]

There was the smokebomb incident and crowd trouble incidents that have started and then reinforced the Oxford/Swindon rivalry.

There hasn't been that with Wycombe. The biggest hassle is getting away from either game afterwards due to traffic.

Yes, I think the 70s/80s era is significant. Football violence (however over-hyped it might have been on occasions) was commonplace, and there are plenty of Oxford v Swindon incidents to regale. Wycombe's elevation was at a different time.

 

[Sarge]

There was the smokebomb incident and crowd trouble incidents that have started and then reinforced the Oxford/Swindon rivalry.

There hasn't been that with Wycombe. The biggest hassle is getting away from either game afterwards due to traffic.

a rivalry thats existed for over 55 years..... including,Manchester Road shenanigans in the 70s, the milkfloat 'incident' , The pre magic roundabout 'taking' of the roundabout outside the town end and stopping traffic in all direction after one game there, ALWAYS taking the town end , Oxford Uniteds record home crowd in the League at the Manor, Don Rogers shoulder charging our keeper ( in maybe been Jimmy Barron? Im not sure) over the goal line in front of the London Road end and the referee awarding a goal!!! Beano refusing to speak to nevermind signing for them under Di Canio, football specials rammed, The smokebomb / mike reid match when stratton bank crash barriers were uprooted and thrown on the pitch along with dismantled advertising hoardings, being locked in the ground at the skip post match and bursting through the stratton bank locked gates- several times( including the Cuddy (rip ) inspired 'running round swindon with our willies hanging out' song starting after one of them) , Vigeroux sent off in 3 consecutive games, Beano sent off at the breeze block, and much much more too, - a proper rivalry that's been ongoing since the first league game against them , a 0-0 draw 21st Aug 1965 ( my very first away game)

 

[Banbury2018]

Teams like Luton and Pompey seem to be a bit of a thing, but they'd fade in a way Swindon or Reading wouldn't even if we weren't playing each other regularly.

We went about 10 years without playing Luton before the conference promotion and they were both shall I say very lively evenings and Pompey we have played more than any other opponents and never go long without playing each other, Bristol Rovers can be added to the list also although as you say Swindon and Reading will never fade.

 

[ljs]

Yes, I think the 70s/80s era is significant. Football violence (however over-hyped it might have been on occasions) was commonplace, and there are plenty of Oxford v Swindon incidents to regale. Wycombe's elevation was at a different time.

I think there are two basic factors that make a rivalry... the main one being the violence between fans back in the day, and then with it also being a relatively local team.

With Wycombe the only one of those will ever be the being local part.... so no different than Northampton, MK etc when in the same division.

 

[MC Yellow]

Swindon comfortably number 1 then Reading (some will be too young to remember) followed by Luton for me. Wycombe like Cheltenham next Saturday will make far more of it than us . It’s great to beat them but that’s no different to the other clubs although the 3 named rivals mean more.

Not if we lose, I fear.

 

[mooro]

For a team we don't care about, we don't half go on about them an awful lot

 

[beyondthefourth]

I really dislike Akinfenwa for stealing the media limelight after the playoff final, despite being completely ineffectual for the 20 minutes he was actually on the pitch. He did the same when AFC Wimbledon completed their rise to L1 a few years earlier.

But when he retires soon, I'm not particularly going to hate the badge or the fans, or the club itself. Unless the next few games breed that atmosphere.

I do now remember that Mous managed to get 'The Beast' sent off that same season, and it's those sort of incidents that help boost the required resentment for one set of fans if they keep building up.

 

[Wandering Yellow]

We went about 10 years without playing Luton before the conference promotion and they were both shall I say very lively evenings and Pompey we have played more than any other opponents and never go long without playing each other, Bristol Rovers can be added to the list also although as you say Swindon and Reading will never fade.

Probably the club I dislike the most after Swindon personally. Their fans could do with a nice long spell in the national south or something like that.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Swindon comfortably number 1 then Reading (some will be too young to remember) followed by Luton for me. Wycombe like Cheltenham next Saturday will make far more of it than us . It’s great to beat them but that’s no different to the other clubs although the 3 named rivals mean more.

I'm not young but I can hardly remember us playing Reading. Wycombe feel more like rivals than them now, though obvs with nothing like the history and feeling of Swindon. Barring recent events, Bris Rovers and Portsmouth are stronger rivals, with a lot of history and grudging respect but great desire to beat them. I reckon if we were in a higher league than them I'd probably want Wycombe to do fairly well but want Rovers and Portsmouth to do badly.

 

[Bacon]

For a team we don't care about, we don't half go on about them an awful lot

my thoughts exactly. Pretty sure a new thread starts every time we play them…

 

[Marked Ox]

my thoughts exactly. Pretty sure a new thread starts every time we play them…

Well if the question is asked, it will get responses. Other teams get threads when we play them but they aren't rivals either.

 

[Peterdev]

They know how to set up a win despite limited resources.
Much as I dislike Wycombe they certainly know how to cause upsets and we need to be fired up for tomorrow.
I am sure we will be with that memory of the Wembley final. That will have seen as revenge for the promotion winning win all those years ago

 

[Wandering Yellow]

Sorry if this is a bit off topic but how many tickets will Wycombe give us for the game at Adams Park, do we get 2,000?