Memory Lane 15 years ago today

[Ballie]

Following the Club since 1967 -nothing before or since has come close to the emotional outpouring of over 30k of us on this day

 

[Essexyellows]

Still got the scars on the shins from falling over the seat in front................ the Green Man that day was madness compared to our last visit.

Still get goosebumps from that third goal and the release of emotion from thousands of us.

 

[BD Yellow]

Half a life-time ago great memories.

 

[tonyw]

Can't remember which poster popped this photo up a few years ago, I had never seen it till then. But it is one of the best stills of an OUFC 'moment' that exists for me.
View attachment 27312

Whoever it was, they must have been sitting very close to me, because that was basically my view.

Apologies to them if I landed on them half a second after this picture was taken!

 

[McXal]

Apologies to them if I landed on them half a second after this picture was taken!

I had almost the exact same reaction to seeing that picture! I was also right around there too! Absolute chaos when it went in!

 

[Jakeyboy13]

I had tears in my eyes when Alfie put that away.......i wasn't expecting tears but the emotion was huge...unforgetable

 

[Stranger]

Just think, nowadays we'd never have scored that third goal because it's the done thing to bring everyone back for corners, especially when you're protecting a one-goal lead right at the end of such an important game

 

[MarkG]

I’d forgotten the “day before” team send off. I’d had a few hundred yellow or blue balloons printed with the ox-head logos and bagged them up ten at a time to hand out to anyone there who would be going to the game. Looking back balloons aren’t probably the ultra tifo flags and displays or ticker tape but anyway I did.

Day of the game I was in a free corporate box with three other forum members and their friends but for some reason there was no comp food and drink. Probably for the best. We “managed” with what was available on the concourse obviously.

Next day I had a work meeting so couldn’t make the bus parade.

A few weeks before one of the regular posters and long time supporter on whatever the forum was at the time was down on his luck and out of a job and out of money during the build up to the final . I sent him a PM and then £100 to buy two match tickets and train tickets. I can’t remember if he did get to the final but hopefully he was there and didn’t miss one of the greatest days in our history.

 

[holdsteady]

I’d forgotten the “day before” team send off. I’d had a few hundred yellow or blue balloons printed with the ox-head logos and bagged them up ten at a time to hand out to anyone there who would be going to the game. Looking back balloons aren’t probably the ultra tifo flags and displays or ticker tape but anyway I did.

Day of the game I was in a free corporate box with three other forum members and their friends but for some reason there was no comp food and drink. Probably for the best. We “managed” with what was available on the concourse obviously.

Next day I had a work meeting so couldn’t make the bus parade.

A few weeks before one of the regular posters and long time supporter on whatever the forum was at the time was down on his luck and out of a job and out of money during the build up to the final . I sent him a PM and then £100 to buy two match tickets and train tickets. I can’t remember if he did get to the final but hopefully he was there and didn’t miss one of the greatest days in our history.

Being a pedant the parade wasn’t the next day it was the day after that. I went having drank for about two days solid beforehand so nursing the hangover from hell, was a little bit loud for my fragile state but by hanging around the back of it in broad street I was able to enjoy it.

 

[Morris Oxford]

I went up on the train from Bicester with Mrs MO and a couple of friends, then met my brother at the Green Man.

In our group I was the only one who was a season ticket holder, and I’m pretty sure the only one who really understood the importance of the match insofar as to the survival of the club.

The Green Man was mental, absolutely rammed, but hell of an atmosphere, this was the first time we’d been back at Wembley since 1986 and the first time at the new Wembley stadium, and boy were we going to enjoy it.
But I’m not sure I actually did enjoy, at least not until Alfie scored that 3rd goal, the relief was palatable.
That goal was absolutely massive, a huge, huge moment in the history of our football club, arguably the most important.

Looking back now we scored 3 good goals, all cracking finishes, York’s goal was from a mistake, we thoughly deserved our win.

If Jack (we should never have let him go) Midson hits the the back of the net instead of the post to go 3-0 up before halftime, that would have killed York and it could have been a rout.

The bus top parade in Broad Street was fun, a decent turn out, and a great atmosphere. We were starting to believe again.

We hit the bottom in the conference and the only way was up or die, but that was the start our rejuvenation, the start of our climb back up the leagues to where we belong.

Promotions under Wilder, Appleton and Buckingham have all been special in their own way, but keeping us up in the Championship feels just as important.

 

[Osei Yaw]

Anyone else get slightly emotional when the final whistle blew ending four years of non-league obscurity?

So many memories of that day. Matt Green's brilliant goal, Beano smashing home the second, Ryan's fumble, Mark Creighton playing with a photo of his late nan taped to his shin pad. But, the one that often goes overlooked was Rhys Day's absolutely towering header to send Sam and Alfie away for the third goal. The three subs combining to settle our nerves once and for all.

I remember Pitt sending that corner looping into the air and thinking 'that's a shocker' before Day rose between a couple of York players like the Colossus of Rhodes.

Watching that third goal back after the event and I realised just how much ground Beano made up for it. 90th minute and he still had the legs (and pace) to get into the box for one of the best view's of Potter's goal you could get.

 

[mooro]

I know the pair of them only had little legs, but it I just felt like it took about an hour between Day's header and the ball finally hitting the net for the third - the time just crept with anticipation

 

[Mad Dog]

I was so nervous before the game, I'd managed (just) to squeeze into my old Milk Cup 86 shirt, and was knocking back the beers beforehand to calm the nerves, but I absolutely loved the first half, we were all over them, and should've scored 4, then Clarke fumbled the ball into his own net just before half time to burst the bubble.

The 2nd half was toture!

I've never suffered so much watching us, as I did throughout that 2nd half, hated every second of it, and was convinced the equaliser was coming, then Deering and Potter broke with the ball, and I just remember Alfie passing to Deering, and then me screaming at Deering to "give it him back" and then I just froze as Alfie took a touch, and then slotted it home...THEN I ABSOLUTLEY f*****g EXPLODED!!

I've never celebrated a goal like that before in all my 38 years watching us!

I don't mind admitting, I was in tears for those last few minutes, the mixture of pride, happiness and relief was truly overwhelming.

Last year at Wembley was amazing, a day I'll never forget, but I felt strangely calm throughout the entire match, we were so in control of the game, so it was no pressure, no stress, just pure happiness and enjoyment.

But 2010 had so much riding on it, and we were under so much pressure for that entire 2nd half, and I've never experienced such a rollercoaster of emotions and stress in one 45 minute period in my life, so to finish the way it did was simply incredible, and to this day, whenever I watch that 3rd goal, it still brings a tear to my eye.

 

[MJB]

After seeing this thread I put on the OUFC YouTube channel’s screening of the Play-Off Final last night.



Some observations:

* It was great that the club put on these screenings during the COVID lockdowns so people could watch games together, while apart - a wonderful idea.

* Even better that they have kept it online, as it’s a HD version of the whole game. Lots of the footage from this period is shown in low quality so it’s really valuable to have a high quality recording.

* Noticed on watching yesterday that Chapman absolutely shanks a long shot just before he then plays a brilliant long pass which leads to the first goal. That he remained confident enough to continue trying expansive football was vital to us getting in front. He was a worthy MotM.

* While the first goal looks chaotic, our attacking three are excellent, with Beano and Midson both showing real desire, composure and bravery to keep the ball alive before Green keeps cool in calmly chesting the ball down and striking the ball into the roof of the net from outside the box. A wonderful ten seconds and a pleasure to have watched it directly behind Green from the stands on the day.

* Beano’s goal really is classic Beano from his conference days. His power when running at goal and striking the ball is a class above. We wouldn’t have gone up without him (or Wilder).

* Had forgotten quite how biblical that rain was.

* Noticeable that Clarke uses a towel on his gloves just seconds before dropping the ball in the net. Presumably the towel itself was soaked and therefore made no difference in drying the gloves.

* Fast forwarding to second-half injury-time, it really is a classic goal to watch - both in the stadium and on screen - regardless of who you support. A textbook breakaway goal and Potter and Dearing play it absolutely perfectly.

* Saunders, while a great player for us, really is all over the place. Often getting simple things wrong and not really get the tone right at crucial periods in the match (e.g. immediately moaning about York’s keeper when 35,000 fans are going wild after Green’s screamer).

* Still feel slightly sorry for York City - particularly Purkiss, Foyle and that fan on the big screen towards the end who is in tears. Still have affection for YCFC and wish them nothing but good luck - glad to see they’re doing better in recent years after financial hell.

* Mad to think - as the commentary keeps saying - that this was only our second trip to Wembley. Four visits since 2010 (and thankfully, although we lost three of those, we won the one that really mattered).

* Lastly, what a f*****g day that was. Can’t believe it was fifteen years ago already. Proud to have been there with you all watching our brilliant club

 

[Foxy]

I was so nervous before the game, I'd managed (just) to squeeze into my old Milk Cup 86 shirt, and was knocking back the beers beforehand to calm the nerves, but I absolutely loved the first half, we were all over them, and should've scored 4, then Clarke fumbled the ball into his own net just before half time to burst the bubble.

The 2nd half was toture!

I've never suffered so much watching us, as I did throughout that 2nd half, hated every second of it, and was convinced the equaliser was coming, then Deering and Potter broke with the ball, and I just remember Alfie passing to Deering, and then me screaming at Deering to "give it him back" and then I just froze as Alfie took a touch, and then slotted it home...THEN I ABSOLUTLEY f*****g EXPLODED!!

I've never celebrated a goal like that before in all my 38 years watching us!

I don't mind admitting, I was in tears for those last few minutes, the mixture of pride, happiness and relief was truly overwhelming.

Last year at Wembley was amazing, a day I'll never forget, but I felt strangely calm throughout the entire match, we were so in control of the game, so it was no pressure, no stress, just pure happiness and enjoyment.

But 2010 had so much riding on it, and we were under so much pressure for that entire 2nd half, and I've never experienced such a rollercoaster of emotions and stress in one 45 minute period in my life, so to finish the way it did was simply incredible, and to this day, whenever I watch that 3rd goal, it still brings a tear to my eye.

The second half was torture, but that amazing covering tackle by Jake Wright on Brodie was incredible, I knew we would win from then on.

 

[MarkG]

The second half was torture, but that amazing covering tackle by Jake Wright on Brodie was incredible, I knew we would win from then on.

I always thought Brodie would play at a higher level at least league 1 or 2

 

[headingtonoldboy]

IMO this was probably the most important game in the club's history to date. I firmly believe that if we had lost that game, the club would have been in great danger of dying. It was a wonderful day

 

[chuckbert]

I think we had a really bad and laggy video stream, but I’m not certain - it might have been audio only. Massively exciting and I knew there was going to be a goal each time because my dad would phone for each one and we were about 30sec behind him. He’d say “can you believe that goal?” and I’d say “what? Who scored? Aaaargh!!!”.
Stupid o’clock on a work night. What a result, closing the door on a horrible chapter.

 

[Gregortheox]

It was the game that pathed the way to our current position. Those players are legends for eternity.

I’ve watched the game back and it takes me back to a completely different period of my life, when I was a completely different person. It’s strange how football can do that.

I remember wanting to go to the pubs but I went with 5 other friends and family. I’m glad I did to be honest. My grandad was alive then and he got to see us get promotion back to the football league. It was quite circular really because he was the one who literally ripped a Liverpool shirt off my back and offered to take me to a “real football match” back at the manor in the mid 80’s. He had also started following Oxford in the southern league days and had witnessed the whole rise and sad demise before Wembley 2010.

All I really remember from that fateful day is being almost frozen with nerves. So much so I couldn’t really drink and I didn’t really enjoy the day.
What will last long in the memory is getting randomly agitated at the world before Potter slotted that 3rd goal in. It was like someone had opened the door to my tortured soul and the chaos commenced. I remember being embarrassed with my emotions and with a minute to go I wandered down the steps away from my seat. At the final whistle I cried like a baby for 15 minutes. I think my mates found it amusing, and although we all laughed it off, I felt almost sorry for them that they didn’t experience or couldn’t experience that 15 mins.
That 15 mins was filled with an out pouring linked to many things at the time but the sheer relief and elation will stay with me forever. And it certainly did for the days after.
And the above is partly what I’ve tried to explain in my last comment to CDC planning. I’ve gone through the political spiel, but on top of that they need to know the truth. And that’s that if Oxford United die, big parts of us do too.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

Wasn't At The Game - The top ten Oxford United matches since 2010 (24/05/2025) - BBC Sounds

Danny Cox with a special show - the top ten Oxford United matches since 2010.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[OUFCGav]

IMO this was probably the most important game in the club's history to date. I firmly believe that if we had lost that game, the club would have been in great danger of dying. It was a wonderful day

It was a real sliding doors day, and from those at the club I spoke to, the parallel universe wasn't bright. I remember enjoying the day less than I could of because of the stakes.

 

[TailsWeWin]

My first game was back in 1983.

Nothing at any time has compared to the relief/release of that Potter goal.

I'm not claiming it was the greatest achievement, or game or anything, but greatest single moment?

For me, yes.

Absolutely this ….. apart from the date, which in my case is 1966.
Possibly the most important win in our history.

 

[Matty Greens Left Boot]

It was my proudest day at that point and inspired my forum name.

 

[Matt W]

I've been going through an old memory stick and found a quick video of fans around me at the Playoff final in 2010, see if you recognise anyone!

Aftermath in Oxford end Play off final York