-
****Join the YF Fantasy EFL League: HERE. ****
Matches 1984 - Oxford U 3-2 Arsenal
- Thread starter Peterdev
- Start date
Yeah just seen this on the Yesteryear thread. I remember so much of that game, from the excitement beforehand, through the game, and up to the Arsenal fans rushing the back of the LRT after the game, little bro and me being shielded by people we didn't know until we could get into the clubhouse where dad was waiting. As a 12 year old it was an evening of such excitement and adrenaline.
Jennings had a hand injury, didn't he? The same hand that he tried to save Dave Langan's shot with.
I remember going absolutely nuts when that went in.
Colin B
Chief Dot Counter
A great night, from a different era. I remember it vividly, but not for totally happy reasons, as I'll explain.
I went to the match with my ex wife's dad, and he offered to drive, so I was happy with that as I thought I could have a beer before the game. First of all he was late picking me up, and then he ignored my advice of where to park, as he thought he could get closer to the ground, and we ended up getting snarled up in loads of traffic and had no time for a pre match pint, ending up parked twice as far away as my original suggestion! Then we couldn't get into the London Road, as it was so packed, and had to watch from the Beech Road shelf.
But it was a great game, and a fantastic performance. I couldn't wait to get home to watch the highlights later that evening. For those of you below a certain age, there was no live football on TV then, and for Oxford United to be shown was a big thing. I thought I'd be able to watch in detail the bits I struggled to see from the packed Beech Road terrace, and savour them.
But oh no, my ex father in law had other ideas! When we got back to the car he said that he had to post a letter.
"No problem" I said, "there's a postbox on the Oxford Road" (Abingdon, near where he lived).
"No" he says, "I'm going to deliver it by hand, but don't worry it's on the way home to Abingdon."
" OK" I say, "whereabouts on the way home?"
"Horton-cum-Studley" he says.
"Horton-cum-f**king-Studley is NOT on the way home!" was my reply.
But he was determined to post this bloody letter, so off to Horton-cum-Studley we went. To cap it all he then knocked on the door of this house to hand deliver the letter and even went in for a chat, and still hadn't come out 15 minutes later. I eventually knocked on the door and got him out. To say I was apoplectic with rage is an understatement.
Needless to say, I completely missed the highlights when I eventually got home. I never went to football with him again, as this was the last in a long list of cock ups involving him. I am no longer married to his daughter.
I went to the match with my ex wife's dad, and he offered to drive, so I was happy with that as I thought I could have a beer before the game. First of all he was late picking me up, and then he ignored my advice of where to park, as he thought he could get closer to the ground, and we ended up getting snarled up in loads of traffic and had no time for a pre match pint, ending up parked twice as far away as my original suggestion! Then we couldn't get into the London Road, as it was so packed, and had to watch from the Beech Road shelf.
But it was a great game, and a fantastic performance. I couldn't wait to get home to watch the highlights later that evening. For those of you below a certain age, there was no live football on TV then, and for Oxford United to be shown was a big thing. I thought I'd be able to watch in detail the bits I struggled to see from the packed Beech Road terrace, and savour them.
But oh no, my ex father in law had other ideas! When we got back to the car he said that he had to post a letter.
"No problem" I said, "there's a postbox on the Oxford Road" (Abingdon, near where he lived).
"No" he says, "I'm going to deliver it by hand, but don't worry it's on the way home to Abingdon."
" OK" I say, "whereabouts on the way home?"
"Horton-cum-Studley" he says.
"Horton-cum-f**king-Studley is NOT on the way home!" was my reply.
But he was determined to post this bloody letter, so off to Horton-cum-Studley we went. To cap it all he then knocked on the door of this house to hand deliver the letter and even went in for a chat, and still hadn't come out 15 minutes later. I eventually knocked on the door and got him out. To say I was apoplectic with rage is an understatement.
Needless to say, I completely missed the highlights when I eventually got home. I never went to football with him again, as this was the last in a long list of cock ups involving him. I am no longer married to his daughter.
Last edited:
Personal question Colin, but was that the reason you divorced his daughter?
bicesterox
Active member
Beat me to that question
I remember the Arsenal fans stood at the end of the London Road after the game, and then the sudden surge of fans trying to turn back to get back into the London Road whilst others were still trying to get out unaware of the situation. I remember me and a friend getting pushed/shoved (my friend losing both of his trainers), and ending up in a garden in Osler Road, listening to all the commotion on the other side of the fence!! When we came out of the garden there was a man who had a hotdog bicycle contraption whose bike has been overturned. Poor bloke.
Anyway Colin, me and my friends went with my grandad, and we managed to park close to the ground and get back in time to watch the highlights! Sorry!
Scotchegg
Well-known member
A perfectly valid reason if it was!
Too true!!
Orkney Islands Yellow
Well-known member
SSO
Active member
I am no Nostradamus but um ..............
Scotchegg
Well-known member
I started watching Oxford during the league cup run in 1983 and would go predominantly to evening games with my dad as he worked Saturdays, and weekend games with my auntie. It's unbelievable to think of the games we watched together during those early years. I didn't go to every game, but I can't remember seeing us lose for the first few years. When we sang that Oxford United were by far the greatest team the world had ever seen, it felt like this was absolutely true.
Like many others it seems, I a sin the Beech Road that night getting squashed against the wall near the half way line. I can't describe how much I loved football at that time under the lights at the manor. The noise, the smells, the floodlights straining through what always appeared to be foggy nights, wearing my scarf the following day at school and showing my programme to everyone with pride saying I was there. I would give everything to have those days back.
And just for @Colin B these are some of the highlights your father-in-law made you miss.
Like many others it seems, I a sin the Beech Road that night getting squashed against the wall near the half way line. I can't describe how much I loved football at that time under the lights at the manor. The noise, the smells, the floodlights straining through what always appeared to be foggy nights, wearing my scarf the following day at school and showing my programme to everyone with pride saying I was there. I would give everything to have those days back.
And just for @Colin B these are some of the highlights your father-in-law made you miss.
Colin B
Chief Dot Counter
It was one of many reasons.....................
Just as long that this was cited as one of the main reasons on the divorce papers
m
Well-known member
Essexyellows
Well-known member
One of the best nights at the Manor IMHO.
Ground was heaving and when the Arsenal mob tried storming the LRT steps they bit off far more than they could chew, always have the high ground or, as the copper said to me.... "you can volley them from here".
Different times!
Ground was heaving and when the Arsenal mob tried storming the LRT steps they bit off far more than they could chew, always have the high ground or, as the copper said to me.... "you can volley them from here".
Different times!
Similar threads
