![]() | Des Buckingham ![]() Joined: September 2004 - July 2014 (U18 Manager/Assistant Coach) 16th November 2023 - 15th December 2024 (Head Coach) ![]() ![]() |
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![]() | Des Buckingham ![]() Joined: September 2004 - July 2014 (U18 Manager/Assistant Coach) 16th November 2023 - 15th December 2024 (Head Coach) ![]() ![]() |
Off topic a bit but how are things post treatment if you don't mind me asking? Hope all is well.I can emphasize with those comments having seen Oxford at Wembley four times. I was midway through prostate cancer treatment.
If we stay up this season that will be cause for major celebration
Once the game started I felt we had it under control and we were going to win. Beforehand, though, I was a bag of nerves. I was just so sick of League One that I felt that if we lost this one we'd be condemned to stay there forever, especially after that play-off final defeat by Wycombe. For me, the surreal game was the Milk Cup win. The York win was probably the most relieved I've ever felt after a match, while the Bolton game was just cathartic. After the initial joy dissipated, I spent most of the summer just hoping we would stay up and not get humiliated
I actually find this a slightly surprising sentiment - particularly from a fan such as yourself that's clearly been on the OUFC roller coaster for decades - but it's one I hear a lot on here.
Having watched and travelled and suffered through the 2001-2016 years, I absolutely loved League One. Usually a fascinating range of clubs from the genuinely big that have hit hard times to the historically non-league that are hitting their peak in front of a few thousand. Some good, if not great, football often on show. And on balance, we won significantly more games than we lost and usually scored a bunch of goals.
Doesn't mean I didn't want to beat Bolton - of course I did, and I was certainly curious to see what the next level was like, and how we would do. But I was nowhere near as desperate to win that game as I was against York (or even against Wycombe to finally seal our exit from League Two) because I didn't think staying in League One was the worst thing in the world.
But probably I just lack ambition.
Unfortunately, Tony, ambition at supporter level here at OUFC is atrocious.I actually find this a slightly surprising sentiment - particularly from a fan such as yourself that's clearly been on the OUFC roller coaster for decades - but it's one I hear a lot on here.
Having watched and travelled and suffered through the 2001-2016 years, I absolutely loved League One. Usually a fascinating range of clubs from the genuinely big that have hit hard times to the historically non-league that are hitting their peak in front of a few thousand. Some good, if not great, football often on show. And on balance, we won significantly more games than we lost and usually scored a bunch of goals.
Doesn't mean I didn't want to beat Bolton - of course I did, and I was certainly curious to see what the next level was like, and how we would do. But I was nowhere near as desperate to win that game as I was against York (or even against Wycombe to finally seal our exit from League Two) because I didn't think staying in League One was the worst thing in the world.
But probably I just lack ambition.
I think you're both right. League One is a great league and was a lot of fun. We certainly aren't getting the same number of goals and wins now, or 'charging down the slope' as regularly in home matches, but it's hard to stay still in football and you need aims and a feeling of moving forward. It's been a bit dour this season but any win just feels massive. Hopefully we can stay up by any means this season and then next season start to play with more confidence and style.I don’t know if doing an Oldham is a good idea though, becoming a third tier fixture, because if you don’t go up eventually you go down, look what happened to Oldham after that.
Speaking of enjoying promotions and Oldham Athletic, can you imagine the party they are going to have when they finally get promoted for the first time in 35 plus years, that must either a record or at least the longest run (outside of the few prem clubs who never get relegated).
I think you’re being a bit harsh on yourself with the last part of that sentence.I cannot. The emotions of pure elation and and extreme happiness that day encapsulated just should not be possible by 22 grown men and a bag of leather and wind.
I don’t know if doing an Oldham is a good idea though, becoming a third tier fixture, because if you don’t go up eventually you go down, look what happened to Oldham after that.
Speaking of enjoying promotions and Oldham Athletic, can you imagine the party they are going to have when they finally get promoted for the first time in 35 plus years, that must either a record or at least the longest run (outside of the few prem clubs who never get relegated).
I think Rochdale were a little worse - they got promoted into the 3rd tier in 1969, relegated back into the 4th tier in 1974, and then stayed there until 2010 when Keith Hill finally got them up. They've been bouncing up and down all over the place since then (although it's been a net negative).
So Oldham still have another six seasons after this one to go to match their 41 years between promotions! They've obviously had a lot more relegations than Rochdale in the meantime, mind.
Also, the team that has spent the most time in the 3rd tier in history (and therefore the biggest third tier fixture there is)? Bournemouth. And they're knocking on the door of the Champions League right now!
Just leaving this here as a reminder. What a legend that man is.
(I mean Des rather than Olly the Ox. That said Olly is a good man too).
I wonder if he just wants and needs a long break. He packed a lot of highs and lows in a very short space of time.I wonder what Des will do next?
He must have had some job offers.