Oxford United F.C.

Oxford United ( officially: Oxford United Football Club ) - also known as The U or The Yellows - is an English football club based in Oxford.

The club has experienced a turbulent history. He is the first club of England, who has won a prestigious national trophy (1986 succeeded the victory in the League Cup ) and is relegated to the Conference National.

History

Early years

The club was founded in 1893 as an amateur club under the name of Headington, a year later they added the name to Headington United. First, the club approached only in regional championships until the club was accepted into the Southern Football League in 1949 and was reorganized into a professional club. In 1960 the club its present name.

Rise years

In the following two years, United managed the championship in the Southern Football League, after which the team was elected in 1962 in the Fourth Division to replace there Accrington Stanley, who were bankrupt. Two 18th places followed in 1965 promotion to the Third Division. In 1964, the team had advanced the first fourth division in the history of the competition to the quarter finals of the FA Cup.

In the sixth season in 1968 succeeded the champion title of the Third Division. This was followed by eight years in the Second Division, before United relegation again in 1976. 1982, the club was taken over by the British publisher and politician Robert Maxwell. This suggested a merger with the local neighbors FC Reading Thames Valley Royals, as the club was to be called, before that was on both sides not completed after Fanprotesten.

1984 United succeeded as third league champions return to the Second Division. Coach Jim Smith led the team there again to the title, so that United from 1985 for the first time in the class First Division took. Smith then left the club to hire at Queens Park Rangers. His successor, Maurice Evans managed the league and led the club to win the League Cup in 1985/86 with a 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers. However, due to the Heysel disaster of the club could not play in the European Cup.

1987 Maxwell handed the club to his son Kevin. The following season, the league was missed after three years of excellence. There was a stir by Dean Saunders to Derby County, the other team of Robert Maxwell changed.

Descent years

This was followed by six years in the second division before 1994 in the United meanwhile third-rate Second Division relegation. There, enter 1996 runner-up and re-emergence. In June 1995, the club had decided on a new stadium, which brought the club into financial difficulties. Followers founded the initiative FOUL ( Fighting for Oxford United 's Life ), before Firoz Kassam took 89.9 % of the shares of the club and for about £ 15 million debt for the purchase price of £ 1 in April 1999. In the same season the team had to wait during the season, partly due to their wages rose from last but one. In the following season the team was not able to successful times and only managed 20th place in the Second Division, one point ahead of relegated Cardiff City. The following season was even worse, with 100 goals against and 33 defeats, second worst value that each one team has won the English league system, was cut off United Table.

2002 was United after six years of uncertainty their new stadium, named after the club owner Kassam Stadium, relate. Nevertheless, the team in the Viertklassigkeit reached only the 21th Place, the worst result, which had reached up to that point in the league system, the club. The following season was missed by only three points with eighth place a relegation place. After a good start in 2003, it looked good for the club to be able to leave the league back up. However, as a coach Ian Atkins announced in March his move to rivals Bristol Rovers and then was fired, the successor to Graham Rix could not continue the successful work and the club dropped to nine back at the end of the year.

After a 15th place in 2005 and several coach changes in the 2005/06 season United were relegated after 44 years in the English league system. In March 2006, Kassam sold the club for £ 2 million to Nick Merry, one operating in Florida businessman, who had played in the 1970s, even with the club in youth. This brought Jim Smith, the most successful coach in club history, back. Start of the season go 18 games without defeat, a record for the Conference National. To the Game against FC Woking on 2nd Christmas Day 11,065 spectators, the highest number of audience came in a game of Football Conference.

Establishment in the Conference National

In the season 2006/ 07 Oxford reached 81 points in second place in the Conference National and qualified for the play-offs for promotion to the Football League Two. After Oxford had won the first leg of their semi-final against Exeter City scarce, the team lost the return match with 1:2 and lost the decisive penalty shootout. Finally Exeter reached the finals and Oxford missed the resurgence in the League Two. In the following season the team finished in 9th place and was ten points behind the five -placed Burton Albion. In the 2008 /09 season Oxford was again among the best teams in the league and would have reached the fifth place in the Conference National the playoffs, but the club five points were deducted due to not eligible player. Oxford still falling to seventh place and thus out of the playoff ranks.

Also in the 2009/10 season the team played again with the ascension. The team earned in the course of the season total of 86 points and reached the third place, which justified the play-offs for promotion to the Football League Two. In the semi-finals Rushden & Diamonds was named after a 1-1 draw defeated with a 2-0 win in the return leg. For Final Game 16 May 2010 against York City at Wembley Stadium 38 957 spectators were counted, the game ended in a 3-1 win for Oxford and the associated return to the next season in the fourth- highest division.

Achievements

1985–86 Football League Cup Conference Premier Football League Fourth Division Accrington Stanley F.C. Football League Third Division Reading F.C. Football League First Division Maurice Evans (actor) Derby County F.C. Pound sterling Cardiff City F.C. Woking F.C. Exeter City F.C. Burton Albion F.C. Cheltenham Town F.C. Morecambe F.C. Newport County A.F.C. Northampton Town F.C. Plymouth Argyle F.C. Portsmouth F.C. Scunthorpe United F.C. Southend United F.C. Torquay United F.C. AFC Wimbledon York City F.C.
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