WITHOUT wishing to tempt fate, Oxford United could be just 90 minutes away from Wembley and fans are cautiously dreaming of another trip to the home of English football.

The U’s will book their place in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final if they avoid a two-goal defeat against Millwall tonight at the Kassam Stadium.

The club’s most famous day came in April 1986 when a 3-0 win over QPR handed them the Milk Cup.

United went back to Wembley along with 30,000 fans to secure a return to the Football League in 2010.

Kevin Smith, from Arncott near Bicester, said he would definitely be going again if the club get through tonight. 

In 1986 the keen rugby player made it to the Milk Cup Final via the John Radcliffe Hospital after suffering from concussion while playing for Bicester Rugby Club.

He was discharged from hospital at 10am on the day of the game and made it for kick-off.

He said: “I took a nasty bang the day before and spent the night in hospital.

“The party I was with picked me up from the John Radcliffe on the way to Wembley. It was a great day in the club’s history.”

The 61-year-old, who was also at the 2010 Conference play-off final, added: “I will definitely be going to Wembley. I was discussing it with my son Lewis earlier.

“There will be no problem getting 30,000 there again – the excitement has been everywhere this season and with the TV coverage against Swansea it’s reached a wider audience.

“It will be the third generation of the fans who went to the Milk Cup final too. All the old fans will be going back and we will have a whole new set of younger fans.”

Austrian under-18 side SC Wiener Neustadt – guests at the Kassam on Saturday – have adopted Oxford United as their second favourite team after welcoming the U’s on their pre-season tour.

The tourists lost 3-0 to the U’s under-18s in a game yesterday but SC Wiener Neustadt coach Russel Bradbury, originally from Botley, said his boys would be supporting the U’s tonight.

He said: “I think Oxford should win after the first leg result.

“They have no excuses not to make it and all of us and the players will be at the game watching and hoping they make it. They are having a good season.

“We are here until Thursday and have played a few games against the youth sides. Our link with the clubs has been re-established now and it’s great for the players to come over.”

Oxford under-18s skipper Lewis Hayden said making it to Wembley would be a “great day out” for the fans.

The central midfielder added: “To get to Wembley would be fantastic for the whole club.

“I think Millwall will come out fighting, but I’m still confident of a win and I’m going 2-0 with Kemar Roofe and Liam Sercombe the scorers.

“Seeing the first team doing well is good for us youth players and it spurs us on to want to be a part of it and break through.

“We will be all at the game and I’m sure the atmosphere will be great.”

The final batch of tickets went on sale yesterday morning and only a handful remained by the afternoon.

The game is an all-ticket affair to stop Millwall fans buying tickets in the home end.

Josh won’t quite put this shirt on famous U’s win

Oxford Mail:

For 11-year-old Josh Walker, an Oxford United win tomorrow would be the perfect birthday present for the youngster.

The schoolboy from Chinnor, was also given an early gift after Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Blackburn, when departing right- back George Baldock give him his shirt.

The keen under-12s goalkeeper for Chinnor Football Club said he thinks the U’s will make it to Wembley if they perform like they have in the majority of games this season.

He added: “I will be going to the game with my dad and my grandad and if we win it would be a dream come true.

“The last game was amazing. My dad managed to shout loud enough and Baldock gave me his shirt. I’m keeping it safe at home.

“I’m looking forward to the game. Kemar Roofe is my favourite player but because I’m a goalie I quite like Sam Slocombe too.”

MK Dons loanee Baldock paid a glowing tribute to the club following his last appearance in a 3-0 defeat at the weekend.

He added: “I will never forget the fans here. They have been absolutely different class.” 

This time Terry’s deadly serious about big game

Oxford Mail:

  • Terry Gordon with then England boss Graham Taylor in 1992

Practical joker Terry Gordon said he thought Oxford United would comfortably get through to the final at Wembley with a 2-1 win tomorrow.

The 70-year-old, who lives in Plowman Tower, Northway, is famously known by players and fellow fans for pretending to be a gun-waving madman when new signings arrived at the club.

The 70-year-old, who attended the Milk Cup final in 1986 with wife Diane, said he would be going to Wembley again if the U’s made it.

The grandfather added: “I remember the Milk Cup final well even though it was a long time ago. It was a brilliant day out.

“We walked up Wembley Way after we had drove down. There were scarves hanging out the windows of the car and people were tooting at each other and waving as you passed them on the motorway.

“It was great when we last made it to a final and I will be going again.

“I think Kemar Roofe will get definitely score, but it will be a tough game.”

Former footballer Dean Windass revealed in his autobiography how Mr

Gordon pranked him when he joined United in 1998.

In the book Windass spoke of how he thought he was a goner when the prankster pulled out a fake gun and shouted “I’m going to shoot you, yer *******,” before him and team-mates broke out in fits of laughter.

However, one of Mr Gordon’s jokes ended in tears when he tried to pull the same trick on Paul Tait in 1999.

Mr Tait broke his hand by smashing a golf club at him in what he thought was a serious attack.

Family divided as wife plays peacemaker role

Oxford Mail:

  • Millwall fan Colin Muttitt will be in the away section tomorrow, hoping to cheer his side on to Wembley, pictured in the background

A family will be at loggerheads for 90 minutes tomorrow with two members hoping Oxford United can make it to Wembley – and another pair hoping the visitors will pull off an upset.

Millwall season-ticket holder Colin Muttitt, who lives in Chalgrove, will be cheering on the Lions in the away end with son Adam, 21, and hoping Neil Harris’s side can turn around the two-goal deficit.

Meanwhile the 55-year-old’s daughter Gemma and partner Richard Cook, 23, will join the Yellow Army in full voice.

Mr Muttitt said: “Four of us are going to the game. Me and my son are big Millwall fans. 

“He’s coming down from Cardiff for the game.

“Although we moved to Oxfordshire about 25 years ago, I have always supported Millwall and have a season ticket.

“There has been a bit of banter flying about but it’s all in good nature. I think we will beat them 3-1 and go through.”

He added that his wife Sally has been acting as the “peacemaker” in between the rivalry.