A RANDOM find in the back of a drawer this week has given James Constable added inspiration ahead of today’s game.

The Oxford United striker was looking through some paperwork on Wednesday when he made the unexpected discovery.

“I found a memory stick and it was all the stuff from Wembley – videos from the crowds and the commentary,” he said.

“Normally you put them in and there’s nothing on the stick, but I sat there for about an hour and it brought back all the memories.”

The timing was uncanny, with York City – the side United beat 3-1 in the 2010 Conference play-off final – visiting this afternoon.

While the clash does not quite have the same importance as their meeting at Wembley, the relative positions of the pair means it could still be hugely significant.

A victory would put the U’s in the box seat to make the play-offs and Constable’s trip down memory lane has only whetted his appetite to keep hopes of a repeat trip alive.

He said: “Little things like seeing videos from the parade and all the build-up just makes you realise the position we are in and it’s over to us now to make sure of we want that feeling again, it’s important we put in the performances.

“It’s been in our hands all season and we’ve done really well to be in amongst it.

“With four games left, we have everything to play for and we’re desperate to try and cement that place.”

United go into the game on the back of an excellent 2-0 win at Plymouth Argyle, which included a superb finish from Constable.

They played with a freedom and confidence which had been lacking in previous weeks, but another quirk of fate helped relax the players beforehand, when they bumped into singer Susan Boyle.

“She’s our lucky mascot,” Constable said.

“She strolled through the reception in our hotel and we all ran over for a photo.

Oxford Mail:

  • Oxford United's players pose for a photo with Susan Boyle  Picture: Scott Davies

“It was a bit of fun, but everyone was saying afterwards we’d have to try and get her to go to the game on Friday as well.

“It probably relaxed the nerves a bit going into what was a massive game.”