In the latest column written by Oxford United supporters, BOB SCHOLES recalls a marathon trip to watch an FA Cup first round tie

IN late 1962, Oxford United – under Arthur Turner – played Falmouth Town away in the first round of the FA Cup.

This was the era of big Ron Atkinson, as the club found its feet as a Football League outfit.

At the time I drove a white Renault Dauphine, a car which has been described as “a rickety, paper-thin scandal of a car that, if you stood beside it, you could actually hear rusting.”

With three mates we clambered aboard and set off at 2am to negotiate the 250-plus miles of pre-motorway England.

We arrived just in time to see Ron lead out the Yellows to play before a record 8,000 crowd.

On the day, goals from Bud Houghton and Ron’s brother Graham saw us home 2-1.

Astonishingly, the ancient Renault held up on the return journey, but it was well past midnight when we reached Oxford, having had several stops to stay awake – 24 hours travel for 90 minutes’ football.

These days, as an ageing ‘old fart’, I see fewer away games, though I’m always there at home.

And as an ex-member of the OxVox committee and Trust member, I wish them well in all they are doing for the football club.

If you have something to say that you think will divert, interest, amuse or stir fellow U’s fans, email us at fanfare@oxvox.org.uk