Oxford United today dominate the local football scene – and rightly so.
But half a century ago, Oxford Boys stole some of the limelight with a series of outstanding performances on the national scene.
We have shared some of the pictures from the under-15 teams’ glory days with Memory Lane readers in the past – but now more have come to light.
These are from the 1973-4 season when they battled their way against the country’s best teams to reach the final of the English Schools’ Trophy.
It was the third time in eight years they had played in the final.
They lost on all three occasions but were highly praised by supporters and opponents.
Read more: Great roar filled the crowd
Everyone agreed that for teams from a city as small as Oxford to take on opponents from cities the size of London, Birmingham and Manchester was no mean achievement.
Oxford reached all three finals under the guidance of manager and coach Michael Hammett, a teacher at Wheatley Park School.
Oxford started the 1974 campaign with a 10-0 victory over South Oxfordshire.
They then dispatched Reading 2-0, North Devon 9-0, Blackheath 2-1, Barking 2-1, Leicester 2-0 and Liverpool in the semi-final 2-1.
The first leg of the final against Manchester at Maine Road, Manchester City’s ground, ended with Oxford trailing 2-1.
With home advantage and huge support behind them in the second leg, there were high hopes that Oxford would succeed this time.
A crowd of nearly 14,000 packed into the Manor Ground, Oxford United’s former ground at Headington, to cheer them on.
Sadly, despite a great effort, Oxford could manage only a 2-2 draw and Manchester took the trophy 4-3 on aggregate.
Oxford’s impressive run in the competition had begun in 1966.
After a series of fine victories, they beat Luton 2-1 in the semi-final before a crowd of 6,062 at the White House ground, Oxford City’s former ground off Abingdon Road.
The first leg of the final at the Manor Ground attracted a crowd of 9,000, but opponents East London proved too powerful, winning the first game 3-2 and the return leg at Millwall 2-1.
The Oxford Mail, in an editorial, summed up the city’s feelings: “We have a team to be proud of.”
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In 1972, Oxford recorded victories over Mid-Hants, High Wycombe, Bournemouth, Slough, Blackheath, Manchester and Southampton in early rounds.
In the first leg of the final at Chelmsford, Oxford suffered a 4-1 defeat, giving them a mountain to climb in the second leg.
The White House ground was packed for the second game.
Oxford fought hard, but Chelmsford scored twice to take the trophy 6-1 on aggregate.
In 1988, Oxford City’s landlords evicted them from the White House ground and it was eventually developed for housing.
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