A YEAR after Oxford United lifted the Milk Cup, Jon Murray took over as the Oxford Mail’s football writer.

Twenty-four seasons on, Jon is hanging up his notebook and pen after deciding to call it a day.

Following a football team up and down the country every Saturday and occasional Tuesday is, to many, a dream occupation.

While it certainly has many perks, no-one should under-estimate the difficulty of the job.

During this period, Oxford have experienced the highs and lows of football.

Promotions, relegations, humiliating defeats and terrific wins – not to mention years of teetering on the brink of bankruptcy – Jon (pictured right) has been there through them all.

But at the age of 52 he has decided to pass on the day-to-day coverage of the football club to someone younger, while he moves into a news production role with the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times.

“It’s been a great experience covering United for all these years,” he commented.

“I have uncovered some fantastic stories – Mark Lawrenson’s resignation over the Dean Saunders saga, and the Bishop of Oxford’s secret exorcism of the Kassam Stadium pitch are just two that spring to mind.

“And reporting on more than 1,300 Oxford United matches for the Oxford Mail has also been a great pleasure.

“Winning in the FA Cup at Chelsea and Leeds, the 1996 promotion season and the Wembley Conference play-off final victory will certainly stay with me forever.”

Jon will still watch the U’s regularly, covering home games for Press Association.

And he said: “The club is very professionally run now. A winning mentality has become endemic (you can tell he’s working on The Oxford Times) and I fancy them to have a very good season.

“Three points at Swindon on the 21st of this month would be the perfect demonstration of how well they have risen.”