A Look Into Histories

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE

OXFORD UNITED FIRST FOOTBALL LEAGUE SEASON

Oxford United had achieved their dream at the end of season 1961-62 and won the championship of the Southern League for the second year running, the main league along with the Lancashire Combination that possessed teams of the quality to join the Football League. They amassed 61 points, 4 ahead of Bath City (Clacton Town and Romford were in the lower half of the table).

In 1959 Headington United had become full-time professionals. At the F A AGM of season 1960-61 the club had changed from being Headington United and managed a healthy 19 votes but this was still 13 behind the saved club Hartlepools. The next year they changed their name to Oxford United. To quote the Headington United history…. “This was an unpopular move with the people of Headington “. Nevertheless, your writer suggests that the progress made proved that the change from Headington United at the end of the 1960-1961 season to give the club a higher profile had been the correct move. In 1961 Headington Sports Ground Ltd sold the Manor Ground to Oxford United for £8,800. The price was low, probably because the land was safeguarded by a restrictive covenant stating: “The Purchaser shall not use the lands hereby conveyed for any purpose other than as an open air Sports Ground.” It was very fortuitous in that Accrington Stanley had resigned in March 1962 so that opened the door for the admission of a non-league club and Oxford United took it gladly with 39 votes, only 7 behind the club with most votes, Chester.

On 7th August 1962 Oxford United issued their first Match Programme in their new environment, a very flimsy A5 fold out in old gold for 2d and noticeable that the Company was still registered as Headington United F C Co Ltd (1949). The inside cover had the teams with Ron Atkinson the Oxford Captain. On the inside back cover were Police details of Car Parking and on the back, details of all Football Specials for the first League game with Lincoln City and second one v Hartlepools United. Their first season that saw Brentford as champions was 18th place just two points safety from re-election.