Stanley’s final away trip of the season is the journey to the Kassam Stadium to take on Oxford United.
As kick off approaches, the official website takes a look at all the things you need to know.
History
Formed as Headington in 1893, the club joined the Southern League in 1949 and in 1962 as Oxford United were elected in to the Football League. They enjoyed a meteoric rise to the old Second Division before a spell in the lower reaches, but the arrival of Jim Smith as manager and Robert Maxwell as Chairman saw the club promoted as champions in successive season to reach the top division for the first time for the 1985-86 season.
With John Aldridge firing on all cylinders and Ray Houghton and Trevor Hebberd pulling the strings in midfield, the U’s more than held their own in the top flight, culminating in a Wembley win over QPR in the 1986 Milk Cup final.
However by the mid-90s the club was in Division Three and despite moving to the new Kassam Stadium in 2001, by 2006 they had been relegated to the Conference.
The following year they were beaten in the Conference play-offs but in 2010 they made it all the way to the final, beating York City to return to the Football League.
Something You Might Not Know About Them…
When the U’s were elected to the Football League in 1962 they replaced Stanley in the league, but fortunes were reversed in 2006, when Oxford were relegated to the Conference and Stanley replaced them in the Football League.
By Chris Forsyth
Gary Waddock
52 year old Waddock was appointed as United manager on 22nd March this year. He is currently in his fourth managerial role, having previously had spells in charge of Queens Park Rangers, Aldershot Town and Wycombe Wanderers.
Prior to being a manager Waddock had a successful playing career, appearing for teams including Queens Park Rangers, Bristol Rovers and Luton Town.
David Connolly
36 year old Connolly joined United on loan from Portsmouth in January and has so far scored four goals in 16 appearances for the club.
The veteran striker started his career at Watford before moving to Feyenoord. During his time at Feyenoord, Connolly had a loan spell at Excelsior, where he scored 42 goals in 48 games. Connolly moved back to England and joined Wimbledon, where he scored 42 goals in 63 appearances. Connolly has also had spells at several other teams, including West Ham United, Sunderland and Southampton.
Stanley are yet to beat Oxford United in nine attempts.
The head-to-head record stands at four wins for the U’s and five draws. Only Peter Murphy has ever scored for Stanley at the Kassam Stadium.
Last season the sides met in both League Two and the FA Cup, with the Oxfordshire side coming through in a replay after current Reds’ boss James Beattie was amongst the scorers in a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Store First Stadium.
United have lost five of their six games under Gary Waddock’s management and have won just two of their last 13.
In general though the U’s have had a good season so far and they currently sit in 8th place in the League Two table. They have so far won eight, drawn six and lost eight of their 22 home league matches this season.
Stanley have picked up one win from their last six, drawing three of those and losing the other two.
The Reds are 18th in the table and virtually safe, with a point or other results going favourably guaranteed to ensure league football next season. James Beattie’s side could still finish in the top half of the table.
Lee Molyneux is being assessed by club medical staff after missing Monday’s trip to Southend through injury.
If he’s fit he could return to the squad for the last game of his loan spell from Crewe Alexandra.
Oxford Utd Top Scorers
James Constable 11
Dean Smalley 9
Ryan Williams 6
Danny Rose 5
David Connolly 4
Dave Kitson 4
Johnny Mullins 4
Alfie Potter 4
Stanley Top Scorers
Kal Naismith 10
Peter Murphy 9
Lee Molyneux 6
Kayode Odejayi 6
James Gray 4
Danny Webber 3
George Bowerman 3
The Man in the Middle
Keith Hill (Hertfordshire)
This Season: 34 games 132yellow cards 4 reds
Last ASFC Game: Jan 2008: ASFC 3 Chester 3
The Ground
The U’s currently play at the Kassam Stadium, having moved there in 2001, after being based at the Manor Ground for 76 years. The current capacity of the Kassam Stadium is 12,500 and the clubs record attendance inside the stadium is 12,243 which was set against Leyton Orient in League Two in 2006.
The record attendance that the club have ever achieved was set at the Manor Ground, when 22,750 saw an FA Cup 6th round tie against Preston North End.
Website
Admission Prices
Ticket info can be found by clicking the link – MORE INFO
