1. The club was founded in 1893 as Headington United FC and changed its name to Oxford United in 1960. They adopted the name Oxford United to reflect their wider fan base and appeal beyond the small suburb of Headington.
2. Oxford United's home stadium is the Kassam Stadium, which has a seating capacity of approximately 12,500 spectators. The stadium was opened in 2001 and is located in the eastern part of Oxford.
3. Oxford won the League Cup in 1986 beating Queens Park Rangers in the final at Wembley. They've also been runners-up in the EFL Trophy twice, 2015-16 and 2016-17.
4. The club's most successful period came in the mid-1980s when they achieved back-to-back promotions to the First Division (now the Premier League) under the management of Jim Smith. They reached the top flight of English football for the first time in their history in 1985.
5. Oxford United has a fierce local rivalry with Swindon Town FC, known as the "A420 Derby". The rivalry stems from the proximity between the two clubs and the historical competition between them. Matches between Oxford United and Swindon Town are highly anticipated by both sets of fans and often result in intense and passionate encounters.
2. Oxford United's home stadium is the Kassam Stadium, which has a seating capacity of approximately 12,500 spectators. The stadium was opened in 2001 and is located in the eastern part of Oxford.
3. Oxford won the League Cup in 1986 beating Queens Park Rangers in the final at Wembley. They've also been runners-up in the EFL Trophy twice, 2015-16 and 2016-17.
4. The club's most successful period came in the mid-1980s when they achieved back-to-back promotions to the First Division (now the Premier League) under the management of Jim Smith. They reached the top flight of English football for the first time in their history in 1985.
5. Oxford United has a fierce local rivalry with Swindon Town FC, known as the "A420 Derby". The rivalry stems from the proximity between the two clubs and the historical competition between them. Matches between Oxford United and Swindon Town are highly anticipated by both sets of fans and often result in intense and passionate encounters.
Home of Oxford United FC
Opened 2001
Capacity 12,400
★★★★★
★★★★★
I recently had the pleasure of attending a thrilling match between Oxford United and Carlisle United at the iconic Kassam Stadium, nestled in the heart of Oxford. My overall experience at the stadium was quite positive, earning it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
Upon arriving at the stadium, I was greeted by the anticipation and excitement that only a football match can bring. The ticket price of 28 pounds for a great seat was well worth the view and proximity to the action. I found myself in a prime location, able to fully immerse myself in the game's intensity.
One of the standout features of the Kassam Stadium is its convenient amenities. The availability of parking and a nearby bowling alley just outside the stadium is a thoughtful touch, providing additional entertainment options for fans before or after the match. This accessibility is further extended by the ease of reaching the stadium via buses, although it should be noted that it is a bit of a journey from the city centre.
As I entered the stadium, the size became apparent. While the Kassam Stadium may not be the largest football arena, it offers an intimate atmosphere that allows fans to feel closer to the action. Inside, there are a few bars where one can grab a bite to eat or enjoy a refreshing drink. These options are convenient, especially during halftime or breaks in the game.
The highlight of any stadium experience is undoubtedly the atmosphere created by the fans. The Kassam Stadium did not disappoint in this regard. The energy and excitement in the air were palpable, and while the atmosphere was certainly enjoyable, I personally anticipated a bit more noise and fervour from the crowd. Despite this, the camaraderie among fans added to the overall positive vibe of the stadium.
In conclusion, my visit to the Kassam Stadium left me with a favourable impression. The excellent seating, convenient amenities, and passionate atmosphere combined to create an enjoyable football experience. While I had hoped for a tad more crowd noise, it's important to remember that the Kassam Stadium is indeed a football arena, and the overall experience was well worth the 4 out of 5 stars I've awarded. Whether you're a die-hard football fan or simply looking for an exciting outing, the Kassam Stadium in Oxford is a solid choice.
a month ago
History (from Wikipedia)
On 7 June 1995, directors of Oxford United Football Club announced that the cramped and outdated Manor Ground would be replaced by a new 16,000-seat stadium, situated in the Blackbird Leys area of the city, by the end of the decade.
Construction of the new stadium was begun in the summer of 1996 by Taylor Woodrow, but was suspended in December 1997 after financial problems meant the contractors weren't paid. The stadium was originally known by its location, Minchery Farm. At this time, United's chairman was Robin Herd, and the club's chief executive was Keith Cox.
Ongoing money problems meant that no further work was done on the site until February 2000. This followed Firoz Kassam's purchase of the club in April 1999, and then many legal problems involving Oxford City Council, Nick Pentith, Thames Water, Morrells of Oxford, and local landowner Les Wells. By this time, the contractors had changed to Birse Construction, with Taylor Woodrow having had their debt settled by a Company Voluntary Arrangement, by which Firoz Kassam reduced most of the football club's unsecured debt by 90 per cent.
Oxford's fortunes on the pitch changed dramatically during this period of financial uncertainty, hardly helped by having to sell some of their best players in order to stay afloat. After winning promotion to Division One in 1996, they secured two mid-table finishes before being relegated back to Division Two in 1999 and falling into Division Three two years later – meaning that they would be a bottom division club in the 2001–02 season for the first time in more than 30 years.
Opening and recent history[edit]
The stadium is officially owned by one of Kassam's Firoka Group companies, and hosted its first football match on 4 August 2001. The game was a friendly match against Crystal Palace, which Oxford won on penalties following a 1–1 draw, and Paul Powell scored the club's first goal at the ground. The first competitive match at the ground took place one week later, on 11 August, against Rochdale, in the Football League Third Division (now Football League Two). United lost this match 2–1 in front of a crowd of 7,842 people; Jamie Brooks scored for Oxford. Since then, the ground has hosted rugby union games, as well as an under-17 International football tournament in 2002.
In March 2006, the Oxford United Supporters' Trust unofficially renamed the ground "The United Stadium". They urged everyone to use this name, which they claimed signified the crisis at the club, with the Chairman failing to choose the right option to take the club forward, and which also symbolised the unity of the fans. Despite the unofficial renaming of the stadium, it seems most fans and local press still refer to the home ground as the Kassam Stadium.
At the 2008 Annual General Meeting, club chairman Nick Merry said "The price is agreed for the stadium at £13 million. That is not negotiable but the valuation of the stadium is some way short of that so funding that deficit needs to make commercial sense. We are not prepared to put the future of Oxford United at risk. Any deal has to make sense for both the short term and long term future of this club."[1]
On 16 May 2012, rugby union club London Welsh applied to move their home ground to the Kassam Stadium following promotion from the RFU Championship, and their opening Premiership fixture was played there on 2 September 2012. The rugby club returned to their former home, Old Deer Park in Richmond-upon-Thames, after relegation from the Premiership at the end of the 2014–15 season.[2]
Records[edit]
The attendance record at the Kassam Stadium is 12,243. This was for Oxford's final match of the 2005–06 League Two season, a 3–2 defeat by Leyton Orient that sealed their relegation from the Football League.[3] It beat the previous record of 12,177 for a 3–0 League Cup defeat by Aston Villa on 6 November 2002.[4] During the summer of 2006, Oxford United hosted Manchester United in a friendly game that attracted 11,463 people,[5] and on Boxing Day, 2006, the ground held a Conference Premier record attendance of 11,065 for the 0–0 draw against Woking.[6] This was surpassed during the play-off 2nd leg on 3 May 2010, where the attendance was 11,963 for the visit of Rushden & Diamonds. In January 2016, a crowd of 11,673 watched a 3–2 FA Cup win against Swansea City, which was the biggest home gate for almost four years.
On 24 June 2006, Sir Elton John played a concert to a crowd of around 16,500.[7]
In 2006–07, when Oxford led the Conference National for most of the season before being overhauled by Dagenham & Redbridge and then being eliminated from the playoffs by Exeter City, the average attendance at the Kassam Stadium was 6,332. However, with Oxford's worse form in 2007–08 the average attendance slumped sharply to 4,728. Despite Oxford once again finishing mid-table in 2008–09 attendances rose marginally and the average attendance of that campaign was 4,879.[8] Promotion back to the Football League was achieved via the playoffs in 2009–10, during which Oxford's average attendance enjoyed a dramatic rise and narrowly exceeded the 6,000 mark.[9]
Structure and facilities[edit]
A distinctive feature of the stadium is a reflective glass panelling that makes up the main entrance. Sections of the panelling have been subject to vandalism.
The stadium offers a number of conference rooms to host corporate and non-corporate events. The stadium's South Stand is host to 28 private hospitality boxes with each box capable of holding up to 20 people.
The ground currently consists of three stands.
In March 2008 a bronze statue of an ox was erected outside the stadium. The unveiling was attended by the boardroom staff and a few fans. The club released a statement saying the reason for the unveiling not being more publicised was because of health and safety concerns if the unveiling took place on a match day.[10] The statue was vandalised in January 2011, when it was completely covered in bright pink paint.[11][12]
Construction of the new stadium was begun in the summer of 1996 by Taylor Woodrow, but was suspended in December 1997 after financial problems meant the contractors weren't paid. The stadium was originally known by its location, Minchery Farm. At this time, United's chairman was Robin Herd, and the club's chief executive was Keith Cox.
Ongoing money problems meant that no further work was done on the site until February 2000. This followed Firoz Kassam's purchase of the club in April 1999, and then many legal problems involving Oxford City Council, Nick Pentith, Thames Water, Morrells of Oxford, and local landowner Les Wells. By this time, the contractors had changed to Birse Construction, with Taylor Woodrow having had their debt settled by a Company Voluntary Arrangement, by which Firoz Kassam reduced most of the football club's unsecured debt by 90 per cent.
Oxford's fortunes on the pitch changed dramatically during this period of financial uncertainty, hardly helped by having to sell some of their best players in order to stay afloat. After winning promotion to Division One in 1996, they secured two mid-table finishes before being relegated back to Division Two in 1999 and falling into Division Three two years later – meaning that they would be a bottom division club in the 2001–02 season for the first time in more than 30 years.
Opening and recent history[edit]
The stadium is officially owned by one of Kassam's Firoka Group companies, and hosted its first football match on 4 August 2001. The game was a friendly match against Crystal Palace, which Oxford won on penalties following a 1–1 draw, and Paul Powell scored the club's first goal at the ground. The first competitive match at the ground took place one week later, on 11 August, against Rochdale, in the Football League Third Division (now Football League Two). United lost this match 2–1 in front of a crowd of 7,842 people; Jamie Brooks scored for Oxford. Since then, the ground has hosted rugby union games, as well as an under-17 International football tournament in 2002.
In March 2006, the Oxford United Supporters' Trust unofficially renamed the ground "The United Stadium". They urged everyone to use this name, which they claimed signified the crisis at the club, with the Chairman failing to choose the right option to take the club forward, and which also symbolised the unity of the fans. Despite the unofficial renaming of the stadium, it seems most fans and local press still refer to the home ground as the Kassam Stadium.
At the 2008 Annual General Meeting, club chairman Nick Merry said "The price is agreed for the stadium at £13 million. That is not negotiable but the valuation of the stadium is some way short of that so funding that deficit needs to make commercial sense. We are not prepared to put the future of Oxford United at risk. Any deal has to make sense for both the short term and long term future of this club."[1]
On 16 May 2012, rugby union club London Welsh applied to move their home ground to the Kassam Stadium following promotion from the RFU Championship, and their opening Premiership fixture was played there on 2 September 2012. The rugby club returned to their former home, Old Deer Park in Richmond-upon-Thames, after relegation from the Premiership at the end of the 2014–15 season.[2]
Records[edit]
The attendance record at the Kassam Stadium is 12,243. This was for Oxford's final match of the 2005–06 League Two season, a 3–2 defeat by Leyton Orient that sealed their relegation from the Football League.[3] It beat the previous record of 12,177 for a 3–0 League Cup defeat by Aston Villa on 6 November 2002.[4] During the summer of 2006, Oxford United hosted Manchester United in a friendly game that attracted 11,463 people,[5] and on Boxing Day, 2006, the ground held a Conference Premier record attendance of 11,065 for the 0–0 draw against Woking.[6] This was surpassed during the play-off 2nd leg on 3 May 2010, where the attendance was 11,963 for the visit of Rushden & Diamonds. In January 2016, a crowd of 11,673 watched a 3–2 FA Cup win against Swansea City, which was the biggest home gate for almost four years.
On 24 June 2006, Sir Elton John played a concert to a crowd of around 16,500.[7]
In 2006–07, when Oxford led the Conference National for most of the season before being overhauled by Dagenham & Redbridge and then being eliminated from the playoffs by Exeter City, the average attendance at the Kassam Stadium was 6,332. However, with Oxford's worse form in 2007–08 the average attendance slumped sharply to 4,728. Despite Oxford once again finishing mid-table in 2008–09 attendances rose marginally and the average attendance of that campaign was 4,879.[8] Promotion back to the Football League was achieved via the playoffs in 2009–10, during which Oxford's average attendance enjoyed a dramatic rise and narrowly exceeded the 6,000 mark.[9]
Structure and facilities[edit]
A distinctive feature of the stadium is a reflective glass panelling that makes up the main entrance. Sections of the panelling have been subject to vandalism.
The stadium offers a number of conference rooms to host corporate and non-corporate events. The stadium's South Stand is host to 28 private hospitality boxes with each box capable of holding up to 20 people.
The ground currently consists of three stands.
- The North Stand (formerly known as the Manor Hospital or Weber BBQ Stand) is divided for use by both home and away supporters and has a capacity of 5,026.
- The East Stand (formerly sponsored by the Oxford Mail newspaper, and still commonly known as the Oxford Mail Stand) is home to the more vocal home supporters and can hold 2,879 spectators.
- The South Stand (currently without a sponsor) is the main structure of the stadium, housing the Quadrangle conference centre, the Exhibition Bar, the club offices and changing rooms, and a row of 28 glass-fronted executive boxes. The South Stand is divided into two tiers, with the lower tier including the ground's Family Section. It has a total capacity of 4,495.
In March 2008 a bronze statue of an ox was erected outside the stadium. The unveiling was attended by the boardroom staff and a few fans. The club released a statement saying the reason for the unveiling not being more publicised was because of health and safety concerns if the unveiling took place on a match day.[10] The statue was vandalised in January 2011, when it was completely covered in bright pink paint.[11][12]
Things to do in Oxford.
The Turf Tavern.
Chester Arms.
Chester Arms is a pub, but I would say their food is of restaurants quality. We went there after numerous recommendations of the steak they make. Despite... Read More
