HOOPS

The Official Match Programme

Oxford City
v
King's Lynn Town

Saturday 29th November
3pm

Oxford City
The MGroup Stadium, Marston
Oxford, OX30NQ
www.oxfordcityfc.co.uk
Phone: 01865 744493
Pitch Enquiries: events@oxcityfc.co.uk

HONOURS
National League South: play-off winners: 2022/23
Southern League Premier: play-off winners: 2011/12
Southern League Division One South & West:
play-off winners: 2007/08
Spartan South Midland Football League Premier: Champions: 1992/93, 2005/06
Isthmian League Division One: Champions 1995/96
FA Amateur Cup: Champions: 1905/06
Oxfordshire Senior Cup: Champions: 36 times

VICE PRESIDENTS
Sheila Holt
Charles Eld
Tim Reynolds
Colin Rosser

Owner Justin Merritt
Chairman Andy Sinnott
Head of Strategy Allan Steele
Head Coach Ross Jenkins
First Team Coach Andy Ballard
First Team Analyst Dom Wheway
Head of Performance Martin Wilkinson
Physio Jazmine Simkin
Women's Manager Lyon Theoharous
Head of Partnerships Chris Williams
Club Secretary Lee Pankau
Media Manager Andrew Gate
Duty Managers Joey Aust and Henry Neal
Head of Facilities Shaun Fisher
Head of Hospitality Rachel Burt
Club Chaplain Headley Feast
Kit Co-Ordinator Phil Duffy
Fan Access Executives Owen Cawley
Alex Cawley

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
Editor/Designer Chris Williams
Club Photographer Simon Godfrey
With thanks to Darrell Fisher, Andy Gate, Phil Duffy, Zoe French, Skye Foley, Wills Hatton, Alex Whyte

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Oxford City FC. No part of the matchday programme may be used without permission of the club.

THE GAFFER

Ross Jenkins

Welcome back everyone and a warm welcome to our visitors from King's Lynn, a side in good form who will be another good test for us today as we return to home action after three away games in a week.

We'd won our last two home league games and were looking to carry that on as we set off on the road and I thought we fought for everything at South Shields but came up against the best team in the league so far. We had more joy at Marine and picked up a point but we didn't follow that up at Telford on Tuesday where we were really disappointing.

The only consistent thing at the moment is the support from the fans and I want to thank those of you who have been with us for those three long away trips. It is incredible to see and hear you getting behind us wherever we travel and your support is massively appreciated.

Today is a chance to put a few things right and hopefully kick start a decent run of results. There have been positives: Jamie has come in and done well in goal, Zac is getting closer to full fitness with every match and Max Treml came in to the side for a couple of games and showed that we have some outstanding young players coming through.

The lads and staff are very together and we have worked hard this week to prepare for today. With your support let's turn that hard work into three points.

ROSS

A Bluffer's Guide To
The Linetts

A Bluffers Guide to King’s Lynn

Why the royal part of the town’s name?
Well it got upgraded. In 1524 Bishop’s Lynn was doing nicely enough under a new bishop but in 1537 the king took control of the town from the bishop. From then on it was known as King's Lynn. During its history it has been captured during the civil war, fallen foul of the great plague and was one of the few towns bombed during WWI. The current population of the town is 42,800.

When did the football club start?
Well it’s complicated. It is not known when the town first had a football club although there is mention of it existing in 1868 and they were known locally as Lynn Town, but it is said they did not adopt the name King's Lynn until 1953 when they gave it a try as a ‘professional’ club, moving to the Eastern Counties League and winning the League and League Cup double. After a brief spell in the Midland League, where they played such “Midland based” teams as Rotherham and Scarborough, they joined the Southern League for the 1958/59 season. The original club folded in 2008 and the new club started in 2010. Last season the club finished sixth in the division, before losing 1–0 to Chorley in the play-off quarter-finals.

What has been their biggest day?
Again, arguably that came in 1906 when they drew Aston Villa in the FA Cup. After conceding home advantage they travelled to Villa Park but lost 11 – 0 in front of a 23,000 crowd. They did better against Exeter City, in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup in the 1951/52 season, when they lost 3 – 1 in front of their biggest home gate of 13,000. They only finished the game with ten fit players (no substitutes in those days).

And what’s the biggest crowd they’ve played in front of?
44,915 when they were defeated by Everton at Goodison Park. Previously in that season’s Cup, King’s Lynn defeated Coventry City, which resulted in the sack of the Coventry Manager who was replaced by Jimmy Hill.

Where do they play?
The original King's Lynn played at the Walks for their entire existence, with the stadium name deriving from the area of park located next to the stadium. At the end of the 2008/9 season the club were informed that they would be relegated from the Conference North because the Walks failed to meet Conference North standards, although the remedial work was completed by the start of the following season and the club continue to play there.

Any famous former players?
Malcolm Lindsay scored an amazing 321 goals for the club and in 1909/10 striker George Martin netted an incredible 69 goals from just 38 appearances. Their record fee received was the £60,000 received for Mark Paul from Southampton in 1998/99.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LEAGUE TABLE

The City Squad

Our Visitors

FA Youth Cup Third Round

QPR v Oxford City

The Young Hoops' reward for progress in the FA Youth Cup is a trip to Loftus Road to take on Championship side QPR's Under 18s in the Third Round.

Goals from Kauan and Jack Green saw the team beat Walton & Hersham last Friday night to progress to the next round of the competition.

The game at Loftus Road is on Wednesday 10th December.

Kick-off is 7:00pm.

IN SAFE HANDS

There was an Oxford City debut to remember last Saturday for goalkeeper Jamie Pardington.

The 6 foot five keeper made an instant impact with six or seven outstanding saves to help The Hoops pick up a point at Marine but was typically modest about his part in a fine team performance

“I've come in to do a job here and try to keep the ball out of the net for the lads and get as many games under my belt as possible" he told us. "Luckily, it started off well last Saturday but everyone played a part in that draw in what was a tough game.”

Would you have preferred to have had an easier debut?

“No I enjoyed it, it's my job to do that exact thing really, and it was kind of nice to start that way and highlight what I can actually do and bring to the team.

How hard is it when you don't know anybody's name?

“You're gonna think I'm weird, but it was actually quite easy. It kind of took the pressure off in a way. When you don't know anyone, I just said to myself before I got on the pitch, you've got nothing to lose, and you either make a statement or you don't. I haven't come here to shy away and do nothing; I want to show what I can do.”

The 25-year-old keeper has had a long career that has seen him play everywhere from Wolves to Northern Ireland but as he told us, he was a late recruitment for the Goalkeeper’s Union.

“I started as a striker and inevitably then got pushed back to midfield, then to defence! Then I think once they realised how big I was going to be, they were like, yeah, you, you're going in the net.

“So I kind of just slowly gradually worked my way back. That was just Sunday League level and I didn't really have a club until the age of 15. I'd never had any goalkeeper coaching or anything, and then I joined Rushall Olympic and I played for them until the age of 18. I went to school, did my A Levels, no scholarship or anything, and then I ended up being a training goalkeeper at Wolves and signing a pro deal there.

“I was there for about 4 years, After 6 months of hard work- basically picking the ball out of the net, I started to learn stuff! After that my journey of loans started: getting myself out there and playing senior football.

“After Wolves I ended up joining Grimsby and then I went over to Northern Ireland, with Larne, then back to Cheltenham and on the last day of the season I made my debut for Cheltenham and it kind of helped me get the move to Lincoln. I've been all over the place for the last few years but it’s all been great experience.

“Now I have at the opportunity to play here and hopefully help the team. I’ve been made to feel welcome right from the start.

"I want to show people that I can keep the ball out of the net. There is a lot more to the game nowadays, including joining in and playing out but catch it, kick it; that is pretty much what we do!”

City Women On The Up

The result may have gone against Oxford City Women last Sunday but the day will live long on in the memory after a record crowd came along to the MGroup Stadium to support the team.

Over 750 fans smashed the record crowd for a City Women’s game and as Aliyah Anthony, who has driven the women’s development pathway at the club told us, the club will now look to build on that.

“First of all it was a huge effort from everyone at the club” she told us. “It doesn’t matter if they were on the turnstiles, working in the bar, selling fifty-50 tickets or out there on the pitch looking after the mascots, or doing any of the countless jobs around the ground. I thought it was an outstanding effort and really highlighted what we are about as a football club.

“We have had so many messages thanking us for making people feel feel welcome and that includes some really wonderful messages from the girls who were our mascots.

“In terms of the game itself Swindon are obviously a very good side so we know it was going to be tough. That’s their 19^th win in a row but we were always in the game and stuck to the game plan well. I certainly think the girls should be proud of what they did.

“In that squad we had players like Emily Harris, Sophie Lester, Yas Edwards, Kiera Maskell, Amelia Davis, Poppy Gorman, who have all come through the Velocity programme here: Young players who did the club proud. That’s what we set out to do here: a clear pathway to help young footballers. To see them hugging their parents after the game or high-fiving the young girls who had come to watch was a great moment.

“We have had 500, then 600, and now over 700 at the last three cup games and now we have to carry that on. We know there won’t be that sort of crowd next Sunday when we are at home to Badshot Lea but we have to keep building and keep the momentum going in everything we are doing here.

“We want to thank the fans who have been unbelievable and I think the match report summed it up nicely: this season's adventure closes but the journey for women’s football at Oxford City continues…

The Season So Far...

Date	Venue	Opposition	Comp	Result	Scorers
Sun 31 Aug	H	Sholing	League	W 3-2	Edwards, Walecki, E White
7th Sep	a	Southampton	League	D 4-4	Edwards (2), E White, OG
14th Sep	a	Wycombe Wanderers	League	L 3-0
21st Sep	a	Farnborough	FA Cup	W 3-2	Parsons, E White, Craven
5th Oct	H	Denham United	FA Cup	3-3*	E White (2), Craven
12th Oct	a	Portchester	League	2-2	Tayman, E White
19th Oct	H	Tower Hill	County Cup	BYE
26th Oct	H	Sherborne Town	FA Cup	3-2	Edwards, Parsons, Leach
2nd Nov	a	Wycombe Wanderers	League Cup	L 6-0
9th Nov	H	Fleet Town	League	2-2	Parsons, E White
16th Nov	A	Launton Ladies	County Cup	3-0	E White, L White, Parsons
23rd Nov	H	Swindon Town	FA CUP	0-3
30th Nov	H	Badshot Lea	League	2pm
7th Dec	a	Beaconsfield	League	2pm
14th Dec	a	Sholing	League	2pm
11th Jan	H	Wycombe Wanderers	League	2pm

OFF THE BALL

CHRIS WILLIAMS

For this week’s Off The Ball I wanted to write not about Oxford City but the City of Oxford.

On Wednesday I attended a business lunch for the incredible Raise 25 who have targeted £50,000 to be shared between a dozen amazing causes in Oxford, including our own Hoops Foundation. As I hopped off the bus on the High Street the clouds parted and a shaft of sunshine perfectly lit the tower on St Mary’s Church, showing the carvings, statues and gargoyles in all their wintry glory

Habitually early, I killed some time in a coffee shop. A coffee shop that has been in business since the 13^th century. It took them nearly that long to actually serve me but then, refuelled, I crossed and slipped down a lane on to the cobbles by the side of the Radcliffe Camera, passing the chained up bicycles to walk past the Bodleian Library and Sheldonian Theatre. A statue of the King, who chose to make Oxford his capital in 1642, greeted me and I paused to stand above a vast hidden library which has its own subterranean railway to take you to any book ever published in this country.

For once I chose not to enter the King’s Arms, where perhaps all of the 33 Prime Ministers educated in Oxford have supped, and strolled through the leafy lanes to Rhodes House where Einstein once lectured; his blackboard was never wiped and is still on display.

Readers, I am just a simple lad from rural Oxfordshire and this world of culture is something I think I have always taken for granted.

Certainly as a kid I knew nothing of the history of the place: I knew where the Westgate was but the University was just a series of giant closed doors. Later, I knew the pubs of George Street but little of the ties in The Bear or the incredible architecture on the surrounding streets. I have spent my whole life in Oxford and it’s only now, as I approach my 60^th year here, that I have come to truly understand what a glorious place my home town is.

As a football club we are privileged to wear the city’s badge on our shirts and to represent one of the most iconic cities in the whole wide world.

Marston is our little corner of it but do me a favour, would you? Get on a bus or pay the congestion charge and head for the city centre. And when you are there look up: look at the spires, look at the culture, look at the wonky windows and gurning gargoyles. Go down an alleyway that you’ve never been down before; coming the other way will be history.

This place is amazing. Support Oxford City. Then go take a look at the city of Oxford

Billie Bough-French

Captain

Ellie White

Striker

Emily Harris

Forward

Amy Leach

Defender

Sophie Lester

Midfield

Grace Craven

Midfield

Ziomara
Wellington
Faissal

Defender

Oxford City FC are proud to be working alongside a charity which supports young people, bridging the gap between mental health and education, has come face-to-face with a bus emblazoned with its cause.

One-Eighty is the 2025 winner of the Brand the Bus competition run by Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel, the seventh edition of the contest.

The charity has had its branding decorated across one of Oxford Bus Company’s electric double-decker buses after winning this year’s competition, which attracted a record number of entries and public votes.

One-Eighty is the recipient of a £100,000 advertising package which includes a year-long bus wrap, plus free advertising on board Oxford Bus Company and Thames Travel vehicles, and radio advertising on county station Get Radio.

The winning package, after more than 12,000 votes were cast, also includes being named Oxford City Football Club’s charity of choice for the 2025/26 season.

Susie Besant, founder and CEO at One-Eighty, said: “What an exciting and proud opportunity this is for One-Eighty.

“It is so vital for us to highlight the immense needs young people in our county are facing and share that we exist as a passionate and professional organisation as part of the solution.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank every single person who voted for One-Eighty and who has continued to follow our journey as we strive to seek more support to deliver services which turn young lives around. We are looking forward to our huge orange bus being on Oxfordshire’s roads.”

Founded in 2011, One-Eighty works across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire by empowering children and young people struggling with mental health, neurodiversity or SEND challenges to re-engage with education through one-to-one interventions, preventative mental health projects and professional training and supervision.

Demand for services has grown rapidly in recent years, with referrals tripling since 2019. One-Eighty delivers more than 2,000 one-to-one sessions annually with a 97 per cent success rate in achieving outcomes for young people.

Chris Williams, Head of Partnerships at Oxford City FC, hid right at the back behind tall people in the picture then added: “We’re so proud to have been invited onto the judging panel and to review all the wonderful applications.

“It was fantastic to see all the incredible work which One-Eighty does, and we’ve been working alongside them since, as they match up with many of our core values. We are delighted that they will be our special guests on December 6^th for our big Christmas game when they can meet fans and spread the word about the amazing work they do.”

Luke Marion, Managing Director at Oxford Bus Company, said: “This stage of the Brand the Bus journey always fills me with great pride, when the winners get to see the vehicle with their images and logos on.

“We received a record number of entries, therefore selecting a winner was more challenging than ever before.

“One-Eighty presented a powerful submission, and the charity’s work to support children and address mental health challenges is something which struck a chord with our team. We look forward helping the charity raise its profile and awareness of the help if provides to those who need it.”

1. Sam Lewis

2. Byron Wilson

3. Jacob Roddy

4. Josh Ashby

6. Darnell Johnson

7 Jack Bearne

9 Isaac Westendorf

10 Zac McEachran

10 Zac McEachran

11 DJ Campton-Sturridge

12 Charlie Wiggett

13. Max Treml

14 Josh Parker

15 Tom Scott

16 Alfie Potter

17 Ewan Clark

18 George Burroughs

20 Latrell Humphrey-Ewers

22 Brayden Daniel

24 Josh McConnell

PAST PROGRAMMES

Oxford City Fixtures 25/26

Date

H/A

Opposition

Competition

Score

Att

Sat 9 Aug

AFC Fylde

National North

L 2 -3

821

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy

Wiggett

Johnson

Ashby

Scott

Bearne
(Campton-Sturridge 75)

McEachran

Westendorf

(Potter 75)

Parker

Sat 16 Aug

Macclesfield

National North

W 2-1

946

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy

Wiggett

Johnson

Ashby

Scott

Bearne

McEachran

(Humphrey-Ewers 71)

Potter

(Westendorf 75)

Parker

Tue 19 Aug

Kidderminster Harriers

National North

D 1-1

2,526

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy

Wiggett

Johnson

Ashby

Scott

Bearne

(Campton-Sturridge 90+5)

McEachran

Westendorf

(Potter 75)

Parker

Sat 23 Aug

Spennymoor Town

National North

L 1-2

620

Lewis

Burroughs
(Wilson 76)

Roddy

Wiggett

Johnson

Ashby

Scott (Bampoh 90)

Potter

McEachran

Westendorf

Campton-Sturridge (Parker 57)

Mon 25 Aug

Chester

National North

L-1-2

2,137

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy
(Campton-Sturridge 85)

Wiggett

Johnson

Ashby

Humphrey-Ewers (McConnell 78)

Potter

Daniel (Scott 62)

Westendorf

Parker

Sat 30 Aug

Radcliffe

National North

L 1-5

456

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy
(Humphrey-Ewers 84)

Wiggett

Wilson

Ashby

Scott (Daniel 84)

Potter (Campton-Sturridge 78)

McEachran

Westendorf (Lacey 59)

Parker

Tue 2 Sep

Alfreton Town

National North

W 5-0

527

Lewis

Burroughs

Wilson

Wiggett

Johnson

Ashby

Scott

Campton-Sturridge (Daniel 72)

McEachran

Westendorf (Humprey-Ewers 76)

Parker

Sat 6 Sep

Buxton

National North

L 2-1

705

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy (Bacon 79)

Wiggett

Johnson

Ashby

Scott

Campton-Sturridge (Daniel 69)

McEachran (Humphrey-Ewers 69)

Westendorf

Parker

Sat 11
Sep

Westbury

FA CUP

L 3-2

328

Lewis

Burroughs

Wilson

Wiggett

Johnson

Ashby

Scott

Campton-Sturridge (Daniel 81)

McEachran

Clark

Parker

Sat 20 Sep

Scarborough Athletic

National North

L 1-0

722

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy

Wiggett

Johnson

Ashby

Scott (Humphrey-Ewers)

Potter

McEachran (Kauan)

Clark

Parker

Sat 4 Oct

Curzon Ashton

National North

L 1-2

704

Lewis

Burroughs

Wilson (Roddy 46)

Wiggett

Johnson

Ashby

Scott (Westendorf 78

Campton-Sturridge (Daniel 85)

Humprey-Ewers

Clark

Parker

Sat 11 Oct

Chorley

National North

D 3-3

1,440

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy

Wiggett

Johnson

Ashby

Scott (2)

Campton-Sturridge (Wilson 88)

Humphrey-Ewers

Clark

Parker (Westendorf 73)

Sat 18 Oct

Southport

National North

L 2-1

795

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy

Wiggett

Johnson (Francis 46)

Ashby

Scott (Campton Sturridge 59)

Bearne
(Kauan 85)

Humphrey-Ewers

Clark

Westendorf
(Parker 46)

Tue 21 Oct

Bedford Town

National North

L 1-0

901

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy

Wiggett

Francis

Ashby

Scott

Bearne

Humphrey-Ewers (McConnell 62)

Clark
(Maragh 90)

Parker

Sat 25 Oct

Leamington

National North

D 1-1

702

Lewis

Burroughs (Potter 70)

Roddy

Wiggett

Francis

Ashby

Scott (Daniel 70)

Maragh

Humphrey-Ewers

Clark

Parker

Sat 1 Nov

Bedford

National North

L 2-1

523

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy (Westendorf 79)

Wiggett

Francis

Ashby

Scott (Potter 79)

Maragh (Bearne 74)

Humphrey-Ewers

Clark

Parker

Tue 4 Nov

Hereford

National North

W 3-0

618

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy

Wiggett

Francis

Ashby

Scott

Maragh (Bearne 82)

Humphrey-Ewers

Clark (Westendorf 70)

Parker

Sat 8 Nov

Worksop Town

National North

W 2-0

524

Lewis

Burroughs

Roddy

Wiggett

Francis

Ashby

Scott

Maragh (Johnson 85)

Humphrey-Ewers

Potter (Parker 69)

Westendorf

Sat 15 Nov

Peterborough Sports

FA TROPHY

L 2-1

412

Treml

Johnson (Wilson 78)

Roddy

Wiggett

Francis

Ashby

Scott

Clark

Humphrey-Ewers (Westendorf 65)

Potter

Parker

Tue 18 Nov

South Shields

National North

L 4-1

1,362

Treml

Johnson

Roddy (Campton-Sturridge 82)

Wiggett

Francis

Ashby

Scott (Maragh 77)

Clark

Humphrey-Ewers

Potter (Westendorf 59)

Parker

Sat 22 Nov

Marine

National North

D 0-0

1,037

Pardington

Burroughs

Roddy

Wiggett

Francis

Ashby

Scott (McEachran 75)

Clark

Humphrey-Ewers

Parker

Westendorf

Tue 25 Nov

AFC Telford United

National North

L 4-0

941

Pardington

Burroughs

Roddy

Wiggett

Francis

Ashby

Maragh (Campton-Sturridge 46)

Clark

Humphrey-Ewers (Potter 64)

Westendorf (McEachran 64)

Sat 29 Nov

King's Lynn Town

National North

3pm

Sat 6 Dec

Darlington

National North

3pm

Sat 20 Dec

Spennymoor Town

National North

3pm

Fri 26 Dec

Merthyr Town

National North

1pm

Tue 30 Dec

Peterborough Sports

National North

7.45pm

Sat 3 Jan

Radcliffe

National North

3pm

Sat 10 Jan

Buxton

National North

3pm

Sat 17 Jan

Macclesfield

National North

3pm

Sat 24 Jan

AFC Fylde

National North

3pm

Tue 27 Jan

Hereford

National North

7.45pm

Sat 31 Jan

South Shields

National North

3pm

Sat 7 Feb

Leamington

National North

3pm

Tue 10 Feb

Bedford Town

National North

7.45pm

Sat 14 Feb

Worksop Town

National North

3pm

Sat 21 Feb

Marine

National North

3pm

Tue 24 Feb

AFC Telford United

National North

7.45pm

Sat 28 Feb

King's Lynn Town

National North

3pm

Sat 7 Mar

Scarborough Athletic

National North

3pm

Tue 10 Mar

Curzon Ashton

National North

7.45pm

Sat 14 Mar

Southport

National North

3pm

Sat 21 Mar

Chorley

National North

3pm

Sat 28 Mar

Kidderminster Harriers

National North

3pm

Fri 3 Apr

Merthyr Town

National North

3pm

Mon 6 Apr

Peterborough Sports

National North

3pm

Sat 11 Apr

Alfreton Town

National North

3pm

Sat 18 Apr

Chester

National North

3pm

Sat 25 Apr

Darlington

National North

3pm

LINE UPS

OXFORD CITY
1. Jamie Pardington
2. Byron Wilson
3. Jacob Roddy
4. Josh Ashby
5. Chris Francis
6. Darnell Johnson
7. Jack Bearne
9. Isaac Westendorf
10. Zac McEachran
11. DJ Campton-Sturridge
12. Charlie Wiggett
13. Max Treml
14. Josh Parker
15. Tom Scott
16. Alfie Potter
17. Ewan Clark
18. George Burroughs
20. Latrell Humphrey-Ewers
22. Geneiro Maragh
23. Brayden Daniel
24. Josh McConnell
25. Kauan Bitencourt de Oliveira

Referee: Kavan Hurn
Assistant Referees: Simon Gudger
Isaac Blakey
Fourth Official: Stuart Lathan

Follow the action on the App

KING'S LYNN
1. Paul Jones
2. Reece Hall-Johnson
3. Bailey Clements
4. Rhys Doherty
5. Tom Wilson
6. Archie Crowther
7. Michael Clunan
8. Sam Collins
9. Gold Omotayo
10. Michael Gyasi
11. Joseph Nyahwema
12. Tom Dickens
14. Adam Marriott
15. Tai Fleming
16. Morgan Williams
17. Jack Lambert
18. Will Van Lier
19. Fletcher Toll
20. Ross Crane
22. Cameron Forde-Brown
23. Emmanuel Maja
24. Aaron Chapman
31. Louis Chadwick
David Kamara