HOOPS

The Official Match Programme

Oxford City
v
Bedford Town

Saturday 1st 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

We are in the middle of a run of home games right now and have to take advantage of that if we can, starting today when we face Bedford barely two weeks after the game at their place.

I thought we were extremely unlucky not to get something out of that game given the amount of the ball we had and the way we played on the front foot. Right now we maybe aren't getting the run of the ball but if we keep playing like we did that night then we will soon start turning good performances into positive results.

I thought we played OK in our last home game, against Leamington last week. We looked comfortable and when Josh Ashby put us in front I think we all felt we would go on and win the game. Football has a terrible habit of rewriting the script though. Having had every player behind the ball for most of the half Leamington win a set piece and send everyone forward, including the keeper, there are about three fouls in a packed box, people holding others all over the place, and the ball breaks the wrong way to give the away side an equaliser.

That was gutting but once again we have given it our all. We need to be more clinical in both boxes but the workrate is obvious and the players have trained hard this week. We are all determined to turn results around. We aren't miles off and a draw last weekend is a good starting point for us to build from this afternoon.

Finally I would like to congratulate both the Women's side and the Youth Team for their cup wins this week. Two tough games in which character shone through and there were massive smiles from players and fans, all together after the game. Now it's our turn to make that happen and turn a good week for the club into a great one . With your support we know we can.

ROSS

Our Visitors
Bedford Town

Bedford Town Football Club was formed in 1908 and has had a mixed history, that has seen it reach the higher levels of non-league football, with some notable cup runs on the way.

The Eagles started life playing in the United Counties League and its predecessors the Northampton League and Northampton Alliance. In 1945 they moved to the Southern League but had little success until 1951 when player/manager Ronnie Rooke joined the club. Having a well-known former England and topflight footballer inspired the local population to back the club, which paid off with some notable scalps in the FA Cup in the mid 50’s when Bedford saw national fame as giant killers. Notable victories included Watford 3-2, Norwich 2-4, Newcastle 1-2, Exeter 1-2 and Brighton 2-1 but maybe the 2-2 draw at Highbury against Arsenal in front of 55,000 fans was their biggest achievement.

Rooke’s management reign came to an end and the 60’s and 70’s saw a string of managers including Barry Fry in 1977. The last match for the Eagles at its home in Queens Park was in 1982, when the grounds leaseholders reserved their right to terminate their contract. After 74 years, Bedford’s football team was no more.

Bedford Town supporters have always been a determined bunch, and on 5th May 1989 some of them met with the aim of starting a campaign to reform the club. That campaign was so successful that they soon got council permission to play on a public pitch in Queens Park, finishing fourth in the first reformed season in the South Midlands League. Runaway success in the 1992/3 season under Terry King and Tony Sullivan saw them needing their own ground to progress.

The council decided that the most appropriate location for the club was at a former tree nursery at Meadow Lane in Cardington. With financial support from the council and hard work by supporters the ground was ready for its first match In front of a bumper crowd of 3,000 at the New Eyrie when Peterborough United came to town.

The Eagles in their new home started life in the SML Premier Division and the change of millennium also saw changes for the Eagles as they become a Private Limited Company, owned by David Howells. A generally poor season but great run in the FA Cup saw Match of the Day cameras arrive at the Eyrie as a bumper crowd enjoyed their0-0 draw against then Division 2 Peterborough United, the replay at London Road saw Bedford miss out in a 2-1 score line.

Nicky Platnauer’s first season in charge saw the team just miss out on promotion, but his second in 2005/06 saw the club move into its new facilities at the beginning of the season with a new function room and football facilities up to National Conference standard. The club were consistent throughout the season and earned a play-off final spot at Chippenham. The Eagles had their day with a magnificent 3-2 win, the winning goal coming from a wonder strike by Tom Bonner two minutes from time. The Eagles now faceda new challenge in Nationwide South, the highest standard the club had played in since re-formation in 1990.

The Eagles found life hard and relegation followed with a second only avoided by the financial problems of other teams.

Jon Taylor took over in 2015/16 and his first full season in charge the following year saw a mid-table finish.
The 2017/18 season saw one of the clubs most significant moments, when in February 2018 the club was brought by a local consortium headed by David and Jon Taylor. Rebuilding followed with several former league players joining. The team enjoyed a fantastic run in both the FA Cup and Trophy in 2018/19, but that affected results in the League, although they did make the playoffs, losing out to Corby Town.

The 2021-22 season saw the prize the Eagles have been pursuing for so long finally come into fruition as they became Southern League Division One Central champions, finishing the season ten points ahead of second placed Berkhamsted. A remarkable team performance with Eagles legend Rene Howe’s thirty-three goals also giving him the divisions golden boot.

The 2022/23 season saw a return to step three football, competing in the Southern League Premier Division Central, the first time at that level since 2014. The season started well, with memorable wins against Barwell, Hednesford, Hitchin, Rushall and Coalville. However, with the club just above the relegation zone, there was a parting with Gary Setchell. Graeme Tomlinson and Callum Donnelly took temporary charge for the rest of the season but were unable to keep the Eagles from avoiding the drop and a return to step four.

In early May 2023, Leighton Town manager Lee Bircham was appointed to the role of Eagles manager. He arrived at the Eyrie having guided success to Leighton Town, Berkhamsted and managed at Hemel Hempstead. A total rebuild of the squad took place, and the Eagles started the season well with wins against Kidlington and Barton Rovers in the first two fixtures. The Eagles remained at the top end of the table for most of the season, and despite a winter of waterlogged pitches, finished second behind Biggleswade Town. Home play-off wins against Ware and Waltham Abbey saw Town promoted back to step three at the first attempt.

The club returned to the PitchingIn Southern League Premier Division Central with the sole aim of staying in the division. The Eagles started off homeless, with the Eyrie pitch being converted into a 3G artificial surface, and games were played at Hitchin Town and Biggleswade Town, before returning home on 21st September to open the new pitch with back-to-back wins against Redditch United and Leiston. As Christmas neared, the wins kept coming, and the Eagles maintained pace with Kettering, Telford and Halesowen in what was turning into an exciting promotion race. Despite a double defeat against AFC Telford, Town went on a run of 11 wins from the last 13 games and clinched the title on the last day of the season with a 2-0 win against Stourbridge at the Eyrie. The title success was the first in the Southern League Premier in over 60 years and a return to step two for the first time since 2007.

The City Squad

Our Visitors

Keeper Max Treml was the hero as Oxford City's youngsters beat Chippenham Town on penalties in the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday evening at the MGroup Stadium

Treml saved three penalties to send his team through after a hard fought 0-0 stalemate after extra time

The drama followed 90 minutes high on energy but low on goalmouth excitement as the sides sparred rather than throwing punches.

Skipper Evan Took-Oxley had the best chance of the first 45 minutes but City, with several regulars missing through injury, struggled to find their rhythm and neither keeper had a shot to save in a timid opening 45 minutes.

After that both teams started to find some cohesion. Chippenham’s James Griffiths had a shot from distance although his night ended soon after when he landed on his arm and needed an ambulance to take him to hospital - we wish him well and hope the injury wasn’t as serious as it at first appeared.

Sub Michael Bampoh’s pace gave City an extra dimension but that stretched the game both ways and Chippenham started to look dangerous on the break, Treml making a good save from Finley Palmer and Took-Oxley having to make a good block as the visitors started to commit men forward.

Piotr Fornal was denied by a tremendous tackle by Lewis Royston as he bore down on goal after 68 minutes but defences continued to dominate and extra time became a matter of who could hold their nerve, although a Bampoh effort in the 99th minute forced a good save to send the game into an extra half hour.

Still the two sides remained locked together although only a brilliant save from the excellent Treml early in the second period kept it at 0-0.

And so to penalties, where Treml was the hero, saving three spot kicks to send his team jubilantly through.

What a great cup week for Oxford City

CITY

Treml, Abdi, Dix, Took-Oxley, Parker-Hunt, Heap (Barber 83), Tzengko, Stathi, Maxwell, Fornal, Green (Bampoh 46, (Price 118)

SUBS
Starkey, Harwood, Goff, Leach

ATT: 273

Every single day sees hundreds of players out on the two pitches at the MGroup Stadium. You kind of become immune to seeing so much football and games fly by each day. But on Monday as I walked past the main pitch I spotted a lone figure in the distance.

On closer inspection it was new signing Chris Francis who had stayed behind after training and was putting in a little extra work, ticking over and pushing himself as he always does.

“Match fitness is different to general fitness." he told us. “It's been three games now since I joined, one 45 minute appearance as a sub then two full 90s. I'm feeling good, you know, and it’s good to be playing again but I'll do everything I can to stay in the best shape. I’ve always liked to add different extras and make sure that I can perform to the best level I can so yeah, I feel fit, and I'm looking to sort of maintain that”.

It may only be two and a half games but Chris was a gutted as anyone to see three points slip out of the team’s hands last weekend against Leamington as a late goal meant they had to settle for a single point.

“That ruined everybody's weekend, right?” he says ruefully. "It was really deflating, I think especially so when it's out of your hands and it's a decision like that which seemed to be so obvious. Look, that's what makes it so tough. But you can’t keep that in your head all week and the boys have been trying to stay positive. We can wipe that game out of our minds with a win on Saturday.

“I think we definitely had good spells in the Leamington game and I think we have had that in every game this season. If we can finish teams off, which we know we are capable of, we can definitely have success because we know we have the players here. That’s not just about taking chances at one end either, it’s about keeping clean sheets, working hard and sticking together.

“I think even from my short time here we should have had more points than we have picked up but we are still gelling as a team, I think we're still getting our patterns together. So I'm seeing definitely positive signs.”

Does playing Bedford so soon after playing them at their ground help in any way?

“ Well we played OK in that game and came away with nothing so it's a good thing because we we want to change that result. We’ll be looking to rectify that defeat and we are obviously familiar with their players having played them a couple of weeks ago so we definitely know what we're going up against. So now we are going to prepare for Saturday in the best way we can, and hopefully get the win that the fans deserve because they have been great with us all season, home and away.”

City Women Face Swindon Town

City fans, after the drama of a win over Sherborne we're hoping to SMASH our attendance record AGAIN for our Women's FA Cup game against Swindon Town

The atmosphere was electric last time out, and we need you again to help us make history.

Almost 700 were here last time. Be our twelfth player and cheer us on in the cup! Adults are just £5 when you buy online and Under 12s are FREE entry (both online AND on the door).

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

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	2pm
9th Nov	H	Fleet Town	League	2pm
16th Nov	A	Launton Ladies	County Cup	2pm
23rd Nov	H	Swindon Town	FA CUP	TBC

OFF THE BALL

CHRIS WILLIAMS

I have a bone to pick with one of the opposition players this afternoon.

You see, I have known Bedford forward Tyrone Marsh for a long long time. He was a very respectful youngster at Oxford United and he has always made me laugh so we got on just fine.

One pre-season I even drove him to Scotland. Someone ran into the back of his car the day before and so he had no way of getting north of the border to link up with Chris Wilder’s squad. Since I was travelling independently with Dave Prichard of the Oxford Mail we waited a few hours then picked Ty up at Northampton services.

He was asleep by Banbury and woke up in Edinburgh.

This probably says all you know about the banter and entertainment that Pritch and I were providing. But that’s not the thing I want him to read today. Instead I want to remind him of a bet we once made.

Ty and Max Crocombe, who should be lining up for MIllwall against Oxford United today were the outstanding players in their year group and so I’d spend a fair amount of time chatting to them. Ty was a clinical goalscorer even as a teenager, and one day he said to me and Max “I’d back myself to score in every game I play”. That’s fine as a statement, no issue, but then he took it a step too far…

“Nobody scores in every game though Ty” I said (Irling Halland hadn’t been invented at that stage) “maybe a goal every other game?”

“I tell you what Chris” he replied. “We’ll have a bet. Every game I score in, you give me a pound. Every time I don’t score you pay me a pound.”

Readers, I am not great at maths but even I could see that I was on to a winner. I offered Max Crocombe the same bet but he quickly saw through my clever plan. Goalkeepers are like that.

I have kept a close eye on Ty’s progress ever since. To be fair, he has scored a LOT of goals since that day, whether for Torquay, Dover, Macclesfield, Boreham Wood or Stevenage. He even scored against City the other week, just to keep me on my toes. He is now just seven goals away from 100 senior goals (source Wikipedia). The problem is (from his point of view) he has played 402 matches and his goals to game ratio is 0.46.

Yes, yes, he’s scored ten in 12 this season, but no need to do anything to improve that ratio today, is there? I look forward to seeing him today.

I doubt very much he will bring me my winnings.

Billie Bough-French

Captain

Ellie White

Striker

Emily Harris

Forward

Amy Leach

Defender

Sophie Lester

Midfield

Grace Craven

Midfield

FIXTURE CHANGES

FA TROPHY
It's Peterborough Sports at home in the Isuzu FA Trophy.
The Hoops will take on Phil Brown's Peterborough Sports in the competition at The MGroup Stadium on Saturday 15th November (3pm KO).

Last season, we equalled our best run in the competition as Ross Jenkins' side reached the Quarter-Final stage of the Trophy, before we were beaten on penalties by National League side Woking.

Ticket details for this tie will be announced in due course.

South Shields New Date

There's a new date for Oxford City's postponed away fixture with South Shields.

The Hoops will now travel to the 1st Cloud Arena on Tuesday 18th November with a 7:45pm Kick-Off.

Boxing Day Kick Off Time

Our home game against Merthyr at the MGroup Stadium on Friday 26th December will now kick off at 1pm

Look out for great hospitality offers on the official website

1. Sam Lewis

2. Byron Wilson

3. Jacob Roddy

4. Josh Ashby

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

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

3pm

Tue 4 Nov

Hereford

National North

7.45pm

Sat 8 Nov

Worksop Town

National North

3pm

Tue 18 Nov

South Shields

National North

7.45pm

Sat 22 Nov

Marine

National North

3pm

Tue 25 Nov

AFC Telford United

National North

7.45pm

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. Sam Lewis
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: Lewis Smith
Assistant Referees: Imran Khan
David Johnston
Fourth Official: Simon Parbery

Follow the action on the App

BEDFORD TOWN
1. Dan Wilks
2. Lewis Green
3. Sam Brown
4. Cole Kpekawa
5. Carl Mensah
6. Greg Taylor
7. Lewis Coyle
8. Edward Gyamfi
9. Shaun Jeffers
10. Tyrone Marsh
11. Ryan Blackman
12.Ryan Doherty
13.Luke Mewitt
14. John Shamalo
15. Greg Sandiford
16. Matty Roberts
17. Declan Phillips
18. Ellis Brown
19. Eddie Panter
20. Callum Tripp
21. Josh Tomlinson
22.Ben Isaacson
24. Nathan Ashmore
25. Josh Dawodu
26. Joseph Ajose
27. Oliver Steinke
28. Harry Hawkins
30. Leon Lobjoit
31. Bruno Andrade
32.Tarrelle Whittaker
33. Chris Wreh
37. Josh Phillips