Oxford united FC
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness wins charity cup in Oxford
The charity fixtures, held at the MGroup Stadium, was in aid of the charity ‘DEBRA’ which supports people living with epidermolysis bullosa (EB), also known as butterfly skin.
The matches featured football legends such as Souness, Matt Le Tissier and Dean Saunders, with others, like former Manchester United defender Wes Brown, in attendance.
The day was split into two semi-finals and a final with four teams involved: DEBRA Legends, Three Horseshoes Legends, Oxfordshire Legends and Oxford United Legends.
Team DEBRA was managed by former Liverpool midfielder, Souness, and former U’s 1995/96 promotion-winning manager Dennis Smith.
Three Horseshoes were led by Adie Foggett and Ben Reardon whilst former Yellows player and manager Mark Wright managed the Oxford United Legends along with former U’s player and Oxford City manager Mike Ford.
Oxfordshire Legends were managed by Andy Slater and Justin Merritt.
DEBRA and Three Horseshoes faced off in the first match as Souness’ side ran out 2-0 winners.
The United legends then triumphed over the Oxfordshire Legends, with former U’s men Matt Green and Matty Taylor scoring in a 2-1 win whilst Oxfordshire journeyman Eddie Odhiambo bagged for the losing team.
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A final match-up saw DEBRA take one the U’s legends.
Green bagged his second goal of the tournament, rounding the goalkeeper to put the Yellows one up.
Former West Ham United man and Oxford-born Matt Taylor equalised for DEBRA shortly after, before ex-U’s winger Chris Allen put the United legends back in front.
It looked like the Oxford United heroes had won the day with moments left, but Dean Windass had other ideas, tapping home at the back post to make it 2-2 and take the final to penalties.
After a mixed first five spot kicks for either team, the shootout entered sudden death.
Aston Villa youth goalkeeper made a big save before DEBRA scored to win the trophy.
In support of the day and of the DEBRA charity, three-time European Cup winner Souness said: “I’ve been involved with Debra for seven years, and it’s only now that we’ve started to make inroads and help these children.
“We’re now repurposing drugs, these are drugs for skin conditions that are already on the market, we’re repurposing them, and we’re getting results with it.
“Footballers get much criticised, in some cases deservedly so, but the vast majority do the bit, they go beyond the college, they do charity work that goes unseen.”
Oxford United travel to Leyton Orient for the first round of the Carabao Cup and Aaron Ramsey’s first competitive match in charge.
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The 32-year-old became the third player to leave the club after United were hit with a temporary transfer ban at the beginning of July.
Vaulks joined Nik Prelec and Ole Romeny – who left on loan- in departing the club this summer, returning to the club where he spent his academy career, Tranmere Rovers.
Dropping down to League Two, the former Wales international leaves Oxford after two years in the Championship with the club, playing 88 times for the Yellows and scoring twice.
The former Oxford midfielder was left out of the U’s squad in their final pre-season friendly, a 2-0 win over Premier League side Ipswich Town, and went on to be announced as a Tranmere player on Monday evening.
United head coach Ramsey opened up on Vaulks’ departure in his press conference before the club’s first competitive fixture of the season, an away trip to Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup.
“We had some honest conversations with Will and the opportunity came up for him to pursue his new opportunity there,” the 35-year-old Yellows boss said.
“I mean, he’s been great for this club and what he’s done on and off the field here has been remarkable.
“We just wish Will the best of luck now going forward.”
A statement from Oxford included the message: “On behalf of everyone at Oxford United, thank you Will.
“We wish you all the best with your future and we will continue to drive your important work forward.”
From the Wirral, Vaulks moves closer to home by joining Darrell Clarke’s side.
Upon joining Rovers, the centre midfielder said: “I’m grateful to be back.
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“I spent 10 years at the club, but never played a first team game, so this is a move that has been on my mind for a number of years now.
“I really wanted to come back to my boyhood club.
“I made it clear that I wasn’t going anywhere else, other than to Tranmere, it was the club I wanted to join.
“I’m a Wirral boy and I can’t wait to give everything for the club.”
As well as contributing on the pitch for Oxford, Vaulks made a huge impact off it, using his personal story to establish the award-winning Can We Talk? suicide prevention campaign.
He was nationally and internationally recognised for his campaigning, winning awards including the FIFPRO Player Voice and was recently named PFA Community Player of the Year.
The 2026/27 EFL Cup supercomputer forecast, combining mathematical probability algorithms and agentic AI, suggests the Yellows will defeat Leyton Orient 2-1 at Brisbane Road.
This will be Ramsey’s first competitive fixture since taking charge.
The computer model – conducted by Andy’s Bet Club – anticipates several other first-round outcomes, including Rochdale, recently promoted from the National League, surprising Bradford City with a penalty shootout victory.
In the southern section of the competition, League Two’s Barnet are expected to beat Cambridge United, who are a league higher.
The supercomputer also foresees victories for West Ham United, Birmingham City, Burnley, and Wolves, all advancing unscathed to the second round.
On the other hand, Oxford’s fierce rivals, Swindon Town, are predicted to exit in the first round, losing 2-0 to Championship side Cardiff City.
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The first round of the EFL Cup, for the first time in six years, is set to take place before the start of the league season.
The supercomputer predicts that West Ham United will be the last remaining EFL team in the competition, bowing out in the quarter-finals against Chelsea.
The eventual winners, according to the supercomputer, will be Manchester City, claiming their 10th title.
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