Oxford united FC
Aaron Ramsey’s Oxford United League One fixtures 2026/27
The U’s return to the third tier next season after suffering relegation from the Championship last term.
Former Arsenal midfielder Ramsey was appointed as Oxford’s new head coach this week, replacing Bloomfield who was sacked on last weekend.
Competitive action begins on the weekend of August 7 in the Carabao Cup with the first-round draw set for Thursday evening.
After two years in the second tier, the Yellows are looking to bounce back quickly under their new boss and will begin the new season at home against newly-promoted MK Dons on Saturday, August 15.
Oxford face the Dons in the FA Cup third round last season when United were in the Championship and their opponents were still in League Two, Oxford winning on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Stadium MK.
The opening-day clash has been selected for TV coverage on Sky Sports+ and will be an early kick-off at 12:30pm.
Will Lankshear wheels away after scoring against MK Dons (Image: ©Jason Dawson)
They then travel to Stevenage before facing Thames Valley rivals Reading at the Kassam to see out the opening month.
The U’s face the Royals again on February 6 at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
On Boxing Day, United host Plymouth Argyle who are managed by another former Arsenal midfielder and Ramsey’s old teammate Jack Wilshere.
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Aaron Ramsey has been appointed the new Oxford United manager (Image: Oxford United)
A trip to newly-promoted Bromley on December 29 separates Boxing Day with a New Year’s Day visit to Leyton Orient.
The final day of the season sees Ramsey’s Yellows travel to Sheffield Wednesday in what many would expect to be a clash in and around the top of the table.
The penultimate game of the season sees the hosting of 2023/24 play-off semi-final opponents Peterborough United.
The earlier fixture against fellow-relegated outfit Wednesday is on December 1 at the Kassam.
Oxford play the third demoted club, Leicester City, early on in the season, travelling to the King Power Stadium on September 5, with the reverse fixture scheduled for February 13.
Mark Harris celebrates scoring Oxford United’s second goal against Leicester (Image: ©Jason Dawson)
The Easter schedule sees the U’s play host to Leyton Orient on Good Friday (March 26) before visiting Blackpool on Easter Monday (March 29).
October, January and April are the most jam-packed months, with six matches scheduled in each.
New boss Ramsey will be looking to prove his worth in his first permanent head coach role and has the opportunity to instantly endear himself to the fans in his first game at home to the Dons.
The 35-year-old was announced as Bloomfield’s replacement on Tuesday evening, just hours before England faced Ghana in the FIFA World Cup.
Ramsey spoke to the media for the first time the following morning, saying: “I knew that this was the right place for me. It’s a huge honour and a privilege to be in this position.”
Oxford united FC
Oxford United boss Aaron Ramsey on long-awaited Huddersfield clash
The Yellows travel to West Yorkshire on Tuesday night for their third League One fixture of the season.
Ramsey’s side have drawn and won each of their first couple of third-tier games so far and will face Huddersfield for the first time in a competitive match since 2004.
The Terriers have begun the campaign with the same record, looking impressive under manager Martin Drury.
Oxford beat last season’s play-off semi-finalists Stevenage last time out, two second-half strikes seeing a resolute United past their physical opponents.
“We want to be on the front foot,” Ramsey reiterated ahead of the trip to the Accu Stadium.
“We want to be controlling games and that’s the way that my staff and I feel like is the best way to do that and win football games.
“It’s difficult to just keep taking blows and blows and trying to keep the opposition.
“For me, it’s to have as much control on the game as possible.”
The last time Oxford faced off against the Terriers was in March 2004 when they were beaten 1-0 at home in the Third Division.
In their 26 total match-ups, the Yellows have won just nine whilst Huddersfield have come away victorious on 13 occasions.
Drury’s side finished ninth in the third tier last season but, after bringing in some good new signings, are set for a strong campaign in a competitive league.
“They’re a really good team,” Ramsey admitted.
“The manager has implemented his ideas across there and you can see that they’re a settled team with good ideas.
Oxford United manager Aaron Ramsey (Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)
“But, again, full focus is on us and on how we want to approach the game.
“We’ve had a few tests so far, which we really stood up to.
“So, it’ll be different on Tuesday, another tough test, but one that will prepare the boys as best we can.
READ MORE: Ramsey says Mills departure ‘best solution’ for Oxford United
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“When the boys are playing the way that they are and buying into it, yeah, of course, there has to be positivity around there.
“Obviously, as well, there’s moments when we do look back on things and we identify areas that we can improve on.
“We want to win football games, so we need to score goals. We want to be exciting.”
Tuesday night also sees the arrival of transfer deadline day.
11PM – approximately an hour after full time in West Yorkshire – sees the window slam shut.
Oxford remain under a temporary transfer embargo, however Ramsey has said that the club is “working to try and come up with a few things” after Stanley Mills left for Championship club Preston North End last week.
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Oxford United CEO resignation after relegation and transfer embargo
Following a turbulent summer at Oxford United, which has included a change of manager and a transfer embargo, the club’s CEO has resigned.
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What next for Oxford United after Stanley Mills departure
The summer-long saga has felt more like a decade and surely head coach Aaron Ramsey has felt the same after enduring the ritual of being asked about Mills’ status on a weekly basis.
After missing the U’s first pre-season friendly, the winger scored in the second, a 2-1 win over Barnet, and featured in the following couple.
He then missed out in the first competitive game of the season, a 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Leyton Orient, before a move to PNE was confirmed by Ramsey ahead of the League One opening day, but not until January.
Mills messaged his boss requesting not to play in the 2-2 opening day home draw with MK Dons before coming off the bench to assist Gatlin O’Donkor in the Yellows’ 2-1 win at Stevenage.
That would prove to be the 22-year-old’s final display in a United shirt, the young attacker showing little enthusiasm upon Oxford taking the lead in Hertfordshire, hinting that his head had certainly been turned.
“I’ve known about it all summer and from the start I’ve wanted to be here, wanted to get going as a Preston player and now it is official.”
Stan Mills has joined Preston (Image: Jason Dawson)
Mills’ first words as a Lilywhites player say it all.
Considering the former Everton man has never scored more than three goals in a senior season, my personal opinion was that a January move would be ideal for all parties.
In an ideal world, Oxford would keep a star player for six months, Mills could get his numbers up as a standout player in a weaker league and PNE would get an in-form winger through the doors in the new year.
READ MORE: Ramsey says Mills departure ‘best solution’ for Oxford United
READ MORE: Ex-Oxford United goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge joins Tottenham Hotspur
But patience is a rare virtue in football these days and off goes the winger to Lancashire.
So, what now for United?
The U’s are without a recognised right-sided midfielder – young Aidan Elliott-Wheeler could be considered – and remain under a temporary transfer embargo.
Aidomo Emakhu has played on the right so far this season and has offered some outlet but he does look much more comfortable in his more natural position on the right.
Oxford United’s Stan Mills celebrates Ciaron Brown’s goal against Preston North End (Image: Gary Oakley/PA Wire)
Then there is 17-year-old Mo Missanga, a youngster who helped change the tide on the opening day against MK Dons and who has excited supporters and the U’s boss alike.
Ramsey has hinted that the Yellows are searching for solutions, and it is understood that a loan transfer where Oxford do not pay any share of the player’s wages could be a way of bringing a player in before Tuesday’s deadline.
Given the circumstances, it will be difficult to replace the ability of Mills but there is certainly a sense of relief that this saga is over.
Now it is time to focus on the football and maintain a strong league position heading into January.
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