Oxford united FC
Oxford United GM praises tributes for Amelia Aplin
The 15-year-old collapsed during a Junior Premier League fixture against Fulham 10 days ago and sadly passed away, leaving the football community shaken.
Tributes were held before and during Oxford men’s first team’s 1-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers last week, including a minute’s silence and a minute’s applause.
Speaking to BBC Radio Oxford, Sims said: “It’s obviously been devastating for everyone at the club. First of all, it was shock. Everyone was in shock and the staff and the players that were present on the day are finding it tough. Something like this hits the whole the club.
“It’s been a very tough ten days, but everyone has been fantastic in terms of supporting each other which I think is what we’re going to need going forward for quite a while now.
“To lose one of our players is obviously devastating, but for it to happen here at the training ground is going to cut deeper for everybody because it does bring back memories for a very long time.
“Her teammates who played here regularly with Amelia, it makes it extra tough to be here. But, in a very nice way, Amelia was playing football with her friends and hopefully in time it will become a nice memory, something somewhere that they can come and remember Amelia.”
Further tributes were held this past weekend across the community, from the Women’s Super League and EFL Championship down to grassroots level.
.@OfficialOUWFC General Manager Gemma Sims on grief following the death of Amelia Aplin. Hear in full https://t.co/3vpsH9V7DZ pic.twitter.com/bFHkHqj8Hv
— BBC Oxford Sport (@bbcoxfordsport) March 18, 2026
“The tributes and the moments of silence for Amelia across the whole community really brought everyone together.
“Wednesday night was difficult, but also really nice, just the way it was handled.
Peter Rhoades-Brown did fantastically with his speech before the minute’s silence and the 15th -minute applause kind of ended up perfectly timed.
READ MORE: Matt Bloomfield dedicates Oxford United win to Amelia Aplin
“It’s been fantastic to see everybody coming together to support everybody in a horrible moment.
“To have the clubs in the WSL acknowledge it as well. Amelia was a massive Watford fan as well, so I know they did something at their game last night to honour Amelia.
READ MORE: Amelia Aplin – Fans and players across the country pay tribute
“The club has been fantastic and there will be lots of support for everybody. It’s longer term as well like the teammates, the parents, it’s going to take a long time.
“People will grieve differently at different times so, for us, it’s just important that we take things slowly.
“The girls returning to training will be as and when they are ready. We will support them as much as we can.
“The staff as well, obviously they are devastated, so it’s trying to look after everybody we can.”
Tottenham Hotspur want £20 million for 21-year-old Will Lankshear and have turned down multiple bids for him, according to Hayters.
The ex-U’s striker, who was the club’s top scorer last term with 12 goals in all competitions, is highly rated by his parent side who narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last season finishing two points above the drop zone.
READ MORE: Ex-Oxford United striker set for first team leap at Spurs
However, they haven’t ruled out selling him if the right offer comes in with Portuguese side Sporting CP reportedly interested.
In addition Spurs is also considering another loan move for Lankshear to a Championship club, although the London team is looking to fund a summer spending spree that has already seen a £52 million bid for defender Jan Paul Van Hecke accepted by Brighton.
READ MORE: United States tourist battles fire at Oxfordshire Tesco
Lankshear has made three Premier League appearances for Spurs as well as scoring one goal in three Europa League features.
In a breakout season in men’s football, the England youth international became a fan favourite in OX4 for his tenacity and goal scoring success in a struggling Championship team.
The 21-year-old’s attitude off the pitch also endeared the fans to his name, with the player crediting the club as the place where it all began ahead of a hopefully successful career.
The U’s will play host to the Tractor Boys on Saturday, August 1, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00PM.
The fixture is the fourth pre-season friendly confirmed by the club and the first from a division higher than League One, where Oxford will compete next term.
United will face National League side Aldershot Town (Tuesday, July 21) and League Two club Barnet (Saturday, July 25) away from home before the welcoming of another fourth-tier outfit Crawley Town (Tuesday, July 28).
The U’s have also confirmed that tickets for the trip to Aldershot are now on sale.
Oxford played Ipswich twice in the Championship last season as Matt Bloomfield’s side suffered relegation whilst the Suffolk club were promoted to the Premier League, finishing second.
READ MORE: New League One clubs join Oxford United in race for Kyreece Lisbie
READ MORE: Ex-Oxford United man released by Championship Bristol City
Under former head coach Gary Rowett, the Yellows pulled off a shock 2-1 victory against Kieran McKenna’s men in OX4 in late November, Mark Harris and Przemyslaw Placheta scoring the goals.
They were defeated 2-1, however, in the second fixture, Will Lankshear scoring the only goal for the U’s at Portman Road.
The Tractor Boys are currently on the hunt for a new manager after McKenna stepped down last week in order to take a break from football management.
The U’s reportedly met with the Colchester United winger as they look to secure his services ahead of the 2026/27 League One campaign.
Thames Valley rivals Reading pulled the plug on their interest earlier this month but it has since been revealed that Wednesday and Huddersfield are both also in the race for Lisbie’s signature alongside Oxford and Peterborough United.
The 22-year-old scored 11 goals and managed eight assists in 45 League Two appearances last season and has one year left on his contract at the JobServe Community Stadium.
Football League World has named the Owls and the Terriers as two competitors to the U’s for Lisbie, whose twin brother, Kyrell, plays for third tier rivals Peterborough.
Lisbie is also the son of former Premier League and EFL striker, Kevin.
Matt Bloomfield’s Oxford held interest in the winger in January but were blocked alongside Reading FC from signing the player but Colchester United’s chairman.
An estimated fee of between £500-750K is Colchester’s current asking price.
Lisbie played for the academies of Leyton Orient, Watford and Brentford during his youth before experiencing his first taste of senior football for Cray Valley Paper Mills.
READ MORE: Ex-Oxford United youngster Joshua Johnson signs for Maidenhead
READ MORE: West Brom to seal Falkirk striker deal amid Oxford interest
READ MORE: Oxford City charity football tournament raises huge amount
He moved to Colchester from Brentford B in early 2025 and spent a brief time on loan with Braintree Town at the end of the 2024/25 season.
The Englishman won the Young Player of the Year award at Colchester’s end of season awards
After their relegation from the Championship, Oxford are looking to bolster and fill gaps in the squad after 15 players in total were released and had their loan spells end in OX4 last month.
The Yellows finished 22nd in the second tier, two places above rock-bottom side Wednesday with whom they are competing for Lisbie’s services.
After losing forward players like top scorer Will Lankshear, Myles Peart-Harris and Jamie Donley, more goals will be needed at the Kassam if they are to bounce straight back in League One.
Lisbie appeared on the right wing most frequently for Colchester last term, with the Essex club finishing 12th in the four tier.
Oxford only have supporters’ and players’ player of the year Stan Mills as a pure right midfielder and so the signing of the youngster would provide some healthy competition and quality backup for Mills.
The U’s are yet to make their first signing of the summer after the transfer window officially opened on Monday.
Spurs ‘rejects’ multiple offers for ex-Oxford United striker
World Cup 2026: England kick off in Dallas after big-hitting trio make mark – live | World Cup 2026
CyberNorth & Check Point bring summit to Newcastle
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoOxfordshire bridge closure comes as management ‘weaknesses’ found
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoWhat happens to Halifax customers if Lloyds makes changes?
-
Oxford News4 weeks agoActor steps down from major role in new Harry Potter series
-
UK News4 weeks agoBurnham seeks to calm markets by committing to fiscal rules
-
UK News4 weeks agoGlass deposit scheme 'risks major problems' for retail industry
-
UK News4 weeks agoEx-minister Shapps quits aerospace firm over rule concerns
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoRyan Bridge speaks of London arrest after Oxford incident
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoOxfordshire man accused of sexual offences 40 years ago