Oxford united FC
Fans remember Oxford United Wembley heroics in 1986 PART ONE
It is 40 years to the day that Oxford won their only ever major trophy to date when they dispatched of Queens Park Rangers 3-0 despite being underdogs.
Trevor Hebberd opened the scoring five minutes before half-time before Ray Houghton doubled the Yellows’ lead in the 52nd minute.
Jeremy Charles scored with four minutes on the clock to comfortably lead Maurice Evans’ side to cup victory with the U’s also securing First Division survival that same season.
Mark Griffin, 55, was only 15 at the time and had been going to Yellows matches for eight years before the final.
“We caught the train from Didcot to Paddington and had to stand all the way,” Griffin reflected.
“The train was just a yellow and blue party.
“I wasn’t confident at all until the game started but within about five minutes I kind of knew we had it. Our fans seemed to be louder than QPR, more colourful. The yellow army in full glory.
“I can play in my head Trevor Hebberd’s cut back to take out [Hoops defender] Alan McDonald before the impossible near post finish. It was just before half time which was the longest 15 minutes of my life.
“Once Ray Houghton scored everything was just like a happy dream. We sang our hearts out.
“We didn’t want to go home and so we just sat for a good hour after the game not really believing what we’d seen. The stadium emptied and we just sat looking at green turf reliving the key moments over and over. I think we thought if we stood up it’d all melt away like a dream.
“We didn’t dare break the spell until finally a steward pointed out we were the only ones left and politely asked us to go.
U’s fan Laurence Reade, 55, was also in attendance.
“Number one,” he answered when asked where the day ranks in his time as a United supporter.
READ MORE: Oxford United legend John Aldridge on Milk Cup Wembley win
READ MORE: Oxford United boss expects Placheta to miss rest of the season
READ MORE: Oxford United player of the season: who should win?
“Everywhere you looked was yellow and blue. The feeling of how big Wembley was. The old scoreboard with the bloke slotting huge numbers into grooves. Trying to take it all in thinking we’d never be back.
“Jim Smith broken but still happy for us as we sang: ‘You should’ve stayed at the Manor’.
Smith was manager of QPR after spending three years as Oxford boss until 1985.
“Maurice Evans sending Ken Fish up to receive his medal instead of him what a wonderful gesture.”
That image is one that almost all U’s fans recall with joy: Evans sent staff member Ken Fish up to receive his medal from the royal box as a gesture to thank him for his 20 plus years of service to United.
The U’s and Liverpool legend, known as ‘Aldo’, was top scorer in the competition that season with five goals and bagged a whopping 31 across the season as a whole.
With a brace in the semi-final first leg against Aston Villa, Aldridge was a key man for the historic United team which went on to beat Queens Park Rangers 3-0 in the final.
Trevor Hebberd, Ray Houghton, and Jeremy Charles scored the goals to see the Yellows, who were underdogs ahead of kick-off, to their first and only ever major trophy triumph.
In the comfort of his living room, Aldridge sat forward, remembering the year that lives so fondly in the memories of U’s fans.
“Did we expect to win it? No,” the 67-year-old declared with honesty.
“But in the early rounds, we fancied ourselves for a run.”
“I think one of the games I was injured, I think it was Newcastle, I didn’t play and the lads done really well and got past [the third] round.
“Then we moved into the semis against Aston Villa, which, you know, we weren’t too sure about, but to get them past them and get in the final and then everyone just basically said we’ve got no chance against QPR, we’re the total underdogs.
“Like Wimbledon were when I played for Liverpool; very, very similar. But the performance we put in, we absolutely smashed them. They couldn’t deal with us. It was just a fantastic day. To see 40,000 Oxford fans, that was special as well.
“We deserved to win 3-0, you know, and even [the QPR players] were very humble at the end of the game. I knew quite a lot of lads playing and they said, ‘look, you just battered us’.
“It’s massive for a relatively small club to do what we did. We knew we had a good team, some really good players.”
Clearly still enthusiastic about the victory, Aldridge still does not forget how the game played out, with one big regret still weighing on his mind.
“You know what, I missed a f****** sitter by the way,” the former Republic of Ireland international recalled.
“Little Les Phillips, who’s my mate, he should have scored and he’s crossed it to me. I was a little bit surprised and [it was an open] goal and I put it wide.
“I think that was to make it 4-0. So I was a little bit gutted I didn’t score at Wembley.”
The centre forward played 141 times for Oxford, scoring 90 goals before his move to Liverpool where he went on to become a First Division and FA Cup winner.
The 1986 Milk Cup was his first accolade, however, which Aldridge holds in very high regard, continuing to look back fondly on the day.
“You’re a little bit in euphoria, aren’t you?” he continued.
“You just tend to forget the moments. I was a bit gutted when Trevor [Hebberd] scored the first goal, because I wanted him to pass to me, but he scored.
“But I think picking up the trophy, when you’re a kid, everyone wants to play at Wembley and win the FA Cup. This is obviously secondary, but it’s not at the time.
“When you pick up the cup, it’s something that you relive, because you’ve seen so many great captains over the years and great players do the same.
“The day and the night that unfolded was…really special. Then having done that, we needed to stay up, which we did.
“That was a bit eerie, you know, the later on stages. But it was something that I’ll never ever forget and that’s the only time I won the League Cup.
“I’ll never forget that.”
Aldridge and co. beat Arsenal 3-0 on the final day of that season to stay in the First Division on the final day.
Oxford would have qualified for Europe with the cup victory if it were not for the ban imposed on English clubs from entering European competition due to the Heysel Stadium disaster which occurred the season before.
The Milk Cup final remains the greatest day in the U’s history, which former striker Aldridge is proud to have been a part of.
Exclusive quotes from an interview with the Oxford Mail, courtesy of BetBrain.
The U’s were defeated at Derby on Saturday, the Rams securing a 1-0 win thanks to Jaydon Banel’s first-half goal.
Oxford missed some golden opportunities to draw level, Mark Harris spurning a late chance wide whilst Yunus Konak and Myles Peart-Harris both squandered earlier efforts.
“Obviously relieved,” Eustace replied when asked how he felt when Harris missed the chance at the death.
“They’ve had a couple of chances from our own doing, really. Not being good enough on the ball and making mistakes.
“That was disappointing. You give teams chances, there’s always an opportunity for them. Fortunately, they’ve never taken it.
“I think when you look at the team that [Oxford] have put out at the moment, obviously a lot of draws, only two defeats in ten.
“I think it is always very difficult to play against and in those kind of games you need that bit of magic.
The former Blackburn Rovers and Birmingham City boss also praised the work of the U’s boss since his January arrival.
“I think over the course of the time he’s been here, being at Oxford, the team have really grew and been very difficult to play against. They’ve had some great results. I think he’s the right man to keep them up for sure.
“I wish him all the best.”
The U’s were beaten 1-0 at Pride Park after Jaydon Banel’s first-half strike, with Bloomfield’s men missing some big chances to get something from the game.
Yunus Konak and Mark Harris wasted the biggest two, the former shooting over with Jeon Jin-woo in space on his left and Welsh striker Harris putting Aidomo Emakhu’s cross wide in the final minute.
Myles Peart-Harris also missed a big opportunity in the Rams’ box after being played forward by Jamie Donley on the counter attack.
The defeat is a huge blow to Oxford’s Championship survival hopes with only three matches left to save their season as they remain in the relegation zone.
“I’ve got a mixture of emotions,” announced Bloomfield after the game.
“I’ve got disappointment at our performance [in the] first half and I’ve got frustration that we haven’t walked away with something at the end of the game.
“We’ve created two, if not three, really good opportunities against a really good team who are pushing for a play-off position. So today was always going to be a tough game for us. But we’ve created three really good chances and I’m really frustrated that we haven’t gone and taken one and taken something from the game.
“Of course,” the 42-year-old replied when asked if these chances could be the difference between relegation and survival.
“When you get opportunities you need to score from them. No team in our position is going to create loads and loads that you can’t miss.
“When they come around you’ve got to take them. In recent games we’ve been taking them, getting the results and today, unfortunately for us, disappointingly so, we didn’t take one. We’ve had some real clear-cut chances there today and we should take one.
READ MORE: Oxford United’s Derby defeat doubled down with Baggies win
READ MORE: Oxford United beaten by Derby in blow to survival hopes
READ MORE: Oxford United rivals set for hearing over points deduction
“You’re coming away against a really good team who have won five in a row [at home]. There are probably more chances than what you’re expecting, clear-cut chances than what you’re expecting to make. So for us not to take one is obviously disappointing.
“They left everything out there second half and we took a very good team to the wire and created some good opportunities. So, fair play to the lads for the way they reacted after half-time.
“We needed to get the points on the board. It hasn’t happened today, but we have to keep fighting.
“We haven’t done all this work over three months to fall away at this moment. We have to fight and fight and fight and we’ll be back on Tuesday night.”
Starmer says it ‘beggars belief’ he wasn’t told about Mandelson vetting failure as he faces Commons – UK politics live | Politics
Only 6% of UK firms would use AI time for advisory
Bicester man denies sexually assaulting two young girls
-
Crime & Safety1 week agoLorry overturns on Oxfordshire A43 roundabout with driver trapped
-
Crime & Safety5 days agoOxford teacher who fiddled grades wants banning order ended
-
Oxford News1 week agoOxfordshire children care provider employed illegal staff
-
Business & Technology1 week agoAqilla launches AI invoice tool to speed accounts payable
-
Crime & Safety1 week agoRoadworks in Oxford cause Botley Road traffic chaos
-
Oxford News1 week agoEmirates issues new travel and flight update for Brits
-
Crime & Safety4 weeks agoPolice update after arrests in ‘urgent’ Oxford incident
-
Business & Technology3 weeks agoFirst Indie Oxford Day kicks off with great success