Oxford united FC
Flowers left for Oxford United goalkeeper Amelia Aplin
The 15-year-old was playing in a Junior Premier League (JPL) match against Fulham at the club’s training facility on Saturday (March 7), when she collapsed on the pitch.
Emergency services, including Thames Valley Police and South Central Ambulance Service, attended Oxford Sports Park and transported her to the hospital.
It was then confirmed by the club on Sunday afternoon (March 8) that Amelia had passed away the evening before.
LEAVE YOUR TRIBUTE: Book of condolence opened for Oxford United’s Amelia Aplin
Oxfordshire and the wider footballing community across the UK have been rocked by the news, with heartfelt tributes pouring in over the past 24 hours.
Yellow flowers, handwritten notes, Oxford United scarves, as well as a football and a goalkeeper shirt with Aplin on the back were all left at Oxford Sports Park today (Monday, March 9).
The club’s first team players and academy held a minute’s silence at the training centre to pay respects on Monday with the club stating Amelia is “forever in our hearts”.
Mourners have come from across the city and beyond to pay their respects to the young shotstopper.
Longtime Oxford community campaigner Amir Steve Ali visited the site to leave a bunch of yellow flowers, being especially moved by having a 15-year-old football-loving daughter himself.
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He said: “It’s such heartbreaking news. My own daughter is a footballer and the same age as Amelia was, so it’s hit me hard.
“When I went there to lay some flowers to pay tribute and respect, it was a very emotional moment for me.
“I can’t imagine what the girl’s parents must be going through. My thoughts are with them and her loved ones. I pray that she rest in peace.”
Oxford United’s statement said: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of 15-year-old Academy player, Amelia Aplin.
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“Amelia collapsed during a Girls’ Academy game against Fulham at the Club’s Training Centre in Horspath yesterday afternoon.
“The thoughts and sincere condolences from everyone at Oxford United are with Amelia’s family, friends, teammates and coaches.
“We would like to place on record our appreciation for the efforts of the medical staff at both Oxford United and Fulham Football Club, along with the emergency services.
“The club will offer support to Amelia’s family, players, coaches and staff impacted by this tragic event.
READ MORE: Tributes pour in after death of 15-year-old Oxford United player
“We would ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time.”
A statement from the JPL said: “To lose a young player with such promise at just 15 years old is a tragedy that is felt deeply across our football community.”
Martin Brock, chief executive of the JPL, added: “Amelia wasn’t just a goalkeeper, she was a leader and a bright light in our all stars programme.
“Her loss leaves a void in the JPL that words cannot adequately fill. Our thoughts are with her family, her friends and his teammates at this unspeakably difficult time.”
READ MORE: Oxford United game postponed after ‘serious incident’ at girls game
Layla Moran, Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said: “I am deeply saddened to hear of Amelia’s passing.
“My thoughts are with her family, friends, teammates and coaches, and with everyone at Oxford United who will be devastated by this loss.
“Amelia was clearly a talented young player with a love of the game and a bright future ahead of her, and this tragic loss will be felt right across our community.”
Anneliese Dodds, Labour MP for Oxford East, added: “This is terribly sad news.
LEAVE YOUR TRIBUTE: Book of condolence opened for Oxford United’s Amelia Aplin
“My thoughts are with Amelia Aplin’s family, her friends, and everyone at Oxford United at this awful time.”
Liam Walker, Conservative group leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “This is utterly devastating news.
“My thoughts are with Amelia’s family and all those impacted by this awful loss. She will forever be a yellow.”
A statement from Oxford City FC said: “Everyone associated with Oxford City FC is sending our sincere condolences to the family of Amelia Aplin and to our friends at Oxford United during this incredibly sad time.”
The U’s lost some key players after being relegated from the Championship, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur striker Lankshear and Brentford midfielder Yunus Konak returning to their parent clubs.
Eastwood says the club must replace these players with quality whilst keeping their ‘core’.
The 36-year-old goalkeeper recently signed a new contract in OX4 as a coach, helping the next generation of shot-stopper whilst still training with the first team and to support the goalkeeping department.
“I’m happy to be here still,” Eastwood told The Dub, BBC Radio Oxford.
“Hopefully I can be here for a long time to give back my knowledge I’ve got over the years with this club. In League One, things happen, there are a lot of games in different competitions and I’m sure that if I’m called upon, I could come in and do a job when needed.
🧤 Simon Eastwood Signs New Coaching Contract.
Easty will officially help to coach the next generation of Oxford United goalkeepers and will continue to train with the Men’s Team to support the First Team goalkeepers. ⤵️
— Oxford United (@OUFCOfficial) May 27, 2026
“Will Lankshear, who probably won’t be coming back, will be a massive loss. Players like that, for me, we need to replace with good quality to get us some goals to get us straight back up.”
The veteran keeper is close with Yellows captain Cameron Brannagan, with the duo two of the longest-serving players at the club.
“I speak to Cam on a daily basis. He obviously loves the club as well, he’s been here a long time.
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“He’s absolutely devastated to go down and he wants to be a Championship player, wants to play in the Championship, wants to do it with Oxford. As a team, we just need to bounce back as quickly as we can. Hopefully we can keep our core and our best players.”
Eastwood has been at the club for 10 years now after joining in 2016, his second spell with the club.
His first spell was an unsuccessful year in 2010/11 where he was second fiddle to Ryan Clarke and failed to make an appearance before being released.
“I’m very realistic and open about my career.
“I’m not a Championship keeper. Five or 10 years ago, maybe I could’ve given it a good shot.
“Could I come in and do a job for a game or so? I think I could. But to be consistently playing, week-in, week-out, I probably don’t think I’m there anymore in the Championship.
“League One, I think, is a little bit different in the sense of I’m still good enough to…I’ve obviously played a lot of games in League One since I’ve been at Oxford and I know the standard.
“We’ve got two really good goalkeepers in Jamie [Cumming] and Matt [Ingram] at the moment, so I was never going into training every day or knocking on the manager’s door thinking I should be playing.”
The U’s are looking to strengthen after suffering relegation from the Championship last season, finishing 22nd in the table.
It was recently suggested by Austria’s largest newspaper, The Krone , that Wien rejected a bid of just over €2 million from the Yellows for Barry’s services.
Geniestreiche treffen auf Bescheidenheit, Ruhe trifft auf Fröhlichkeit. Und heute ganz besonders, denn Abubakr Barry feiert seinen 25. Geburtstag – alles Gute, Abu! 🥳💜#faklive pic.twitter.com/suIAcIDz0v
— FK Austria Wien (@FKAustriaWien) July 2, 2025
Championship club Stoke have since reportedly submitted a bid worth €3 million, whilst Austrian giants Red Bull Salzburg also bidding between €3 and €4 million for the 25-year-old.
Salzburg are reportedly remaining persistent in their efforts to sign Barry and Sky Sport Austria have said the prospect of the midfielder remaining at his current club is ‘increasingly unlikely’.
Im Tauziehen um die Zukunft von Abu #Barry bleibt @RedBullSalzburg hartnäckig. Eine Zukunft @FKAustriaWien wird immer unrealistischer. #inundaut #faklive @Transferic_Sky
— Johannes Brandl (@Sky_Johannes) June 2, 2026
With the Gambian’s price having been driven up since the U’s apparent rejected bid, it is tough to see how Oxford can compete with the finances and alure of Championship football with Stoke and even Europa League action with Salzburg.
Barry played 28 times in the Austrian Bundesliga last term, scoring four goals and bagging four assists.
After joining the Violets in 2024, the Gambia international reportedly has one year left on his contract in Vienna.
Salford were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Notts County at Wembley to miss out on promotion to League One and a match with Matt Bloomfield’s Oxford in the third tier next season.
Alassana Jatta, Lucas Ness and Jodi Jones scored the goals to down the Ammie at Wembley.
Robinson led the club to a fourth-placed finish, narrowly missing out on third place and the automatic places by one point.
City edged past Grimsby Town in the play-off semi-finals 4-3 on aggregate.
The defeat at Wembley last month was the second play-off final loss in Robinson’s managerial career after the 45-year-old suffered with the U’s in 2020.
United lost to Wycombe Wanderers, captained by current Oxford boss Bloomfield, in the League One play-off final in lockdown.
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Joseph Jacobson scored the winner from the penalty spot after Mark Sykes had cancelled out Anthony Stewart’s ninth-minute opener for the Chairboys.
The U’s reached the play-offs again the following season but lost 6-3 on aggregate to Blackpool in the semi-final.
Robinson had arrived in OX4 in 2018 and left five years later in 2023 when he was dismissed following a run of eight games without a win.
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