Oxford united FC
Four former Oxford United players join PFA free agent camp
The camp is part of a fully funded, structured pre-season programme offered by the PFA for out-of-contract players.
It aims to keep them fit, visible to clubs, and supported off the pitch while they search for a new deal.
The four Oxford players included in week three of the PFA pre-season, which involves 45 players in total, are Billy Bodin, Marvin Johnson, Kane Hemmings, and Jordan Graham.
The PFA runs these residential summer pre-season camps specifically for free agents who were on professional contracts in the previous season, providing a “club-style” environment for those unattached.
These camps mirror a typical club pre-season, with daily on-pitch sessions, strength and conditioning work, recovery, and friendly matches against EFL and academy sides, all at no cost to the player.
The programme has been expanded to around 10–12 weeks over the summer, with roughly 30–40 players per week, and has helped hundreds of free agents secure new deals after being scouted at camp.
Former Oxford United man Billy Bodin (Image: Mike Allen)
Bodin signed for Oxford United on June 30, 2021, as a free agent on a one-year contract.
In his first season, in which Oxford narrowly missed out on a play-off place, he scored six times in the league and once in the FA Cup.
He expressed his wish to sign a new contract at the end of the season, and in June 2022 signed a new two-year deal.
After winning promotion to the Championship with Oxford, Bodin announced he would leave the club at the end of the 2023–24 season when his contract expired.
He last played for U’s rivals Swindon Town last season.
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Former Oxford United player Marvin Johnson (Image: David Fleming)
Marvin Johnson signed for Oxford United on August 31, 2016, for an undisclosed sum, which according to the Oxford Mail was believed to be a club record fee at the time, in the region of £650,000.
He played in the final of the EFL Trophy at Wembley Stadium, which ended in a 2–1 defeat to Coventry City.
Kane Hemmings celebrates his opening goal with Chris Maguire in a 4-1 victory over Coventry (Image: David Fleming)
Kane Hemmings signed for Oxford United on July 27, 2016, for an undisclosed six-figure fee, believed to be in the region of £250,000, agreeing a three-year contract with the club.
On 22 August 2017 he joined Mansfield Town on a season-long loan and at the end of the season he moved to Notts County for an undisclosed fee.
Jordan Graham joined Oxford United of League Two in September 2015 on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The PFA camps function deliberately as a “shop window,” with arranged friendlies and free‑agent XIs facing different clubs.
Oxford united FC
Man charged after breaching football ban at Oxford United game
Thames Valley Police has confirmed that Aiden Murray, 23, of Little Bury, Oxford, has been charged with one count of breaching a Football Banning Order. He has been bailed to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on 14 January 2027.
The police force has also confirmed that a 19-year-old man from Wokingham was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after damage was caused to a bus. He has since been released on conditional bail.
A 16-year-old boy from Reading was also arrested on suspicion of a Section 5 Public Order Act offence and failing to provide details under Section 50 of the Police Reform Act. He has been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Thames Valley Police has also confirmed that there were 19 Section 35 dispersals issued in Reading and Oxford, four of which were issued by British Transport Police.
Whilst Section 60AA powers were used to require individuals to remove face coverings. All individuals complied with officers’ requests and, as such, no breaches were recorded.
A Section 35 order gives police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) the power to direct individuals causing, or likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to leave a specified area.
A Section 60AA order gives uniformed officers the power to require any person to remove items worn wholly or mainly to conceal their identity, such as face coverings, and to seize any item they reasonably believe is intended for that purpose.
Oxford united FC
Oxford United have three League One fixtures moved
The U’s away match at Wigan Athletic has been delayed by 24 hours and will now be played on January 20, with an 8pm kick-off. It will be shown on Sky Sports Main Event.
The return Thames Valley Derby against Reading, scheduled for February 6, will start at 12.30pm.
United’s home fixture against Luton Town on February 27 will also be shown on television and will kick off at 12.30pm.
The U’s are third in the League One table and have gone 10 games unbeaten. They beat Thames Valley rivals Reading 2-0 on Wednesday night.
Broadcast selections for March 5-8, 2027, will be announced by February 5, with weekly announcements then covering four weeks ahead.
Oxford united FC
Oxford United boss lifts lid on Cumming suspension and Helik injury
Cumming was left out of the squad due to suspension as Oxford beat Thames Valley rivals Reading 2-0 in League One, whilst Helik was forced off in the second half with an injury.
The win saw Reading-born duo Gatlin O’Donkor and Mo Missanga score at the Kassam Stadium to extend the Yellows’ league unbeaten run to 10 games.
U’s goalkeeper Cumming was not available in midweek after being sent off in the final minutes against Barnsley last weekend.
The club had appealed against the red card, with Ramsey providing an update after the match: “They said the decision was the same as the ref’s decision, and they didn’t want to change it.
“So, look, it is what it is. We have to deal with it.
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“And then, look, it gives opportunity again for Simon Eastwood to come in and have another solid performance with a clean sheet.
“So, we have players who are ready.”
Cumming will see out a three-game suspension, with it understood that he will miss the weekend’s FA Cup clash with Stevenage but will be available in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy against Cheltenham Town.
The United boss also opened up on the injury to Helik, saying: “He had a knock on his knee from the last match [against Barnsley].
Michal Helik heads at goal for Oxford (Image: Darrell Fisher)
“He’s done well to get through the minutes that he did tonight.
“He felt it a little bit, but no risk taken there.
“So, an opportunity now for him to recover a little bit before the league starts up again.
“We’ll assess him. We’ll see how he responds over the next few days.”
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