Oxford united FC
Inside the Kassam as Will Vaulks delivers emotional evening
With guests sat, including numerous Oxford United personnel such as Stan Mills, Michal Helik, Mark Harris, head coach Matt Bloomfield, and CEO Tim Williams, the stage was set for an impactful evening of mental health awareness.
Tuesday evening saw an impactful evening focused on suicide intervention presented in front of 150 guests in OX4, something that Vaulks and the ‘Can We Talk?’ campaign had been working on for some time.
“That’s probably why I’m extra nervous to do it tonight, to do it in front of the lads that you play football with every day,” Vaulks admitted.
“Obviously, they see a different side of me as well. I’m really grateful for them coming along and supporting.”
A sea of Oxford United shirts adorned the room to witness Vaulks speak alongside U’s head of PR and media, Ryan Maher, ‘Baton of Hope’ founder, Mike McCarthy, and its clinical director, Ben Wilson.
Maher introduced the night, guests listening intently as he spoke honestly about a friend’s struggle with mental health.
McCarthy followed, explaining the origins of ‘Baton of Hope’, the charity which aims to prevent suicide through proactive change.
An emotional McCarthy detailed his story before praising the work of the Yellows and introducing Vaulks.
“Thank you, Oxford United. You are pioneers.”
U’s midfielder Vaulks has done a lot of work already this year, going into schools across Oxfordshire to promote mental health awareness.
READ MORE: Oxford United CEO thanks ‘inspirational’ Will Vaulks
The 32-year-old lost both of his grandfathers to suicide in his teenage years which led to the selfless fire being lit which drives him to help prevent such tragedies from occurring.
Throughout his career, Vaulks has experienced highs and lows; from experiencing loneliness in Scotland with Falkirk, to securing his big break at Cardiff City, to scoring a seemingly winning goal at Wembley for Sheffield Wednesday which was ruled out for offside.
READ MORE: Oxford United quintet called up to World Cup qualifiers
His stint at Rotherham saw the former Wales international volunteer for the first time at a hospice, revealing to him the deeper issues in life than footballing defeats.
Amidst the sincerity and authenticity of the U’s man’s words of reflection and encouragement, Vaulks interspersed his talk with dry humour and digs at Sparky, offering an emotionally intelligent balance of heavy vulnerability with the familiar light-heartedness of the midfielder.
READ MORE: Oxford United’s Vaulks takes funding to three football clubs
Baton of Hope’s clinical director, Wilson, rounded the evening off before a Q&A.
The immediate impact was plain to see as guests put forward suggestions and questions, one gentleman even opening up about a men’s mental health group he had started elsewhere in Oxfordshire.
The passion and eagerness to make an impact that was sparked that evening is only the beginning as Oxford United and Vaulks continue their commendable work in the community.
The U’s centre back has been key in a side that has won its last three games, with Brown getting on the scoresheet in their 3-1 win away at Preston North End last week.
Their most recent victory saw them beat Blackburn Rovers 1-0 in an impressive home display.
“I think maybe the penny has dropped and some things are starting to click and got the ideas across that we need to do better performance-wise but also need to do better results-wise,” Brown said ahead of United’s next game against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
“I think a lot of the season, we’ve probably been a bit too inconsistent where we haven’t put runs together, haven’t put back-to-back wins together which has ultimately put us in this position.
“Over the last month or few weeks, before we put this string of wins together, it did feel sometimes a bit unfortunate. It felt like we were just on that line of putting wins together.
“I think we’ve all come together and…it’s clicked.
“A big part of last season was the defenders chipping in with goals and maybe we haven’t done that as much this year as we would’ve liked.
“But to get clean sheets and chip in with a few goals is always nice.”
Oxford are fighting for survival in their second season in the Championship after avoiding relegation in the previous campaign.
READ MORE: Matt Bloomfield dedicates Oxford United win to Amelia Aplin
A lot has changed since then, with Matt Bloomfield now in charge and plenty of new players arriving in OX4, eight in the January transfer window alone.
“I think a lot of people are going back to last year, but I do think our squad is massively different” admitted the 28-year-old.
READ MORE: Oxford United ‘can all see the prize’ ahead of Charlton
“Whether that’s some of the boys from previous years stepping up and helping [the new players] through that process.
“It’s a totally different season and there are different obstacles thrown at you, but I think maybe the experience of last year can hopefully play a part this year and have the same outcome.”
The Yellows face a Charlton side this weekend who have won two in a row, with a shock 1-0 win away at second-placed Middlesbrough last time out.
READ MORE: Matt Bloomfield’s full thoughts after Oxford beat Blackburn
The Addicks looked as if they would be involved the relegation scrap but have now pulled away from the pack and look likely to survive.
“I think they’ve done really well this season, especially getting promoted last season and then first season in the Championship this year; I think they’ve done unbelievably.
“Whether they’re out of it or in it, who knows? But I think they’ve put themselves in a great place to stay up.”
Oxford United host Charlton Athletic as they look to win their fourth Championship game in a row.
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Cameron Brannagan dispatched the U’s first spot kick since returning to the second tier after Will Lankshear was fouled in the box.
It was late heartbreak though for Matt Bloomfield’s men, Ciaron Brown giving away a 91st-minute penalty which Charlie Kelman slotted away for the Addicks.
A drab first half saw just one shot come in from either side, Jamie Donley putting a free kick from the edge of the box just over the crossbar.
Aidomo Emakhu found an path through to goal earlier on when Lankshear headed the ball centrally and into his path, but the Irish winger was shrugged off the ball by the retreating Harry Clarke.
Charlton held 60 per cent of the possession in the first period but the Yellows held their own, limiting the visitors to very little openings as they failed to manage a shot.
Lankshear held the ball up well when receiving long passes, but did not have quite enough support to find them near him in space.
The second period provided slightly more promise, Michal Helik flicking over the bar from close range.
The unthinkable happened in the 57th minute when Oxford were awarded their first penalty in 675 days.
Lankshear was impeded as Sam Long crossed in, with the referee giving the U’s a penalty for the first time since the League One play-off semi-final second leg against Peterborough United in May 2024.
Brannagan stepped up to take it and slotted it neatly into the bottom left corner to put United ahead.
The U’s almost doubled their lead moments later when Lankshear chipped the keeper, but Lloyd Jones came across to clear off the line.
Charlton began to pick up then, Tyreece Campbell firing a low shot at goal but seeing it blocked.
Still, Oxford tried to hit on the break, Przemyslaw Placheta fizzing a vicious ball across goal which no one was there to meet.
READ MORE: Oxford United boss and captain pay tribute to Amelia Aplin
As the Addicks began to float numerous balls into the box, they won a late penalty when Ciaron Brown grabbed the shirt of Jones who hit the deck.
Kelman stepped up to slot home, scoring after coming off the bench as he did in December’s reverse fixture.
READ MORE: Oxford United striker snubbed Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town
The draw brings Oxford’s winning streak to end but maintains an unbeaten run of four Championship fixtures.
Oxford: Cumming, Long, Helik, Brown, Currie, Konak (McDonnell 65), Brannagan, Mills (Vaulks 84), Donley (Spencer 77), Emakhu (Placheta 65), Lankshear (Prelec 77)
Charlton: Mannion, Ramsay (Kelman 60), Jones, Bell, Clarke, Docherty (Fullah 82), Coventry (Fevrier 68), Chambers (Rankin-Costello 82), Carey, Campbell, Leaburn
Bookings: Helik, Mills, Brown; Chambers, Clarke, Bell, Rankin-Costello
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