Oxford United celebrate a decade since League One promotion

On May 7, 2016, Oxford secured automatic promotion out of League Two with a second-placed finish in the fourth tier.

Victory over rivals Wycombe Wanderers on the final day of the season saw The U’s return to the third tier for the first time since the 2000/01 season.

After a goalless first half, Cheyenne Dunkley headed home in the 53rd minute to put Oxford into the lead at the Kassam Stadium.

Kemar Roofe won a penalty just under 20 minutes later after being impeded in the box by Wycombe’s Aaron Pierre, Chris Maguire tucking away the resulting spot kick.

Alex MacDonald and Danny Hylton celebrate promotion to League One with Oxford United in 2015/16 (Image: David Fleming)

Kidlington-born Callum O’Dowda put the cherry on the cake in stoppage time to secure promotion, staying on his feet at the by-line to come inside and poke past Ryan Allsop in goal.

The 3-0 win saw The Yellows end the campaign in second place, seeing them automatically promoted alongside runaway champions Northampton Town and third-placed Bristol Rovers.

Seventh-placed AFC Wimbledon were the fourth team promoted as play-off final winners at Wembley.

Promotion was the reward for a terrific season under head coach Michael Appleton which also saw United reach the fourth round of the FA Cup, memorably beating Premier League side Swansea City 3-2 in the fourth round.

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Michael Appleton checks his watch as the final game of the season against Wycombe Wanderers enters injury time, waiting for the celebrations to start as the U’s clinch promotion (Image: David Fleming)

The U’s also enjoyed a trip to Wembley that year as they reached the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final, unfortunately losing to League One side Barnsley 3-2.

The club also beat higher-league opposition in the League Cup, bettering Championship outfit Brentford away from home in the first round before being knocked out by Sheffield Wednesday in the following cup fixture.

Former Jamaica international Roofe was Oxford’s top scorer across the campaign, bagging 18 goals in League Two – the fifth-most in the division – and 26 in all competitions.

Oxford United fans invade the pitch after promotion to League One (Image: David Fleming)

Oxford City striker, U’s academy coach, and former U’s marksman Matty Taylor was the league-wide top scorer with 27 for Bristol Rovers.

United were promoted after a six-year tenure in League Two and broke the club record for the most away wins in a single league season with 14.

The campaign also saw the return of loan signing George Baldock, the late right back who had spent the second half of the previous season in OX4.

Baldock returned and and was an integral player for The U’s in the first half of the 2015/16 campaign and impressed before being recalled by parent club MK Dons, but his Yellows performances still managed to earn himself a place in the League Two PFA Team of the Year.

The former Greece international tragically passed away in 2024 at the age of 31.