Oxford United legend makes Anfield comparison with new stadium

The U’s saw a judicial review request from campaign group ‘Friends of Stratfield Brake’ refused by the High Court last week with the Judge concluding that the ground of challenge were unarguable.

Oxford were granted planning permission by Cherwell District Council earlier this year, with a new stadium dubbed crucial for the future of the club.

The new ground is set to be located on The Triangle in Kidlington, with the £130 million investment providing almost 1,000 jobs and hoping to boost the economy by £32 million a year.

Former Yellows striker and Milk Cup winner Aldridge has declared that the new stadium will make a ‘massive difference’ having played in stadiums from the old Manor Ground to Liverpool’s Anfield and Barcelona’s famous Camp Nou.

“Once they get there…it makes a massive difference,” the former U’s and Liverpool goal scorer announced.

Plans for Oxford United stadium (Image: Oxford United)

“It makes you feel a bit more proud that you’re not residing in someone else’s back garden.

“I think the fact that they don’t own the ground will make it easy to walk away from. And the fact that there’s only three sides.

“It didn’t look quite like a football stadium.

“It looked like a baseball stadium in many ways.

“I feel sorry for teams that have to move or have moved…for the fans, the die-hard fans.

“Liverpool are lucky. We’ve built on what we’ve always had. Obviously, Anfield’s noted all over the world, one of the best stadiums in the world.

“We’re lucky to have that.”

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In a career that took him from Oxford to Liverpool to Spain, Aldridge played in a number of world-renowned grounds.

After making a name for himself with Newport County, the former Republic or Ireland international arrived at the famous Manor Ground where he went on to make a number of memories.

“There was a mini Kop…right behind us, you know, they made a difference and I’ll never forget that.

“I scored a worldie against Oxford for Newport from about, I must remember, 40 yards out; I think that might have just captured Jim Smith’s mind.

“But as memories go, I had so many.

“The hat-trick against Ipswich, three goals in, I think it was about six, seven minutes or something.

John Aldridge playing for the U’s (Image: Photo: Oxford Mail)

“We were getting beat 3-0, we scored just before half-time, went on to 3-3 and Neil Slatter scored the winner.

“When we knocked Arsenal out of the cup, beating Villa to go to Wembley over the two legs.

“It was brilliant to play there because of the atmosphere.

“It was a little bit intimidating to teams. We beat Chelsea 4-0, I think.

“Teams hated coming there, honestly.

“I think the Manor Ground kept us up over the years.”