When Oxford United celebrated promotion to Football League

But this picture from Memory Lane reader Laurence Waters recalls happier times when the club finished top of the Southern League in 1961-2 for the second year running.

This double success and good form in previous years led to the team being elected to the Football League for the 1962-3 season.

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Mr Waters, a supporter of the club since the 1950s, has supplied the names of those in the picture.

Front row, left to right, Owen Medlock, Graham Atkinson, Alan Willey, Cyril Beavon, Peter Knight, Ron Atkinson, Geoff Coppock, manager Arthur Turner, Maurice Kyle, Tony Jones, Pat Quartermain, Bud Houghton, Geoff Denial and Johnny Love.

At the back are Jack Sheldon. Peter Higgins, Peter Bryant, Ian White, Tony Buck, John Shuker, Ian Mcintosh, Peter Selby, Tony Jacques and Tom Webb.

Those names are sure to bring a smile to those who watched the ‘Yellows’ in the 1960s.

Ron Atkinson made a record 560 appearances for the club, his brother Graham scored most goals (107) and John Shuker played the most Football League games (478).

The club was founded as Headington United in 1893 and changed its name to Oxford in 1960 – after all, few outside the city knew where Headington was on the map!

Like many teams, the ‘U’s’ have had many ups and downs over the years, but its biggest achievement was arguably winning the Milk Cup in 1986.

As we recalled (Memory Lane, April 20), they lifted the trophy with a magnificent 3-0 victory over Queen’s Park Rangers 40 years ago, on April 20, 1986.

The Oxford Mail reported: “More than 90,000 spectators, plus many, many more watching on TV, saw the little club take Wembley by storm. They didn’t just beat Rangers, they humiliated them into submission.

“After 40 minutes Trevor Hebberd, who won the man-of-the-match award, gave United the lead, and second-half goals from Ray Houghton and Jeremy Charles sent the fans jubilantly back up the M40 to begin the biggest celebrations this city has ever seen.”

United will start next season in League One, with supporters hoping they can quickly get back on track for the opening of their new stadium near Kidlington.