Oxford United kick off the 2023/24 season with a trip to Cambridge United and here we look back at the Opening Day through the years.
An away game to start the season has become a tradition for Oxford. Remarkably, the U’s have played away from home on the first day for the last SEVEN seasons.
Since they joined the Football League in 1962 United have started away from home 38 times and on their own ground for just 23 matches.
Recently, pairing the two University cities has become a regular occurrence. Two seasons ago Steve Seddon scored on his debut in a 1-1 draw at the Abbey Stadium while last season, having kicked off away at Derby the previous week, Oxford’s first home game was, again, against Cambridge: Tyler Goodhram announcing his impact on the First Team with a dramatic last gasp winner.
If anyone believes that playing away seven times in a row is more than a coincidence then let the conspiracy theories begin: since relocating from the Manor to the Kassam Stadium 22 years ago, Oxford have started the season at home on just seven occasions.
The very first competitive match at the Kassam Stadium was at home to Rochdale on the first day of 2001/2, when Jamie Brooks’ strike was a consolation in a 2-1 defeat.
The last time that Oxford won in the first match of the season was 5th August 2017 when goals from Wes Thomas and Josh Ruffels secured a 2-0 win at Oldham Athletic. That was the first opening win since that incredible 4-1 victory at Fratton Park, where braces from Deane Smalley and Alfie Potter earned Oxford the three points at Portsmouth in 2013- can it really be ten years ago?
Because of the frequency of away season openers, the last time United won a home game in the Football League on the season’s first day was 21 years ago in 2002 against (now happily reborn) Bury. Goals from Manny Omoyinmi and Andy Scott were enough to grab a 2-1 win against the Shakers
And if you think Cambridge away on the first day is a long trip then think of the fans who travelled to the historic first ever match in the Football League on 18th August 1962: a trip to Barrow when the M6 wasn't finished and the M40 wasn’t even a planner’s dream…
Those Oxford fans that made the trip (and there were a fair few of them) saw United take the lead through Graham Atkinson and go in at the break leading 2-1 with Bud Houghton putting the U’s ahead again, but ultimately fall short to lose 3-2.
Perhaps the most historic opening game since then came on 17th August 1985. A top division side for the first time, United drew their first top-flight match at West Bromwich Albion 1-1, with left-back Bobby McDonald scoring that history-making goal.
This season, hopes are high with Liam Manning in charge and a new look United ready for the challenges ahead. Fans are right behind them- Saturday is a sell out for Oxford fans who will be hoping that life on the road starts with a win.
We’ll be there at every game, home and away. Follow all the action on our social channels with a match report and gallery right here at www.oufc.co.uk on the final whistle.
OPENING DAY GAMES
First League game only since the club originally joined the Football League. In some seasons League Cup/Trophy matches were played before the opening league fixture
TOTAL
| Total Games | 61 |
| Home Games | 23 |
| Away Games | 38 |
| Won | 25 |
| Drawn | 17 |
| Lost | 19 |
| Home Games Only | |||
| P23 | W13 | D5 | L5 |
| Away Games Only | |||
| P38 | W12 | D12 | L14 |
Oxford United kick off the 2023/24 season with a trip to Cambridge United and here we look back at the Opening Day through the years.
An away game to start the season has become a tradition for Oxford. Remarkably, the U’s have played away from home on the first day for the last SEVEN seasons! Since they joined the Football League in 1962 UNited have started away from home 38 times and on their own ground for just 25 matches.
REcently pairing the two University cities has become a regular occurrence. Two seasons ago Steve Seddon scored on his debut in a 1-1 draw at the Abbey Stadium while last season, having kicked off away at Derby the previous week, Oxford’s first home game was, again, against Cambridge: Tyler Goodhram announcing his impact on the First Team with a dramatic last gasp winner.
IF anyone believes that playing away seven times in a row is more than a coincidence then let the conspiracy theories begin: since relocating from the Manor to the Kassam Stadium 22 years ago, Oxford have started the season at home on just seven occasions.
The very first competitive match at the Kassam Stadium was at home to Rochdale on the first day of 2001/2, when Jamie Brooks’ strike was a consolation in a 2-1 defeat.
The last time that Oxford won in the first match of the season was 5th August 2017, when goals from Wes Thomas and Josh Ruffels secured a 2-0 win at Oldham Athletic. That was the first opening win since that incredible 4-1 victory at Fratton Park, where braces from Deane Smalley and Alfie Potter earned Oxford the three points at Portsmouth in 2013- can it really be ten years ago?
Because of the frequency of away season openers, the last time United won a home game in the Football League on the season’s first day was 21 years ago in 2002 against (now happily reborn) Bury. Goals from Manny Omoyinmi and Andy Scott were enough to grab a 2-1 win against the Shakers
And if you think Cambridge away on the first day is a long trip then think of the fans who travelled to the historic first ever match in the Football League on 18th August 1962: a trip to Barrow when the M6 wasn;t finished and the M40 wasn’t even a planner’s dream…
Those Oxford fans that made the trip (and there were a fair few of them) saw United take the lead through Graham Atkinson and go in at the break leading 2-1 with Bud Houghton putting the U’s ahead again, but ultimately fall short to lose 3-2.
Perhaps the most historic opening game since then came on 17th August 1985. A top division side for the first time, United drew their first top-flight match at West Bromwich Albion 1-1, with left-back Bobby McDonald scoring that history-making goal.
This season, hopes are high with Liam Manning in charge and a new look United ready for the challenges ahead. Fans are right behind them- Saturday is a sell out for Oxford fans who will be hoping that life on the road starts with a win.
We’ll be there at every game, home and away. Follow all the action on our social channels with a match report and gallery right here at www.oufc.co.uk on the final whistle.
1962 Barrow a L 2 - 3
1963 Chester City a W 2-0
1964 Crewe Alexandra H W 4 - 2
1965 Swindon Town a D 0 - 0
1966 AFC Bournemouth H D 1 - 1
1967 Shrewsbury Town a L 0 - 2
1968 Bolton Wanderers H D 1 - 1
1969 Huddersfield Town H L 1 - 2
1970 Millwall a W 2 - 1
1971 Leyton Orient H D 1 - 1
1972 Leyton Orient a D 1 - 1
1973 Hull City a D 0 - 0
1974 Cardiff City a D 1 - 1
1975 Carlisle United a D 1 - 1
1976 Brighton And Hove Albion a L 2 - 3
1977 Rotherham United H L 2 - 3
1978 Blackpool a L 0 - 1
1979 Rotherham United H W 5 - 1
1980 Chester City a W 1 - 0
1981 Plymouth Argyle a W 1 - 0
1982 Gillingham a W 1 - 0
1983 Lincoln City H W 3 - 0
1984 Huddersfield Town a W 3 - 0
1985 West Bromwich Albion a D 1 - 1
1986 Watford a L 0 - 3
1987 Portsmouth H W 4 - 2
1988 Leeds United a D 1 - 1
1989 Plymouth Argyle a L 0 - 2
1990 Port Vale H W 5 - 2
1991 Port Vale a L 1 - 2
1992 Bristol Rovers H W 2 - 1
1993 Portsmouth H W 3 - 2
1994 Hull City H W 4 - 0
1995 Chesterfield H W 1 - 0
1996 Queens Park Rangers a L 1 - 2
1997 Huddersfield Town H W 2 - 0
1998 Bristol City a D 2 - 2
1999 Stoke City a W 2 - 1
2000 Peterborough United H L 0 - 1
2001 Rochdale H L 1 - 2
2002 Bury H W 2 - 1
2003 Lincoln City a W 1 - 0
2004 Boston United a L 0 - 1
2005 Grimsby Town a D 1 - 1
2006 Halifax Town a W 2 - 0
2007 Forest Green Rovers H W 1 - 0
2008 Barrow a L 0 - 3
2009 York City H W 2 - 1
2010 Burton Albion a D 0 - 0
2011 Rotherham United a L 0 - 1
2012 Bristol Rovers a W 2 - 0
2013 Portsmouth a W 4 - 1
2014 Burton Albion H L 0 - 1
2015 Crawley Town H D 1 - 1
2016 Chesterfield H D 1 - 1
2017 Oldham Athletic a W 2 - 0
2018 Barnsley a L 0 - 4
2019 Sunderland a D 1 - 1
2020 Lincoln City a L 0 - 2
2021 Cambridge United a D 1 - 1
2022 Derby County a L 0 - 1
First league game only. In some seasons League Cup/Trophy matches were played before the opening league fixture
TOTAL
P61 Home games 23 Away games 38
Won 25 D 17 L19
HOME
P23 W 13 D5 L5
AWAY
p38 W12 D12 L14
Oxford United kick off the 2023/24 season with a trip to Cambridge United and here we look back at the Opening Day through the years.
An away game to start the season has become a tradition for Oxford. Remarkably, the U’s have played away from home on the first day for the last SEVEN seasons! Since they joined the Football League in 1962 UNited have started away from home 38 times and on their own ground for just 25 matches.
REcently pairing the two University cities has become a regular occurrence. Two seasons ago Steve Seddon scored on his debut in a 1-1 draw at the Abbey Stadium while last season, having kicked off away at Derby the previous week, Oxford’s first home game was, again, against Cambridge: Tyler Goodhram announcing his impact on the First Team with a dramatic last gasp winner.
IF anyone believes that playing away seven times in a row is more than a coincidence then let the conspiracy theories begin: since relocating from the Manor to the Kassam Stadium 22 years ago, Oxford have started the season at home on just seven occasions.
The very first competitive match at the Kassam Stadium was at home to Rochdale on the first day of 2001/2, when Jamie Brooks’ strike was a consolation in a 2-1 defeat.
The last time that Oxford won in the first match of the season was 5th August 2017, when goals from Wes Thomas and Josh Ruffels secured a 2-0 win at Oldham Athletic. That was the first opening win since that incredible 4-1 victory at Fratton Park, where braces from Deane Smalley and Alfie Potter earned Oxford the three points at Portsmouth in 2013- can it really be ten years ago?
Because of the frequency of away season openers, the last time United won a home game in the Football League on the season’s first day was 21 years ago in 2002 against (now happily reborn) Bury. Goals from Manny Omoyinmi and Andy Scott were enough to grab a 2-1 win against the Shakers
And if you think Cambridge away on the first day is a long trip then think of the fans who travelled to the historic first ever match in the Football League on 18th August 1962: a trip to Barrow when the M6 wasn;t finished and the M40 wasn’t even a planner’s dream…
Those Oxford fans that made the trip (and there were a fair few of them) saw United take the lead through Graham Atkinson and go in at the break leading 2-1 with Bud Houghton putting the U’s ahead again, but ultimately fall short to lose 3-2.
Perhaps the most historic opening game since then came on 17th August 1985. A top division side for the first time, United drew their first top-flight match at West Bromwich Albion 1-1, with left-back Bobby McDonald scoring that history-making goal.
This season, hopes are high with Liam Manning in charge and a new look United ready for the challenges ahead. Fans are right behind them- Saturday is a sell out for Oxford fans who will be hoping that life on the road starts with a win.
We’ll be there at every game, home and away. Follow all the action on our social channels with a match report and gallery right here at www.oufc.co.uk on the final whistle.
1962 Barrow a L 2 - 3
1963 Chester City a W 2-0
1964 Crewe Alexandra H W 4 - 2
1965 Swindon Town a D 0 - 0
1966 AFC Bournemouth H D 1 - 1
1967 Shrewsbury Town a L 0 - 2
1968 Bolton Wanderers H D 1 - 1
1969 Huddersfield Town H L 1 - 2
1970 Millwall a W 2 - 1
1971 Leyton Orient H D 1 - 1
1972 Leyton Orient a D 1 - 1
1973 Hull City a D 0 - 0
1974 Cardiff City a D 1 - 1
1975 Carlisle United a D 1 - 1
1976 Brighton And Hove Albion a L 2 - 3
1977 Rotherham United H L 2 - 3
1978 Blackpool a L 0 - 1
1979 Rotherham United H W 5 - 1
1980 Chester City a W 1 - 0
1981 Plymouth Argyle a W 1 - 0
1982 Gillingham a W 1 - 0
1983 Lincoln City H W 3 - 0
1984 Huddersfield Town a W 3 - 0
1985 West Bromwich Albion a D 1 - 1
1986 Watford a L 0 - 3
1987 Portsmouth H W 4 - 2
1988 Leeds United a D 1 - 1
1989 Plymouth Argyle a L 0 - 2
1990 Port Vale H W 5 - 2
1991 Port Vale a L 1 - 2
1992 Bristol Rovers H W 2 - 1
1993 Portsmouth H W 3 - 2
1994 Hull City H W 4 - 0
1995 Chesterfield H W 1 - 0
1996 Queens Park Rangers a L 1 - 2
1997 Huddersfield Town H W 2 - 0
1998 Bristol City a D 2 - 2
1999 Stoke City a W 2 - 1
2000 Peterborough United H L 0 - 1
2001 Rochdale H L 1 - 2
2002 Bury H W 2 - 1
2003 Lincoln City a W 1 - 0
2004 Boston United a L 0 - 1
2005 Grimsby Town a D 1 - 1
2006 Halifax Town a W 2 - 0
2007 Forest Green Rovers H W 1 - 0
2008 Barrow a L 0 - 3
2009 York City H W 2 - 1
2010 Burton Albion a D 0 - 0
2011 Rotherham United a L 0 - 1
2012 Bristol Rovers a W 2 - 0
2013 Portsmouth a W 4 - 1
2014 Burton Albion H L 0 - 1
2015 Crawley Town H D 1 - 1
2016 Chesterfield H D 1 - 1
2017 Oldham Athletic a W 2 - 0
2018 Barnsley a L 0 - 4
2019 Sunderland a D 1 - 1
2020 Lincoln City a L 0 - 2
2021 Cambridge United a D 1 - 1
2022 Derby County a L 0 - 1
First league game only. In some seasons League Cup/Trophy matches were played before the opening league fixture
TOTAL
P61 Home games 23 Away games 38
Won 25 D 17 L19
HOME
P23 W 13 D5 L5
AWAY
p38 W12 D12 L14