Oxford United Chairman Grant Ferguson wrote the following programme notes for Saturday's Emirates FA Cup first round tie against Maidenhead United:
There is always a special magic about the FA Cup, so I hope we get to see a really good game today against Maidenhead. In Alan Devonshire, our visitors today have a manager who knows plenty about the competition as a terrific player for West Ham United, and then as an experienced manager, so for sure they will be out to cause an upset.
But we go into the match knowing that we are in good form, with an excellent win at Lincoln on Tuesday night the latest in a number of highly professional performances. The priority this season was improvement after the disappointment of the last one, so the standard of football that this team is playing gives us much hope that we have come a long way towards achieving, and hopefully exceeding, that goal.
I have been asked a number of times recently if I am concerned about a perceived dip in form. Personally, I don’t see it that way but rather it being part of the ebbs and flows of being successful in elite sport. What is important is that we continue to move in the right direction, and what really encourages me is that whatever the result, the next day at the training ground the commitment, excitement and determination to succeed is the same. During a long season, things won’t always go our way, but Liam, his staff and the players have such a strong belief in each other; when they talk about staying level-headed, they mean it.
Fans seem to be enjoying it so far as well, with attendances on the up. I am told we are averaging the best crowds since the club played in the top division back in 1987. Thank you all for that. It means a lot to the team and the club as a whole, and we will continue to work hard on improving the matchday experience for you. I thought the last two home matches, where we held a Family Day and then paid our respects during Remembrance Week, were great examples of how we are heading in the right direction in making matchdays more than just a football match.
I dare say the crowd will be slightly lower today and that’s a great shame. The FA Cup may have become less of a priority for some top clubs, but that should not diminish the romance of a competition that allows clubs like us and Maidenhead to dream. The hope for all clubs playing this weekend is to reach the third round and then maybe get one of those ‘never to be forgotten’ cup ties that create history. You have to put in plenty of hard work to make that happen and that starts today.
Grant Ferguson