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Oxblogger

@oxblogger.bsky.social

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Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Jan 27

The Glory Years is out now, thanks to everyone who has bought it, read the blog and generally encouraged me to keep going.

You can buy it from all the usual places, but this is a good one:

uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

I made a little video to celebrate:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=X54g...

#oufc

Glory Years - Oxford United's rise through the 1980s - Out now

YouTube video by Oxblogger

www.youtube.com

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 16h

Match wrap | Oxford United 1 Derby County 0

'Negotiating Second Season Syndrome seems to be a case of accepting where you are and improving where you can. It might sound unambitious, but the result against Derby showed the advantages that offers.'

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/10/19/m...

#oufc

Match wrap | Oxford United 1 Derby County 0

As we’ve been navigating the early phases of the season, there’s been lots of dark talk about us succumbing to Second Season Syndrome like it’s a looming shadow and an ethereal spirit trying …

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 1d

Unwrapped | Oxford United v Derby County

It's time for today's preview. Two sides in parallel, Paul Simpson, Paul Reece and the latest from the Cam N Easty show.

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/10/17/u...

Unwrapped | Oxford United v Derby County

The international break unwrapped After the 2-1 defeat to Watford, everyone headed off on the international break to do international break things. Mark Harris got the ball rolling as a substitute …

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 2d

Unwrapped | Oxford United v Derby County

It's been a bumper international break:

Us | Doing a Derby
Them | Doing an Oxford
Football friend | Paul Simpson
From the archive | The greatest Oxford United goalkeeping display in history.

It's the preview:

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/10/17/u...

#oufc

Unwrapped | Oxford United v Derby County

The international break unwrapped After the 2-1 defeat to Watford, everyone headed off on the international break to do international break things. Mark Harris got the ball rolling as a substitute …

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 3d

E23 | Oxford United Team of the 1990s

Like Oasis, The Oxblogger Podcast is back and we're stuck in the 1990s too. It's the ultimate Oxford United team of the 90s; sorting your Bow Champs from the Magultons.

www.podbean.com/ep/pb-quzbg-...

E23 - The Oxford United Team of the 1990s

More anticipated than the Oasis reunion, we're back. And, just like the Oasis reunion we're stuck in the 1990s. D:Ream is on the Sony Discman, the Hooch is on ice and our poster of Jet from Gladiators...

www.podbean.com

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 12d

Oxblogger Newsletter - call for copy

The international break is a chance to take stock and write for the Oxblogger newsletter. We want to hear your hot takes and stories whether on-field, off-field or Oxford adjcent.

Details here:

substack.com/home/post/p-...

#oufc

Oxblogger Newsletter - call for copy

What are you waiting for? Get writing.

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 14d

Match wrap | Watford 2 Oxford United 1

'For the Watford game, I was in row DD, which was so close to the pitch, row CC was where the wheelchair users sit, BB were the stewards, and AA was Greg Leigh.'

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/10/05/m...

#oufc

Match wrap | Watford 2 Oxford United 1

As I’ve got older, I’ve found that taking the path of least resistance has become my default. If I’m tired, I go to bed rather than ruminate about being cool and staying up. If I want tickets…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 15d

Unwrapped | Watford v Oxford United

'Watford’s managers are like hosts on Have I Got News For You, there's someone different in charge every week. Saturday’s is Paulo Pezzolano, the kind of name that sent Nick Harris into semi-retirement.'

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/10/03/u...

#oufc

Unwrapped | Watford v Oxford United

The week unwrapped It’s been a topsy turvy week in Oxford; Chris Wilder returned to Sheffield United, then returned to play us, then returned to Yorkshire with their first win of the season on Satu…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 19d

Unwrapped | Queen's Park Rangers v Oxford United

It's nearly midweek football time, so here's the preview:

Us | Born to be Wildered
Them | Overrated or understated?
Football Friend | Kevin Brock
From the Archive | Toppling the league leaders in 1987

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/09/30/u...

#oufc

Unwrapped | Queen’s Park Rangers v Oxford United

The week unwrapped We’ve hit that time of year; what is known in the trade as Satdeetuesdeesatdeetuesdee. Or, in this case, Wednesday, with the midweek visit to QPR. As such, there’s not much to un…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 21d

Match wrap | Oxford United 0 Sheffield United 1

'Chris Wilder is a counter-puncher; he famously rallied against an official for eating a sandwich. But, equally, we're a counter-punching team. How do you counter-punch a counter puncher?'

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/09/28/m...

#oufc

Match wrap | Oxford United 0 Sheffield United 1

“Can I just offer a word of warning? If you think you’ve cracked it, if you all come off and you pat yourselves on the back and you think, we’ve got it now, and all of a sudden, everyon…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 22d

Fancy writing some Oxford-ish or the Oxblogger Newsletter?

The October issue is out soon, so if you've got a story to tell, an opinion to share, or a hot take that nobody else is talking about, why not get writing?

Details:

oxblogger.substack.com/p/oxblogger-...

#oufc

Oxblogger Newsletter 2025/26 Update

Last year, in a moment of post-promotion giddiness I committed to produce a fanzine-like newsletter for a year.

oxblogger.substack.com

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 23d

Unwrapped | Oxford United v Sheffield United

It's the preview:

Us | Brannababy, baby.
Them | The return of Chuckles Wilder.
Football friend | George Baldock
From the archive | Era shifts in 1999

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/09/26/u...

#oufc

Unwrapped | Oxford United v Sheffield United

The week unwrapped In the face of excruciating pain, endless screaming, and a mess of blood, sweat and tears, you’ve just got to keep pushing and pushing until it finally arrives. I’m n…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 27d

Match wrap | Bristol City 1 Oxford United 3

'The ball fell to Placheta outside the box, his boot detonated the ball, projecting it at a savage pace that defied physics. The net convulsed as it entered the top right hand corner.'

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/09/22/m...

#oufc

Match wrap | Bristol City 1 Oxford United 3

Sunday wasn’t my first visit to Ashton Gate, it wasn’t even my first visit of the week, having attended the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final between England and Scotland last weekend. The diff…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · 29d

Unwrapped | Bristol City v Oxford United

'Having Liam Manning as your manager is like having your mate, who’s a qualified plasterer, sleeping on your sofa. He won’t stay long but he’ll leave you in a better state than he found you.'

It's the preview:

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/09/19/u...

#oufc

Unwrapped | Bristol City v Oxford United

The week unwrapped We’ll start this week’s Unwrapped with last week’s news; last Friday the club announced that Cam Bran is our new club captain. Which is like being a team captai…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Sep 19

Unwrapped | Bristol City v Oxford United

It's preview time:

Us: Capt Cam Bran
Them: The Obscure Bundesliga Phase
Football Friend: Matt Taylor
From the Archive: A run rescued in 1996

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/09/19/u...

#oufc

Unwrapped | Bristol City v Oxford United

The week unwrapped We’ll start this week’s Unwrapped with last week’s news; last Friday the club announced that Cam Bran is our new club captain. Which is like being a team captai…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Sep 17

From the newsletter - Defending the non-scoring defender | Graham Dunn

Attack is the best form of defence? At Oxford United, defence is often the best form of attack. Whatever happened to the good old fashioned non-scoring defender?

oxblogger.co.uk/defending-th...

#oufc

Defending the non-scoring defender – Graham Dunn

They say that attack is the best form of defence, well, at Oxford United last season, defence was the best form of attack. With Greg Leigh sharing the golden boot with Mark Harris last season, have…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Sep 15

Match wrap | Oxford United 2 Leicester City 2

'A Bulgarian, Belgian and two Poles fist-bumped. Even Sam Long and Cameron Brannagan looked different. They hadn't changed, everything around them has. Stand back and absorb how bewildering it is.'

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/09/14/m...

#oufc

Match wrap | Oxford United 2 Leicester City 2

It’s not controversial to say that we live in difficult times. We’ve lost our ability to discuss differing opinions and slipped into a vortex of invective that makes everyone unhappy. C…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Sep 14

Match wrap | Oxford United 2 Leicester City 2

'There was a lightness in our play which made them look ordinary. It was a marked difference to the fawning defensive struggles of earlier in the season. It felt like we belonged.'

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/09/14/m...

#oufc

Match wrap | Oxford United 2 Leicester City 2

It’s not controversial to say that we live in difficult times. We’ve lost our ability to discuss differing opinions and slipped into a vortex of invective that makes everyone unhappy. C…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Sep 12

Unwrapped | Oxford United v Leicester City

'Are Leicester's perception and reality misaligning? Like that time we perceived ourselves to be a club big enough to sign a Tottenham striker and the reality was Jamie Slabber.'

It's the preview:

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/09/12/u...

#oufc

Unwrapped | Oxford United v Leicester City

The international break unwrapped From what’s the point to that’s a point! Cameron Brannagan adjusted his ball to give us a 2-2 draw with Coventry City which sent us into the international break wi…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Sep 12

Unwrapped | Oxford United v Leicester City

It's preview time with:

Us: Rested and ready to go
Them: Teetering over the abyss?
Football friend: Matt Elliott
From the Archive: The beatification of Alex Dyer in 1993

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/09/12/u...

#oufc

Unwrapped | Oxford United v Leicester City

The international break unwrapped From what’s the point to that’s a point! Cameron Brannagan adjusted his ball to give us a 2-2 draw with Coventry City which sent us into the international break wi…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Sep 10

From the Oxblogger newsletter | Say hello, wave goodbye - Ian Davies

After working for #oufc, Ian Davies walked out of The Manor in 1999, bruised by his experience. No one could have predicted it would be 20 years before he'd see us play again.

oxblogger.co.uk/say-hello-wa...

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye – Ian Davies

Working for your favourite football club might sound like the dream job. But they can be an unforgiving and brutal environment to earn a living in. When Ian Davies walked out of The Manor in 1999, …

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Sep 7

From the Newsletter | Get Your Kits Out For The Lads - Jonny Biscuits

Bereft at the blank weekend? Get your eyeballs on Jonny Biscuits' analysis of the modern phenomenon of Oxford United kit launches.

oxblogger.co.uk/get-your-kit...

#oufc

Get your kits out for the lads – Jonny Biscuits

Changing your kit every season is something that has evolved over the last twenty years. Before that, clubs might alternate between a change to the home kit and an away kits. In the 1960s it didn&#…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Aug 31

Match wrap | Oxford United 2 Coventry City 2

'Brannagan's micro-adjustment reclaimed our destiny, striking the ball beyond the keeper. His venomous drive wrapped in a pure truth.'

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/08/31/m...

#oufc

Match wrap | Oxford United 2 Coventry City 2

By the time we’d got to kick-off on Saturday, I’d heard the full range of rumours as to why we’d started the season so poorly. These included a player’s representative being seen texting ‘we’ve got…

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Aug 28

Match wrap | Oxford United 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 6

'Alarmingly our most reliable performers are floundering, are they injured? Demotivated? Tired? Is a celebrated generation beginning to pass?'

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/08/28/m...

#oufc

Match wrap | Oxford United 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 6

One of the intriguing stats from last night was always going to be the size of the crowd. The early rounds of the EFL Cup can offer nuggets of relief; the weather’s OK, it doesn’t have the baggage …

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Aug 26

Unwrapped | Brighton and Hove Albion (A)

Us: Pointless but not hopeless
Them: Football's centrist dads
Football Friend: John Byrne
From the Archive: FA Cup giant killing in 1982

It's the Brighton preview thingy:

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/08/26/u...

Unwrapped | Brighton (H)

The week unwrapped It’s all wrong, not that, but we’ll get to that. Friday nights are for grinding your teeth and stopping the voices in your head from telling you we’ll win on Saturday. For …

oxblogger.co.uk

Oxblogger @oxblogger.bsky.social · Aug 24

Match wrap | Birmingham City 1 Oxford United 0

'It was like being attacked by a swarm of wasps, they can hurt you, but with the right equipment, you can tame them. Tactically we made sense, but if we're to gain points we have to find something else.'

oxblogger.co.uk/2025/08/24/m...

#oufc

Match wrap | Birmingham City 1 Oxford United 0

I woke up on Saturday morning at an unreasonable hour following an anxiety dream. In it, I’d been chasing my niece around the Empire State Building because she’d decided to ‘go and play Annie’ whil…

oxblogger.co.uk