Having suffered relegation from the Championship this season, there is a quirky trend that Oxford United have in years that end in six.
It is now six successive decades where the U’s have either been promoted, suffered relegation or even won a major cup. Here, we take a look back at the highs and lows of these particular season.
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Oxford United and Their Quirky Fate in Years That End in Six
1976 – Oxford’s First Ever Relegation
Like this season, Oxford finished in the final relegation spot 60 years ago with the U’s going down to Division Three for the first time in eight seasons.
Oxford sat in the bottom three for much of the campaign but despite a run of four successive victories, three losses in the final four ultimately sent the U’s down, along with York and Portsmouth.
This was also the club’s first ever relegation after two promotions from the fourth tier after the club was elected to the Football League in 1962.
1986 – Milk Cup Glory for Oxford United
A more positive decade for the U’s, Jim Smith led Oxford from Division Three to the top tier with back to back promotions, while also winning the league in both campaigns.
However, the ‘Bald Eagle’ departed Oxfordshire for West London ahead of the 1985/86 campaign to take over at QPR where, ironically, he would face his former club in the Milk Cup Final at Wembley.
And it was the U’s who claimed their first major and only major honour with a 3-0 win over the R’s thanks to goals from Trevor Hebberd, Ray Houghton and Jeremy Charles.
1996 – Off-Field Problems But Promotion Secured
The 1990s was a turbulent time for Oxford as a club with financial difficulties and two relegations. However, they did earn a promotion back to the second tier in 1996.
This season also saw Robin Herd takeover as chairman, in which he helped the club’s finances and oversaw full planning permission for a new stadium at Grenoble Road.
On the pitch, the U’s made a slow start to the season but ended the campaign in second spot following a run of one defeat in the final seven games.
A famous win over promotion rivals Blackpool, in which Joey Beauchamp scored arguably Oxford’s greatest ever goal, moved Denis Smith’s side above the Seasiders, finishing behind rivals Swindon who claimed the title.
2006 – The Lowest of Lows
But after that promotion, the U’s suffered two more relegations and eventually moved into a three-quarters built stadium on Grenoble Road with financial issues once again returning.
Oxford had dropped down to the fourth tier but in 2006, things reached an all time low as the U’s suffered relegation into the Conference, in doing so becoming the first club to win a major trophy drop into non-league.
It was a lacklustre campaign for Oxford and even legendary manager Jim Smith was unable to prevent the inevitable after returning to the club earlier that season.
It did go down to the final day where they just needed to avoid defeat at home against Leyton Orient, although the O’s needed, and secured, three points to achieve promotion themselves.
2016 – Back on the Up
The U’s were in the Conference for four years before a famous victory over York in the playoff final in 2010. But getting themselves out of League Two proved difficult, even under Chris Wilder.
But in came the unfavourable Michael Appleton and his U’s had a memorable couple of campaigns, with 2016 ending in that elusive promotion.
Oxford finished the season in second spot having beat Wycombe on the final day of the season thanks to second half goals from Chey Dunkley, Chris Maguire and Callum O’Dowda.
The U’s also won 4-0 at Brentford in the League Cup, saw off Premier League side Swansea in the FA Cup and reached the Football League Trophy final, but fell short against Barnsley.
2026 – Oxford United Relegated From the Championship
Now to this season and Oxford suffered their first relegation in 20 years, ending their two year stay back in the Championship.
It was a turbulent campaign with an unorganised pre-season tour in Indonesia, a managerial change and some unconvincing transfers.
Having survived on the penultimate day of the season last year, the U’s were always going to face another tough test and Matt Bloomfield’s side went down with two games remaining.
Featured image courtesy of Imago/Colorsport
