Having suffered relegation from the Championship, Oxford United have a quirky trend in years that end in six.
The U’s have been promoted, relegated or even won a major cup competition in each of the last six decades, but how have they got on in the following campaign?
We’ve dug through the archives to see and we’ll bring the answers right here.
Read More: Oxford United and Their Quirky Fate in Years That End in Six
Promotion, Relegation, Silverware… and Then What? Oxford United After the Years Ending in Six
2017
Having won promotion to League One in 2016, Michael Appleton’s Oxford United continued that momentum into the following campaign.
The U’s ended the season in eighth spot, just four points off a playoff position, which is a respectable return following promotion.
But it wasn’t just the league form that Oxford’s season will be remembered for. The U’s enjoyed a memorable FA Cup run which included an impressive 3-0 victory over Newcastle before losing out in the fifth round on the road at Middlesbrough.
Then, for successive season, Appleton took his team to the final of the Football League Trophy but was once again on the losing side with Coventry winning at Wembley.
Oxford also did the double over arch rivals Swindon, which will live long in the memory for U’s fans.
2007
After becoming the first-ever club to win a major cup competition to be relegated into non-league, Oxford were firm favourites to make an immediate return to the four tier.
But despite leading the division for much of the campaign, Oxford eventually finished second, 14 points behind Dagenham and Redbridge. So the playoffs loomed but the U’s lost out on penalties in the semi final against Exeter.
It would take until 2010 before Oxford, under Chris Wilder, would return to League Two, with the 2007 season their best finish in the league.
1997
The 1990s were a turbulent time for the club but the U’s secured promotion back to the second tier in 1996.
Unsurprisingly, the U’s struggled back in the division, ending the campaign in 17th spot. Despite that, they were never really in danger of going back down and did finish above rivals Reading and Swindon in the league.
Denis Smith’s side also enjoyed a run in the League Cup where they were eventually knocked out in a replay against Southampton.
1987
Having won the Milk Cup the previous season, Oxford also secured their top flight status and they would emulate that again during the following campaign.
It was another impressive season for the U’s who were the underdogs for most of their spell in the top flight. They finished 18th for the second successive campaign.
John Aldridge, who struck 31 goals in the previous season, was on fire in front of goal again with 21 for the U’s but would move to Liverpool in the January after Ian Rush joined Juventus.
1977
Having suffered their first ever relegation in 1976, Oxford were unable to bounce right back and had an underwhelming campaign in 1977.
While many would have back a promotion push, the U’s finished 17th, just four points clear of the bottom three.
The club were also knocked out of both cup competitions in the first round, making for a disappointing season.
Featured image courtesy of IMAGO / Focus Images
