Constable up to third

10:00am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

United’s James Constable (right) celebrates his historic goal against Plymouth on Saturday that took him third on United’s all-time list United’s James Constable (right) celebrates his historic goal against Plymouth on Saturday that took him third on United’s all-time list

James Constable, now third on Oxford United’s all-time list of scorers, believes he and strike partner Tom Craddock can both still get to 20 goals this season.

The pair have 23 between them so far, but injury and suspension means they have only started together twice since New Year’s Day.

They were reunited in Saturday’s 1-0 win at Plymouth, where Constable scored the winner to take his tally for the campaign to 11, one behind Craddock.

The goal was his 91st for the club, making him United’s third most prolific marksman.

The form of the front two could be the key if United are going to stage a dramatic climb up the table in the final weeks of the season.

With 14 games left, Constable, known as ‘Beano’ to the fans, thinks the squad could have two players breaking the 20-goal barrier by the end of April.

He said: “We have still got enough games to be able to do that, especially with the number of chances we create. “We probably make more than any other team in the league.

“I’m sure if we keep doing that, we’ll put them away.”

The former Shrewsbury striker is now clear of John Aldridge and Peter Foley in United’s all-time list, the latter tweeting: “well done Beano, one more than me, now get that 100 #topstrikers.”

If he does hit 20 goals this season it would bring up a century for the U’s and put him joint second in the list, alongside Tony Jones.

More importantly, the goal at Home Park ended the side’s six-game wait for a victory.

United’s hopes of reaching the npower League Two play-offs had been damaged by a run of four defeats in five winless games and they sit firmly in mid-table with just under a third of the season left.

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Constable knows there is little margin for error if they are going to reel in the sides above, but he is confident Saturday’s win can be the catalyst to repeat a strong run over the Christmas period.

“We said before the (Plymouth) game, it’s now or never,” he said.

“We need to get another run going and we know we’ve got the players to do it.

“There’s no change from the lads who were there when we went ten unbeaten.

“There are still plenty of games.

“They will come thick and fast, but the fact we’ve got that win means we can look forward to the next one.”

UNITED'S ALL-TIME TOP MARKSMEN

Graham Atkinson 398 games, 107 goals; Tony Jones 356, 100; James Constable 218, 91; John Aldridge 141, 90; Peter Foley 321, 90.

Comments(31)

saddletramp says...
10:49am Tue 19 Feb 13

John Aldridge scored against Liverpool,Arsenal and Spurs.
Constable scored against Histon,Grays and Barrow.
His total also includes FA trophy games and the associate members cup,wow!
He also says he hopes to score 20 goals his season,well you have managed
6 league goals this season James,and with Oxford out Of the Associate members cup,no more shoe ins.
James Constable 32 league goals(all in the bottom Division)
John Aldridge 74 league goals (39 in the top flight)
No comparison.

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GRB says...
11:42am Tue 19 Feb 13

Whatever level Constable has scored his goals at it's still a milestone. He's hardly going around crowing about it. The only comment I've heard from him is that it would be a honour to break the record.
Aldridge was an exceptional striker, one of the best British football has ever seen. I think it's a bit stupid to mock Constable by comparing him to Aldo.

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bigchet says...
12:42pm Tue 19 Feb 13

very unfair to compare constable with aldridge . aldo was in a class of his own as was bud houghton in a different era. just be glad that jc is good at the level we are at and has been a mainstay for us.

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Grandpont Tom says...
1:12pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Well done James. He has been a great asset to OUFC at the level we are playing at, as were the other guys in their eras.
If he and Tom get another 17 goals this season, between them, then we will all be very happy.

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Megastar07 says...
1:13pm Tue 19 Feb 13

F**k me I would have scored more than beano playing in those leagues
Mega and Brooks 1992 now there's a partnership Witney and district legends

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Manor Born says...
1:29pm Tue 19 Feb 13

And yet another report where this so-called journalist has to include the line "also known as Beano". For crying out loud, everyone knows he is called Beano, please stop being so lazy in order to fill up column inches.

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london_yellow says...
1:40pm Tue 19 Feb 13

saddletramp wrote:
John Aldridge scored against Liverpool,Arsenal and Spurs.
Constable scored against Histon,Grays and Barrow.
His total also includes FA trophy games and the associate members cup,wow!
He also says he hopes to score 20 goals his season,well you have managed
6 league goals this season James,and with Oxford out Of the Associate members cup,no more shoe ins.
James Constable 32 league goals(all in the bottom Division)
John Aldridge 74 league goals (39 in the top flight)
No comparison.
I can only assume you've written this because you are bored and are trying to be inflammatory. You'd have to be an absolute imbecile to write something like this and be serious.

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YellowRose says...
3:26pm Tue 19 Feb 13

To defend the journalist, I think he is bound to include clarification for any new readers regarding a nickname. Ha - when I read the article, I thought oh dear, expect that comment again!

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moonlight shadow says...
4:44pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Players can only score in the league they are playing in so the goals Beano has reached, whilst a good total so far, I suspect he would have scored more if he was playing in a better team where he would recieve better oppotunities to score from his teamates. Remember the likes of John Aldridge had class midfielders laying on the ball for him.
Keep going Beano.

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Richard Wickson says...
5:43pm Tue 19 Feb 13

I must admit to not being his biggest fan but his goals tally isn't bad, I would be amazed if he doesn't go on to get the 100 if he stays on next season but he will have to go some to get there this season. The comment that Aldo had better midfielders is quite valid, Graham Atkinson also had better players around him in the main and I believe should have got more, he was one of those players who often looked as if he could have played at a higher level, sadly most of this current squad look as if they are out of their depth at this level and I think it's the reason we don't score more. This will upset a few but my favourite of the top scorers was Tony Jones and also Colin Booth was a good un!

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oldun says...
5:49pm Tue 19 Feb 13

His goals obviously count so many in the non league. Do we know all of the scorers in the pre Southern League days? Nonetheless - very well done with the goal .
Yep he has scored more than so many of our ‘strikers’


Pity that he is nowhere near to the twenty five best striker even in our League Years – is he?

Nonetheless, a goal is a goal whether it is against Norwich or Northwich.

Twenty five better?
Just for starters
Playing in the Conference or 4th division the following would have scored more than James in his number of games - the not too talented midfielder Matt Murphy or the clumsy Steve Biggins, Mark Stein , John Durnin, winger Paul Simpson, the Nigels Cassidy and Jemson, the Deans Saunders and Windass, Hugh Curran, Graham Atkinson, the Aldridges, Paul Moody, Bud Houghton (43 goals in 42 matches as we got into the league) , Tommy Mooney, the Bills Calder and Hamilton, Colin Booth, Derek Clarke, Martin Foyle, Peter Foley, Mick Tait, Mick Vinter , Neil Whatmore and Andy Thomas. Nonetheless, he has probably got even more than Jack Midson might have had he played as the central striker. Many more, please James . Keep up the hard work - some of the above named were lazy at times

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oldun says...
6:06pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Graham Atkinson never played centre forward and was a midfielder for us in what is called the championship for about 4 seasons . Even with our uncreative midfielders (like Heslop) , Graham would have netted far far more than James has at this level (or the non league) - particularly had he been the central striker. Nonetheless , James Constable works very hard and is sometimes over committed (and I am not talking about that last unfair dismissal) - he works harder than Graham did - even when the latter played as a midfielder with chubby brother the Tank (who then wore number 11)

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kckidlington says...
7:45pm Tue 19 Feb 13

GRB wrote:
Whatever level Constable has scored his goals at it's still a milestone. He's hardly going around crowing about it. The only comment I've heard from him is that it would be a honour to break the record.
Aldridge was an exceptional striker, one of the best British football has ever seen. I think it's a bit stupid to mock Constable by comparing him to Aldo.
Totally agree

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oldun says...
9:25pm Tue 19 Feb 13

STFC - heading for a great win - and for a top of the table spot. Lucky them!! It could all end in tears - 1990 style

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karatavuk says...
9:59pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Well done Beano. Scored all those goals in a team that doesn't create a lot of chances.
Here's hoping you get the record and become an Oxford all time legend.

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Chippenham red says...
11:05pm Tue 19 Feb 13

oldun wrote:
STFC - heading for a great win - and for a top of the table spot. Lucky them!! It could all end in tears - 1990 style
Great win for our boys and top of the table, but we are now ownerless, managerless and our backroom staff have all just resigned. Same old Swindon, create a disaster from a promising position. I fear the worse.

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Chish and Fips says...
6:28am Wed 20 Feb 13

Chippenham red wrote:
oldun wrote:
STFC - heading for a great win - and for a top of the table spot. Lucky them!! It could all end in tears - 1990 style
Great win for our boys and top of the table, but we are now ownerless, managerless and our backroom staff have all just resigned. Same old Swindon, create a disaster from a promising position. I fear the worse.
Yep the roller coaster dipped again .... they seem to throw everything but the kitchen sink at us and we are still there.
Its quite usual for the back room staff to follow their manager in most cases or get booted out when the new manager takes over.
I don't see a 1990 style as that was a different scenario but hopefully IMO we don't get promoted but remain a fantastic L1 (Div3 for you Oldun) team for another season.

Happy Days are just round the corner ..... I think :0/

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moonlight shadow says...
9:39am Wed 20 Feb 13

Ah. Reading the names from the old days puts Beano's record in perspective. However we are in the league we are in thanks to a certain owner's lack of investment in the team. And his shadow is still looming over the football club as he still owns the stadium.
Also the game has changed a lot since the likes of The aforementioned players from the glory days. The woosie football rules these days ( look nastily at an opponent these days and it's a red card) do the game as a whole no favours as a specticle.Briggsy would not last any game 5 mins today, mores the pity.
So to comapre the present situation and that of years ago is a bit false, given the fact players can hardly make a tackle these days and where we find ourselves thanks to a certain ex-owner.
How about a hat-trick on Saturday Beano? Would be good.

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GRB says...
9:58am Wed 20 Feb 13

Another thing I'd like to mention about Constable is his work rate. His goals to games ratio is decent but every game, even when things aren't going well, his work rate is 110%. He's one of the old school who always puts in a shift and earns his money and one player who has always been proud to wear the shirt.

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oldun says...
10:51am Wed 20 Feb 13

Chish and Fips wrote:
Chippenham red wrote:
oldun wrote:
STFC - heading for a great win - and for a top of the table spot. Lucky them!! It could all end in tears - 1990 style
Great win for our boys and top of the table, but we are now ownerless, managerless and our backroom staff have all just resigned. Same old Swindon, create a disaster from a promising position. I fear the worse.
Yep the roller coaster dipped again .... they seem to throw everything but the kitchen sink at us and we are still there.
Its quite usual for the back room staff to follow their manager in most cases or get booted out when the new manager takes over.
I don't see a 1990 style as that was a different scenario but hopefully IMO we don't get promoted but remain a fantastic L1 (Div3 for you Oldun) team for another season.

Happy Days are just round the corner ..... I think :0/
Different scenario - same result - who cares?

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bigchet says...
2:08pm Wed 20 Feb 13

wonder what chish and le god think about de canio deserting them in their hour of need. seems that when he doesnt get what he wants he is off like a big kid and hard luck on everyone else including the loyal fans. j wray thanked de canio for his loyalty wheras the opposite seemed to be true, in all his playing career he was petulant and carried it on to his managerial career.

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moonlight shadow says...
4:10pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Ok. De Canio is unemployed now. Many oufc fans are on here wanting Wilder to go. So how would you feel if Wilder was sacked and De Canio took over?
What a horible thought!

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Chish and Fips says...
4:30pm Wed 20 Feb 13

bigchet wrote:
wonder what chish and le god think about de canio deserting them in their hour of need. seems that when he doesnt get what he wants he is off like a big kid and hard luck on everyone else including the loyal fans. j wray thanked de canio for his loyalty wheras the opposite seemed to be true, in all his playing career he was petulant and carried it on to his managerial career.
The bloke is an absolutely amazing character and has lifted our club and the fanbase - but there was a downside to him where he'd aired his views in public too much for my liking.
All may become clear one day on the story of the desertion - there's always 2 sides to a disagreement .
50 50 seems to be the opinion on whether he jumped ship because things got nasty, water under the bridge now really we have to regroup and march on -
He has bought in some fantastic players who have jelled together as a unit - but again he did bring in some right donkeys, which we have got rid of or loaned out, which was a waste of money.

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Chish and Fips says...
4:38pm Wed 20 Feb 13

moonlight shadow wrote:
Ok. De Canio is unemployed now. Many oufc fans are on here wanting Wilder to go. So how would you feel if Wilder was sacked and De Canio took over?
What a horible thought!
Something you'd need not worry over one little bit MS - Men on Mars is more likely. - think about the reverse is even more frightening CW to STFC - I think the tenure would last hours if not minutes, before he was run out of town and back up the A420

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bigchet says...
5:55pm Wed 20 Feb 13

well chish i see that graham westley is also available and im sure he would be a popular choice with you boys up the a420. di canio has been touted as a possible candidate for the leeds job if warnock goes, can you imagine him in tandem with ken bates, the mind boggles!

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Chish and Fips says...
7:19pm Wed 20 Feb 13

bigchet wrote:
well chish i see that graham westley is also available and im sure he would be a popular choice with you boys up the a420. di canio has been touted as a possible candidate for the leeds job if warnock goes, can you imagine him in tandem with ken bates, the mind boggles!
There seems to be loads out there BC but finding the right one is the difficult bit.
We have in the past and including PDC taken punts on newbies , Lou Macari , Ossi Ardilles Glen Hoddles of the world, this time we can not afford to take that gamble .... just hope we don't get some cheap 'has been' or unheard of bod.

Seems a quiet week for you lot this week - come to Swindon and hop on the roller coaster - hang on to your hats though - never a dull moment with the STFC... ;o)

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Chish and Fips says...
7:25pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Sorry BC didn't say anything about that Bates man - yes it could go either way - two strong characters could cancel each other out or it could be Blaster Bates fires PDC within weeks after PDC throws a wobblely.

Can't stand that bloke Bates would not trust him as far as I could throw him.
I thought he'd been bought out at Leeds.

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oldun says...
7:43pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Chish - how I wish you were a United man - (at least recently) you seem a decent guy (no doubt it is not your fault that you got drawn onto the 'dark/red' side) I would have enjoyed a drink with you were I not too old or too boring !! Never again will I waste time trying to wind you up - generally unsuccessfully - this 'forum' needs you . Yep, I anticipate verbal abuse - but more likely, contempt!

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Chish and Fips says...
8:00pm Wed 20 Feb 13

oldun wrote:
Chish - how I wish you were a United man - (at least recently) you seem a decent guy (no doubt it is not your fault that you got drawn onto the 'dark/red' side) I would have enjoyed a drink with you were I not too old or too boring !! Never again will I waste time trying to wind you up - generally unsuccessfully - this 'forum' needs you . Yep, I anticipate verbal abuse - but more likely, contempt!
Sorry to disappoint Oldun but if you were to cut me in half I'd have STFC through me like a stick of rock.
I'm no spring chicken too.

I will own up, and say my Great Grandfather was born and grew up in Oxford (St Aldgates was/is it) but then moved to London when in his teens.

Good luck mate...

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oldun says...
8:13pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Saint Aldates! How did what you say disappoint me? There must be a good reason why you were drawn to the dark side. Few (if any) who are brought up in Oxford follow STFC - if they are not OUFC fans then they follow much 'bigger' clubs than ours" . I don't need luck - weak people believe in it (William Shankly)

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bigchet says...
8:54pm Wed 20 Feb 13

as far as ken bates is concerned although he has sold his majority shareholding he is still chairman.of leeds

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