To mark Oxford United’s 125th season, we are looking back at what made the news this week in three of the club's promotion-winning campaigns
1965
OXFORD United were dealt a bitter blow as they lost 2-1 at rivals Chester in injury-time.
The defeat left the U’s fifth in Division Four, but the gap to the leaders widened to eight points with Rochdale, Millwall and Chester on their heels.
Graham Atkinson put Oxford ahead, but a mistake from Cyril Beavon allowed the hosts back into the game.
And Chester pinched the points at the death to turn up the pressure on Arthur Turner’s men.
1985
OXFORD United put out a call for fans to help clear the Manor Ground of snow.
Manager Jim Smith said: “We’re appealing to anybody who can come as soon as possible with a shovel or spade to help.
“We are desperate to get the game on, so need to use the goodwill of our fans.”
United had not played a league game at the Manor since December and needed the game against Shrewsbury Town to boost promotion hopes and finances.
Smith said: “If we lose this match to the weather we’ll have to play five away games on the trot.”
Despite the valiant efforts, the fixture was postponed.
1996
DENIS Smith hailed Martin Aldridge as “the complete player” after he got Oxford United out of jail.
He struck a spectacular overhead kick winner in injury-time to bring Smith’s men a 3-2 win over Walsall.
It was only Aldridge’s second league start for Oxford and on both occasions he scored twice.
“Martin has put his chances away with two golden finishes,” said Smith.
“We’ve been working on certain aspects of his game.
"We’ve always known he can finish, but the rest of his game was good. I thought he looked the complete player.”
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