Full name | Oxford United Football Club |
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Nickname(s) | The U's, Yellows, The Boys from Up the Hill (as Headington United) |
Founded | 1893 (as Headington United) |
Ground | Kassam Stadium |
Capacity | 12,500 |
Chairman | Darryl Eales |
Head Coach | Michael Appleton |
League | League One |
2015–16 | League Two, 2nd (promoted) |
Website | Club home page |
Oxford United Football Club is a professional football club based in the city of Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. The team play in League One, the third tier of English football. The chairman is Darryl Eales, the head coach is Michael Appleton and the team captain is John Lundstram.
Founded in 1893 as Headington United, Oxford United adopted their current name in 1960. They joined the Football League in 1962 after winning the Southern Football League, reaching the Second Division in 1968. After relegation in 1976, between 1984 and 1986 the club earned successive promotions into the First Division, and won the League Cup in 1986. Oxford were unable to enter the 1987 UEFA Cup because of the UEFA ban on English clubs in European competitions. Relegation from the top flight in 1988 began an 18-year decline which saw the club relegated to the Conference in 2006. This was the first time in the history of English football that a team that had won a major trophy was relegated from the Football League. After four seasons, Oxford were promoted to League Two in 2010 via the playoffs, and six seasons later were promoted to League One, after finishing 2nd in League Two in 2016.
Ron Atkinson holds the club record for the most overall appearances with 560, John Shuker holds the record for the most appearances in the Football League with 478 and Ron's late brother Graham Atkinson holds the record for the most goals scored with 107. In total, nineteen players have made international appearances while playing for the club. United's home ground is the Kassam Stadium in Oxford and has a capacity of 12,500. United moved to the stadium in 2001 after leaving the Manor Ground, their home for 76 years. Swindon Town is the club's main rival.