http://www.ouafc.com/news Oxford University Association Football Club | Latest News en-gb webmaster@ouafc.com http://www.ouafc.com/news/265 Dave Robinson has taken over responsibilty for the university second team, known as the Centaurs. The extensive knowledge of Oxford football, at Blues, Centaurs and College level, will be extremely beneficial to the whole of the club. Being familiar with both sides (Robinson has clocked up an impressive 29 appearances for the club since the start of 2006-7) he will aid OUAFC in promoting more of a club atmosphere, ridding any perceived divide between the first and second teams. Robinson will have control over coaching and selection, and will work closely with Blues captain Tom Wherry to ensure all members of the club are working towards the same goals. This will ensure moving between the two squads will be easier for all concerned. Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:06:41 +0100 http://www.ouafc.com/news/265#timestamp:1222722401 News http://www.ouafc.com/news/264 The date for the trial for OUAFC (Blues and Centaurs) has finally been confirmed. The trial will take place on Saturday October 11th 2008. The time is as of yet unconfirmed. Trials are designed for everyone from freshers to established college players so everyone's in with a chance. Just remember that our coaches may see something in you that you didn't even realise you had, so if you're not sure if you're good enough, why not have a go? Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:56:05 +0100 http://www.ouafc.com/news/264#timestamp:1222095365 News http://www.ouafc.com/news/263 BUSA have announced the composition of the Midlands conferences and the fixtures and for the coming season. The Blues, who will be keen to retain the division 1 title won last season, will start their championship defence with a tough trip to Warwick on 15th Oct (Wednesday 2nd week). The corresponding fixture last season was the only game that the Blues lost in the league in 2007-8 and things will get no easier, as the following week sees Worcester as the visitors to Iffley, who the Blues beat on the final day of last season to leapfrog to the title. Nottingham Trent and Nottingham 2nds replace Northampton and Bedford, relegated last season meaning that the division has a distinctly Nottingham based feel to it; 3 of the division's 6 teams are from the city's 2 universities. Disappointingly, the geography which seems to have counted against the Blues in recent years has again reared its head with BUSA confirming that the Blues will need to win a promotion play-off to gain promotion to the Premier League if they win division 1, while any other team wining the division will gain automatic promotion, however this is a challenge new Blues captain Tom Wherry is sure to relish. The Centaurs have moved sideways in tier 3 of the Midlands conference and will be plying their trade in division 3B this season rather than 3A where they have played since their promotion in 2003-4. Their new opponents are Leicester 1sts, De Montford 1sts, Bedfordshire 2nds, Nottingham Trent 2nds and U.E.A. 2nds. The Centaurs will commence their season with a trip to Bedfordshire in 2nd week and will play host to De Montford the week after. A new innovation this season sees all Midlands teams below division 1 being entered into a cup competition to run concurrently with the league. The Centaurs have received a bye in round 1 and will travel to face Aston 1sts from division 3A in round 2 on Nov 19. The two Cambridge teams in the conference have been drawn away from the Centaurs meaning that the Centaurs will only meet the Cambridge Blues if both teams reach the semi-final (round 6) stage and only meet the Falcons in the final. Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:13:53 +0100 http://www.ouafc.com/news/263#timestamp:1219061633 News http://www.ouafc.com/news/262 An admirable performance from the OUAFC Blues limited Slavia Prague to just 5 goals and earned the acclaim of the 14618 fans on a glorious night in the Czech capital. The gulf in class was obvious from the outset as, before Oxford had even touched the ball, Patrick Berger was released down the left channel to clip an exquisite cross that Vladimir Smicer guided into the bottom corner of the net. Worse was to follow just 3 minutes later when an intricate passing move was swept home via 'keeper Nik Baker's fingertips. With the score at 2-0 inside 5 minutes, it appeared that the Blues may be about to be engulfed by a clearly superior side. However, the side were visibly lifted as the Slavia fans began to chant 'OXFORD, OXFORD!' and a combination of some heroic defending and goalkeeping managed to maintain the deficit until the half-time interval. In truth, the Blues could be considered unlucky not to have reduced their arrears, as James Kelly sent a shot whistling past the top corner, and then stung the palms of the Czech side's returning keeper, while Alex Toogood continued to be a nuisance, turning and running at the heart of the Slavia defence to the obvious delight of the crowd, although the centre backs always managed to keep him at arm's length. After the half-time wedding, the Blues and Slavia returned with sides almost unrecognisable from the first-half as the mass substitutions began. Self-proclaimed OUAFC all-time top goalscorer, Deji Davies, taking his turn up front in place of Toogood, displayed the kind of talent that used to terrorise St Ebbe's Parish XI as he bustled his way into a promising shooting position before unleashing a scuffed strike that trickled through to the keeper. Almost immediately Slavia showed him how to do it, with a goal of the highest quality. Lightning one-touch passing picked a way through the congested central area around the 'd', before a one-two tied Toby Hodgson in knots and in a flash the ball was dispatched into the bottom corner of the net. It was a goal that was quite simply a pleasure to concede! As the substitutions continued to break up the play, Oxford managed to force some further chances - the best falling to Kunal Desai, who found the side-netting. The elderly Slavia substitutes slowed the tempo of the match, but still managed to pick off the Oxford defence twice more. The fifth and final goal was fittingly scored by Ivo Knoflí�ek, a former team-mate of OUAFC coach Mickey Lewis. One of the biggest cheers of the night greeted the appearance of Blues coach Phill Heath for the final 5 minutes. Although lacking some of the pace that made him such a force for Stoke and Oxford United in his pomp, Heath nevertheless impressed with ability to dominate the area just beyond dugout, and to blame others when they attempted to pass to him. At the final whistle OUAFC joined Slavia and their fans in celebrating an unbelievable opening night at Stadion Eden, and one that will live long in the memory of everyone in the touring party. Mon, 12 May 2008 12:26:19 +0100 http://www.ouafc.com/news/262#timestamp:1210591579 Match report http://www.ouafc.com/news/261 A 30-man touring squad consisting of the best current members and recent leavers are finalising their preparations for their trip to Prague to participate in a friendly match against Slavia Prague which will mark the official opening of Stadion Eden. The team will be led in Prague by Tom Wherry, who was elected captain just a week ago. A match against a Champions League side surely must mark the most daunting start to any captain's tenure in the 136-year history of the club, but Wherry is keen to focus on the positives: 'This really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for everyone involved, so we will head to Prague intent on enjoying every moment of it. Having said that, the tour will be that much more satisfying if we can do ourselves justice on the pitch so we will do everything possible to achieve this.' There have been four previous meetings between the clubs, the first a 3-0 victory to Oxford in Prague in 1899, the second and third in 1907 finishing in 0-0 and 2-2 draws respectively. Slavia finally recorded their first victory over OUAFC in 1936 with a comprehensive 8-2 thrashing. Slavia are currently lying 4 points behind their great rivals Sparta at the top of the Czech league, and are likely to field a very strong team for the event, boosted by some returning legends such as Patrick Berger and Radek Cerny. It seems set to be a great occasion! Fri, 02 May 2008 15:10:26 +0100 http://www.ouafc.com/news/261#timestamp:1209737426 News http://www.ouafc.com/news/260 Christ Church awarded a 3-0 victory Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:09:30 +0100 http://www.ouafc.com/news/260#timestamp:1208347770 Match report http://www.ouafc.com/news/259 The annual OUAFC indoor 5-a-side tournament will commence on Monday 21st April. Matches will take place at Iffley Road sports hall on Mondays 2-6pm and Thursdays 2-4.30pm. Teams may be entered to represent any organisation within the University, with match squads consisting of a maximum of 8 players. THE DEADLINE FOR ENTRY IS FRIDAY 18TH APRIL. Entry fee is £10 per team. Please contact nicholas.baker@sport.ox.ac.uk to enter a team. Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:00:46 +0100 http://www.ouafc.com/news/259#timestamp:1208170846 News http://www.ouafc.com/news/258 The Oxford Blues came from behind three times before losing to two late goals in what will surely go down as one of the greatest Varsity Matches of all time. Tom Brown's pictures from the match are available at: http://www.ouafc.com/photos/varsity08/ Matt Stock scored the first 4 goals for the Light Blues in an unbelievable individual performance. Oxford were able to reply to the first three through Homer Sullivan, James Kelly and Alex Toogood, but just as they seemed to have gained the ascendency and were pushing for a winner against a visibly fatigued Cambridge side, a defensive slip let in Stock with just 2 minutes to full-time. As Oxford pushed in vain for a fourth equaliser they were hit on the break as Stock crossed for Matt Amos to nod in at the near post to put the result beyond doubt. Varsity defeat marks a disappointing end to a season that the Blues can look back on with great pride. The only consolation being that they played a huge part in a classic Varsity Match, and one that will have done wonders for the future of the historic fixture. Sun, 30 Mar 2008 17:25:35 +0100 http://www.ouafc.com/news/258#timestamp:1206894335 Match report http://www.ouafc.com/news/257 Tickets for the 124th Varsity Match on Saturday 29th March are available from www.fulhamfc.com/tickets. Please come and support the Blues as they seek to round off a successful season with victory over the Tabs at the home of Fulham Football Club. The match kicks off at 1.15pm, meaning that it will finish in good time to watch the Boat Race after 5pm on the same day. We very much plan to make a day of it at Craven Cottage, where a £12 ticket for the Riverside Stand will get you a seat for the match, and the opportunity to take advantage of the great views from the Riverside Terrace in the company of the Blues and coach Martin Keown as the rowers go by. £8 tickets for the Johnny Haynes Stand are also available. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:19:58 +0000 http://www.ouafc.com/news/257#timestamp:1206011998 News http://www.ouafc.com/news/256 A goal from central midfielder Leon Farr was enough to give the Blues a victory over a strong Newport County side in their final preparation match before facing Cambridge at Craven Cottage on Saturday 29th March. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:54:04 +0000 http://www.ouafc.com/news/256#timestamp:1205945644 Match report