Joey thrashes one in against Reading in March 1998

On Wednesday, Oxford will finally get to play Reading at the third attempt. The first game, scheduled to be played towards the start of the season in August, was called off because apparently the Thames Valley Police were unable to take charge of both the game and the Reading Rock Festival, probably because they were too busy getting stoned and zoning out to RAYE. The rearranged game was then put off because someone took their eye off the ball and decided to schedule it for the international break, despite the near certainty that it would be postponed.

So now, for the 20th time, our near neighbours from Berkshire journey over the border to Oxfordshire to try to outdo the Yellows, a feat they have managed seven times. With just one of those previous 19 games ending in a draw, that means the U’s have triumphed on 11 occasions, including the first time that they met at the Manor, in March 1966 in the Third Division, when goals from Graham Atkinson and Ken Hale earned United a 2-0 win.

Atkinson scored again in the next meeting, in October of the same year, but unfortunately those Biscuitmen contrived to score three themselves to take both points. However, a year later, in October 1967, Tony Jones and Ken Skeen were on target as Oxford again won 2-0 on their way to promotion to the second tier.

After an eight-year sojourn in Division Two, United were back in the third flight to take on Reading in December 1976, when a Peter Foley goal was enough for the Thames Valley bragging rights. Foley was on target again the next time the sides met, in a League Cup tie in August 1979. However, Reading put five past the U’s in a game best forgotten.

Revenge was swift, though, as less than a month later the teams met at the Manor in a league encounter that Oxford won 4-0, thanks to goals from Ray Graydon (two), Paul Berry, and David Fogg. That was the first of four straight home wins for Oxford over Reading, including another League Cup tie that Oxford won 2-0 in September 1982, thanks to goals from Andy Thomas and Mick Vinter.

Shortly before the end of the 1982/83 season, United chairman Robert Maxwell made the eminently sensible, well-thought through, and popular announcement that Oxford and Reading were to merge to form a side to be called Thames Valley Royals, to play at a venue midway between the two cities (were Reading a city then? Can’t remember). The Oxford board approved with a couple of dissenting voices, merely suggesting that the side be called Thames Valley United instead, while the Mayor of Didcot proposed that a new stadium be built for the side in the town.

Eventually, despite Maxwell claiming that “the Thames would flow backwards” if the proposal didn’t proceed, the plans were scuppered by former Reading player and then board member Roger Smee, who managed to get a controlling stake in the Biscuitmen to prevent the plan from going ahead. United fans (led by our very own photographer Steve Daniels) held protests at the Manor, including a pitch invasion at half time of the Wigan game.

This all gave added poignancy to what was dubbed “possibly the last Thames Valley derby” in May 1983, which also saw demonstrations by supporters, including a march by Oxford fans from Gloucester Green bus station to the ground. Reading won the game 2-1, but the real winners were the fans of both clubs, as the merger was successfully thwarted, much to Maxwell’s chagrin.

United fans protest against the proposed merger with Reading at half-time of the Wigan game, April 1983

United were back to winning ways against the Royals in their next meeting, that December in the FA Cup second round, when the side won 3-0, with Vinter, Kevin Brock and Bobby McDonald all on target.

The teams met again in the League Cup in September 1990, a brace from former England international Steve Foster doing the damage in a 2-1 win.

There was another 2-1 win for the U’s in the next meeting, the sides coming together as equals in the second tier in December 1996. This time it was Joey Beauchamp and Matt Murphy with the goals.

Beauchamp was again Reading’s tormentor in March 1998, scoring twice, with Martin Gray also on the scoresheet as the Yellows won 3-0.

However, that was the last time that Oxford dunked the Biscuitmen at home, with the visitors winning the next four meetings in Oxford. They won 3-1 in March 2000 and 2-0 in April 2001, although, to be fair, Oxford were pants in those days.

The sides then met twice in successive seasons in League Cup action. Their first meeting at the Kassam, in September 2003, was won 3-1 by Reading and they then won 2-0 in August 2004. The last time the teams played in Oxford was in February 2024, when Mark Harris’s close-range goal helped United to a point in a 1-1 draw on their way to promotion to the Championship.

The Match

This is another top-of-the-table clash for the U’s, following closely on their home games against Bradford City and Stockport County.

Reading are currently sixth in the table, just one point adrift of third-placed United having played a game more. On Saturday, they were held to a goalless draw at fifth-placed Plymouth Argyle, where the best news for the Royals was the return from injury of striker Jack Marriott, who came on in the 63rd minute.

Oxford will be wanting to put aside their frustrations from Saturday’s 1-1 draw at second-from-bottom Barnsley, who played 80 minutes with just ten men. Harris’s second-half equaliser just about saved United’s blushes but the side will not want to lose further ground in the promotion race.

At Oakwell, the team massively missed both Cameron Brannagan and Ciaron Brown, both rested apparently due to the rigours of the season so far, plus a bit of illness for Brown. Hopefully, both will be fit and raring to get back at it on Wednesday evening.

One potential absentee is goalkeeper Jamie Cumming, who was dismissed in the 88th minute for a foul on Rylan Brownlie, although replays show that the keeper clearly got the ball and not the man. Latest news is that United are considering an appeal and you’d think they’d have a reasonable chance of success should they go down that route. Otherwise, in Simon Eastwood the side has a more-than-capable deputy, as he proved when he came in for five games following Cumming’s injury at Stevenage.

At Barnsley, Peter Kioso came off the bench to replace Brodie Spencer, who was on a yellow card, and I suspect that PK will get the nod to start against Reading. Whether that’s at the expense of Spencer or Jack Currie is debatable, although neither necessarily warrant dropping. If Brown isn’t fit to play, I expect Sam Long to continue at centre back alongside Michał Helik.

There are also decisions to be made in midfield, where Louie Sibley started alongside Kai Andrews on Saturday. If fit, you would expect Brannagan to return to the starting line-up, most likely at SIbley’s expense, but not necessarily. Sibs’ drive in the engine room is a useful attribute to have and it might be preferred to Andrews’ technicality.

Both Luka Lynch, who started at Barnsley but was replaced at half-time, and Mo Missanga, who came on for the final 15 minutes or so, have dropped off recently, as you might expect from teenage rookies on the wing, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see Aidomo Emakhu and Siriki Dembélé preferred in the wide positions. Emakhu has been steadily improving since returning from injury, while any side would welcome the pace and trickery Dembélé brings, even if it’s not always with the desired end product.

That leaves Tyler Goodrham to play behind Harris up top, which is how I expect the team to start. There isn’t really another decent option to play in the #10 role and Ty has been producing decent numbers this season. Gatlin O’Donkor hasn’t made the most of the opportunities that he’s had, and so he won’t be usurping Sparky’s starting place just yet. With FA Cup and FLT games coming up, though, there should be plenty of chances for him – and the other fringe players – to stake a claim in the rest of November.

This is undeniably the biggest home game of the season so far, under the lights with a sell-out crowd and plenty at stake. We know that, on their day, Oxford has what it takes to make the most of this opportunity but… with the squad’s lack of depth due to the transfer embargo, do the players have enough in their tanks to make home advantage count?

The U’s have yet to lose at home this season and are on a nine-game unbeaten run in the league. Reading are unbeaten in three, but have won neither of their last two away games, including a 1-0 defeat at bottom side Wigan Athletic. However, the game before that they trounced rapidly improving MK 5-1 in Buckinghamshire, so United can’t be complacent (not that they would be).

It has all the makings of a cracking derby (and yes, whatever others may claim, this is a derby; it might not have the same jeopardy as a Swindon game but when push comes to shove, bragging rights are almost as important for this one. Plus, who knows when we’re going to play Swindon again) and there should be a hell of an atmosphere. Make sure you take your blood-pressure pills before attending.

UTFO