The Ghost of Gresty Road

This article can also be found in today's matchday programme, all printed out and with a glossy picture behind it, no doubt.

This afternoon we welcome Crewe Alexandra, a side that have never visited our new stadium and in fact their last visit to Oxford was way back in October 1998, would you even believe.


So matches against The Railwaymen might well be unknown to most of the younger Oxford fans here today in their scuffed shoes, grazed knees and pockets full of sweeties, firecrackers, scrumped apples and catapults.

Yes, that’s what children are like these days, busy reading about Desperate Dan’s latest exploits and dreaming up all manner of beastly japes whilst blissfully unaware of the heady and frequent encounters with Crewe back in the distant 1990’s.

For some of the older fans though, and some of the ones that aren’t actually that old but still remember the 90’s (like me), matches against Crewe might stoke up some fond memories. Some not so fond memories perhaps too.

My first trip to Gresty Road was certainly of the latter variety, which came on 1st April 1995 and was also the first away game I travelled to without the accompaniment of a responsible adult. It turned out to be the last for a while too after myself and my two schoolmates got into all sorts of bother.

Firstly, one of us got collared at Birmingham Snowshill for travelling on a child’s train ticket when we were clearly not 13 anymore but burly, bumfluff-faced and croaky-throated 16 year olds. Being a bit younger-looking (and stealthier), myself and the third member of the expedition managed to avoid the attentions of the British Transport Police by moving swiftly and meekly – but the other chap got a stiff talking to, a fine and had his details taken so was effectively now a criminal (or so it appeared to our child-like minds at the time). Not an auspicious start to our travelling supporter careers.

After continuing the side-tracked journey to Crewe, we eventually arrived 3 hours before kick-off and failed to get served in a single alcoholic tavern, due to being bumfluff-faced, croaky-throated 16 year olds. So, we found ourselves entering the ground at 12.30pm and sunburnt and bored by kick-off. Then the match itself was cack, obviously, as we lost.

Not finished with us yet, April Fool’s Day 1995 decided it still had some more fun up it’s sleeve for the jaded adventurers when after being locked in the ground for 45mins after the game we missed our expected connection at Birmingham. Confused and angry with the world, we then got on the wrong train and ended up stranded in Leamington Spa with no more trains heading south for the night.

The last leg of the journey was done several hours later in the back of a particularly disgruntled parent’s car, having been called up to rescue us.

It certainly appeared that someone might have been playing me and my travelling companions for fools that day after all those shenanigans, and I vowed never to set foot near Crewe ever again.

Of course, I was back there the very following season, and very glad about it I was too. This is the one that instantly springs to most fans’ minds of course, being a glorious sunny day in late April 1996.

On this occasion, a second half goal from a certain Mr Beauchamp turned out to be the goal that sent Oxford into 2nd with 1 game remaining thanks also to Walsall concurrently destroying Blackpool’s day.

Oh how we celebrated on the way home, and the day was completed with many beers, full adult train tickets and getting on the correct trains every time.

The lesson had been learnt and the ghost of Gresty Road had been laid to rest, for this traveller at least.