History of OUAFC

Founded in 1872, and playing its first game against Radley College on 10th February of that year, Oxford University Association Football Club is one of the University's oldest and most prestigious clubs. Oxford played in the FA Cup from 1872-1880, reaching the final five times including in its first season and winning the trophy in 1874 with a 2-0 victory over the Royal Engineers at Kennington Oval.

29 players have won full International caps for England, six have played at this level for Wales, and one for Ireland in addition to the 25 who have won Amateur International caps for England and four for Wales, while others have been members of Great Britain's Olympic Games teams.

Many former OUAFC players have played for Football League Clubs, the most famous being K. R. G. Hunt, who scored the first goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup Final in 1911, and C. B. Fry, the great English cricketer and long jump world record-holder. Along with CUAFC, OUAFC provided the backbone of the Corinthian and Pegasus Clubs.

Iffley Road

Home matches were played originally in the University Parks, where the Centaurs (the University second team) still play their matches. The first match at Iffley Road was played in the 1899-1900 season, on what is now the rugby pitch. On 1st Debember 1921 the first match was played on the current ground, inside the athletics track at Iffley Road. Spurs beat OUAFC with a penalty after OUAFC player Barber had earlier kicked the ball from the penalty spot back into play rather than attempting to score a goal, under instruction from his captain Butcher who had thought the referee's decision was harsh.

Iffley Road became famous on 6th May 1954 when Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four-minute mile on the athletics track.

Varsity match

Every year OUAFC competes against Cambridge University in the Varsity match, one of the oldest regular fixtures in world football. The match has been played annually since 1873 (with a break for the Second World War). Those who compete in the Varsity match receive the much sought-after full blue in addition to playing a part in the history of one of football's longest-running rivalries. The 2007 Varsity match ended in a 1-1 draw and, for the first time, the match was decided by a penalty shootout, which Cambridge won 4-3.

For more information on the Varsity match see our Varsity match mini-site.

BUSA championship

OUAFC competes against other Universities in the BUSA Championship. After winning Midlands Division 2B in 2006/7 the Blues were promoted to Division 1 for the 2007/8 season.

Women

The women's club, OUWAFC, was founded in the 1980s and merged with OUAFC in 1998.

References

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