And so to what was the RAW Charging Stadium, rebranded this week as The MGroup Stadium at Marsh Lane in Marston and Oxford City FC; City at home for an FA Trophy Second Round tie against Sporting Khalsa.
City played their first recorded match on 15 March 1884, having been founded in 1882. Fixtures were irregular over the next decade, but the club was reorganised and reconstituted in 1897 and won the FA Amateur Cup in 1906, beating Bishop Auckland 3-0, before joining the Isthmian League the following year.
In the latter half of the 20th century, the club went into decline and soon fell behind Headington United (now Oxford United), who turned professional in 1949. Attempts were made to restore success when it became a limited company in 1979 and they later appointed Bobby Moore as manager, with Harry Redknapp as his assistant.
The Hoops reached their nadir in 1988 when they were evicted from their White House Ground by landlords Brasenose College, who sold the land off for housing. Forced to resign from the Isthmian League, City did not reform and return to senior football until 1990 when, based at Cutteslowe Park, they joined the South Midlands League Division One, winning promotion in their first season. The return to the Isthmian League in 1993 coincided with a move to Marsh Lane.
The club continued to climb through the divisions during the 1990s and reached the FA Vase Final in 1995, losing 2-1 to Arlesey Town.
Two seasons in the Isthmian League Premier Division prefaced an epic FA Cup run in 1999, culminating in a three-game battle against Wycombe Wanderers in the First Round Proper. City were eventually edged out 1–0 at Oxford United's old home, the Manor Ground.
The first replay had been abandoned because of a fire alarm just as the penalty shootout was about to start; this remains the only FA Cup tie to go to a second replay since the FA ruled all ties should be settled after a maximum of two games. This rule change meant that City's other FA Cup record – the six games needed before losing to Alvechurch in 1971-1972 in the qualifying rounds – is unlikely to ever be beaten.
In 2005 the club was relegated back to the Spartan South Midlands League, but achieved promotion at the first time of asking, up to the Southern League Division One South and West. Further elevation was achieved in 2008, after a 1-0 win over Uxbridge, as the Hoops reached the Southern Premier Division.
In 2011–12 Oxford City finished as runners-up, narrowly missing out on the title, but they won the play-off final against AFC Totton to ascend to the Conference North for the first time in their history. After a successful first season, finishing in 10th place, the following year proved more of a struggle, with the club initially finishing in the drop zone after a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player, but The Hoops were reprieved from relegation after Vauxhall Motors resigned from the Football Conference.
In 2015-16 City was laterally moved from Conference North to South, which was relabelled National League South; sadly chairman Colin Taylor hung himself at the ground in November 2016, due to worries about the club's finances. Two years on Oxford enjoyed a historic run in the FA Cup, knocking out league opposition for the first time with a 1-0 win at Colchester United, and narrowly being defeated in the Second Round from an injury time goal by Notts County.
2020-21 saw another FA Cup scalp beating EFL Northampton Town 2-1. But 14 May 2023 was the famous date that Oxford City was promoted to the National League Premier - after finishing third, play off semi final victory against Worthing (2-0) and a 4-0 drubbing of St Albans City in the final saw The Hoops rise to the fifth tier for the first time ever. However City struggled, in a one season stay, and eventually finished comfortably bottom with 33 points from their 46 matches.
Manager Ross Jenkins left the club to take over at Boreham Wood, succeeding Luke Garrard. Wood had also been relegated from the National League last season, somewhat unluckily with 52 points. Jenkins only lasted 8 games and 12 points before leaving 'by mutual consent': Garrard was reappointed the day after.
City's relegation hangover has continued this season in the National League North, and they have made a terrible start. So bad in fact that new boss Sam Cox was sacked; bizarrely Jenkins was reappointed Hoops' manager shortly after..... and results have improved with City now in 19th, one defeat in seven after last weekend's 95th minute equaliser by Zac McEachran against Scarborough Athletic.
En route numberplates today are SHO3S, URB4N and S1LLA - a black Range Rover. These alongside BJS removal vans showcasing 'As Strong As Worcester Sauce', 'Leaving Early for Lands End' and 'Sent to Coventry' and a cart advertising Oh! Crepe - Savoury Jianbing....
On the way to Manchester I come across Cheese FM advertising hoardings, that Taylor Swift mannequin and The Briton's Protection. Then The Armenian Lounge, Museum of Illusions, Tegtat Turkish Restaurant and Yum Cha Tea before Piccadilly and its Victory Over Blindness statue.
Through Stockport and the Hat Works and a soon to be Pyramid Curry House. The Chiverton Tap at Cheadle Hulme precedes The Old Millstone at Macclesfield.
A combination of sun and enveloping mist appear as I arrive belongside the rusty water at Kidsgrove. Beyond is Hoppecke Mill in Newcastle under Lyme and the Hand of Chronos at Stoke on Trent.
Thence Wellbeing Park at Yarnfield in Stone and rail grinders at Stafford before Molineux at Wolverhampton. That brings me to Birmingham, the Bullring and Leaves of the Tree and One Giant Leap of Humankind.
On the way out it's past St Andrew's and to Birmingham International (Airport). Afterwards the cathedral at Coventry and the Art Deco station at (Royal) Leamington Spa.
We move into the Oxfordshire countryside and reach Banbury, with Prostechnic and the Puritans of Banbury United's Spencer Stadium visible from the train tracks. Finally into Oxford and a hike up to Cowley, passing The Paste Tree, CBD Maniac and Cycloanalysts.
Friday brings sunshine and a walk into the dreaming spires of Oxford. Breakfast is at Wetherspoons' Four Candles, and yes it is named after that iconic Two Ronnies sketch. The other Oxford 'Spoons are The Swan and Castle and The William Morris - a famous Oxonian textile designer.
Avoiding the cyclists, it's a trip to the Botanic Gardens, the Sheldonian Theatre, the Museum of Natural History, the Bodleian Libraries and Radcliffe Camera, Bridge of Sighs, Martyrs' Memorial and the Ashmolean Museum. Then atop the Castle Mound at Oxford Castle & Prison, Folly Bridge, Tom Tower, the Story Museum, Carfax Tower and finally the Covered Market all the while marvelling at the city's historical attractions including the JRR Tolkien Bench. Pubs Cow & Creek, Jude The Obscure and The Old Bookbinders Ale House feature - along with restaurants The White Rabbit, Dirty Bones and The Giggling Squid in Jericho....
Past the Sandwich Shop selling Milksakes (yes really !!) and into Marston beyond Crotch Crescent brings me to Court Place Farm.
The stadium houses the main stand, opposite which is a covered terrace with windshields and dug outs, bookended by seated areas, one covered and one open.
Marsh Lane itself is dominated by the clubhouse, food hatch and club offices and features the entrance gates to the club's former nostalgic White House ground with flat standing. At the other end is a small covered terrace; the 3G surface was installed in 2018.
