Oxford United : Cover Story
Manor Ground Chronology
1925 - Headington move into
Manor Ground after using the
site several times previously
1949 - Cricket Club move off
leaving football club in situ
1950 - First floodlit game v.
Banbury Spencer
1954 - Council decide club can
develop ground on a permanent
basis
1959 - Ground purchased for
£10,000 by Supporters Club
1960 - Name of club changed
to Oxford United
1962 - Club elected to Football
League in place of Accrington
1964 - Record gate of 22,750
set for FA Cup match v. Preston
1985 - £1 million spent on refurbishment after successes on
the field
1995 - Plans passed for new
stadium at Minchery Farm
1996 - Building work started on
new stadium
1997 - Work halted due to financial troubles
2000 - Work re-starts on Minchery Farm
2001 Last ever game at the
Manor Ground?
The Manor Ground - the sum of
many parts
T
he Manor Ground is an extremely cramped and quirky
venue which is made up of many different parts. In fact
it has five separate covered seating areas, two open
terraces and two covered sections of terracing. All this
plus impossibly tight access, no parking and a major slope on
the pitch. If it were a non-league venue it would be said to be in
need of modernisation. Incredible then that it hosted League
football for nearly 40 years and a spell in the top division during
the 1980s.
The Cuckoo Lane Terrace
This wedge-shaped open terrace is accessed only via a very narrow footpath running behind and
dividing the ground from the abutting playing field and grounds of a hospital. It was built between
1962 and 1965 and accommodates away fans on its cluttered and barrier strewn steps. The high
fences obstruct views for those on the lower steps.
GT 25
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