Away Day Wiz Diaries #19 – Blades 0-1 Oxford

New ticks, old tricks, and an off-day on a sunny day to lose ground in the automatic race.

Alan Pickard

New tick Klaxon: I've never been to Oxford!

So I was excited when the 6am alarm went off. The weather forecast made for a cracking few hours in a beer garden too. Everything to look forward to, eh?

The coach was fully booked, with an 8am meet. Things were running far too smoothly until we whistled straight past our second pick-up point at Barlborough, the driver seemingly forgetting we had 22 people to collect there. One rather interesting manoeuvre later, and we managed to get them on board.

Young Izzy then organised the grand national sweepstake and football card as we headed south. Fantastically, the football card was won by Keith, on his 70th birthday - Happy birthday Keith. Even better than that, as we headed back north post-match, and worked out the sweepstake winners, Izzy got first prize on that! She's a little diamond to have around on the bus. And for me, getting as many of the next generation there as possible is what it's all about. Well done Izzy and thank you for being such an amazing young lady.

We plotted up in the lovely surroundings of Bicester for beers. A tactical swerve of the Wetherspoons led us to McCafferty’s Irish bar, which on initial inspection didn't look anything special. However, any pub that has Staropramen on tap (other beers are available) will always get the thumbs up from me. As we made our way through this tardis of a pub it became more and more intriguing.

We settled up in the lovely beer garden with two big screens to watch the Luton match, hoping for a favour, which we duly got (Leeds drawing 1-1). Annoyingly, Coventry were unavailable to hold onto the early lead against Burnley that we'd been celebrating.

So as we jumped back on the bus to the ground, we were down to second, behind Burnley, but ahead of Leeds. Three points today would see us go back top, and four points ahead of our main Yorkshire rivals. Spirits were high and the sun was shining. What could possibly go wrong? [Insert Sheffield United Football Club here].

Pulling into the vast car park — where they should just build a fourth stand — our vantage point from the upstairs deck of the coach allowed us to see straight over the fence into the ground. Much to the delight of one particular Blade who, at that point anyway, had no ticket (though he got himself one in the end).

Nice little ground actually. Well, nice little three-quarters of a ground. I understand they're looking at moving to a new stadium, doubling the available capacity. I can't help but feel it'd be cheaper to just build another stand and fill the corners in at the Kassam, because there's not a great deal wrong with the place.

I've gotta talk about the match now haven't I? Meh, we didn't turn up. Played in first gear. Conceded a crap goal from a long throw (wait, you're actually allowed to score from long throws? What a novel idea that is). Then we spent far too long passing the ball between the centre-backs at a snail’s pace. 1-0 loss.

I think that might serve as a kick up the backside ya know. At least that's the hope. You don't win games of football when every player puts a 2/10 in. It's that simple. To the bemusement of pretty much everyone, the MOTM was announced as the Oxford keeper. Who, bar a couple of routine saves, spent 90 minutes reapplying his sun cream. An off day on the pitch.

No, that isn't a picture of the Oxford keeper. That's our coach driver, living his best life!

Alternative MOTM, easy one this week. Girl of the match actually. Isabelle Bramall. Enjoy your winnings, young lady.

See you at Plymouth Wiz!