The final day of the 2005/06 season was one of mixed emotions at the Kassam Stadium. Leyton Orient needed to avoid defeat to secure automatic promotion to League One, while Oxford United needed to secure all three points to avoid relegation to the Conference.
Eric Sabin gave the U’s an early lead, latching on to an Andy Burgess free-kick, but the O’s levelled just three minutes later through Craig Easton. Gary Alexander managed to chip goalkeeper Billy Turley to give the visitors a second-half lead, but Chris Willmott headed home the equaliser from another Burgess’ set-piece. Willmott was dismissed five minutes from time before former Oxford striker Lee Steele netted a cruel last-minute winner. Not only did the result send Orient up, but it also ended the U’s 44-year stay in the Football League.
In the first of this series, we take a look at that starting line up and ask; Where are they now?
Billy Turley
31-year-old Billy Turley started that fateful afternoon in goal having joined earlier that season from Rushden & Diamonds. He stayed with the U’s in the Conference, where he missed a crucial penalty in a playoff semi-final against Exeter City. Turley did win promotion from the Conference in 2010 but had dropped back to the second choice following the arrival of Ryan Clarke.
The goalkeeper left to join Brackley Town, where he spent a further five years before hanging up his gloves. We’re not entirely sure what Turley did after his retirement, but after the clubs 2010 Wembley heroes reunion, the club announced Turley missed the event as he was involved in jury service.
Lee Mansell
22-year-old right-back Lee Mansell only spent one season with Oxford and, unfortunately for him, it ended in relegation.
Mansell, who later in his career became a central midfielder, was the first choice right-back that season and, despite a disappointing campaign for the club, was liked by the fans. He left in the summer to join Torquay United, where he made over 400 appearances, before spending three years at Bristol Rovers. After his retirement, he remained with the Gas and is currently development squad manager.
Chris Willmott
Centre back Chris Willmott was both hero and villain against the O’s that afternoon but stayed for four seasons at Oxford despite relegation. The 27-year-old made 41 appearances, scoring twice, in his debut season.
He made over 100 appearances during his time at the club before moving to Brackley Town and Oxford City, where he ended his career.
John Dempster
22-year-old John Dempster partnered Willmott that afternoon with the centre back making just his sixth appearance since joining in January.
He left in the summer to join his hometown club, Kettering Town, before turning out for Crawley Town, Mansfield Town and Tamworth. The former Scotland U21 defender then became Mansfield Acadamy manager between 2015-2019 and held the first-team job from May to December 2019 before he was dismissed.
Matthew Robinson
Left-back Matty Robinson spent four seasons at Oxford United, but the defeat against the O’s was his 192nd and final appearance in yellow.
The 30-year-old started his career with Southampton, before joining Portsmouth and Reading. He joined the U’s in 2002 before turning out for Forest Green Rovers, Salisbury City, Totton and Swindon Supermarine. During his time in non-league, he was reported to be training to become a police officer.
Barry Quinn
Former Republic of Ireland midfielder Barry Quinn was another integral part of the squad that season. The 26-year-old played 44 times where he scored twice having joined from Coventry City in 2002.
He left the club in 2009 having made 199 appearances, which he spent large spells as the clubs’ captain. Following his release, Quinn joined Brackley Town where he spent three seasons before retiring.
He also had a share in the company GQL which owned a Bar/Restaurant in Coventry City Centre, which was then placed into administration as it did not generate enough revenue, before going to liquidation.
Chris Hargreaves
Cleethorpes born midfielder Chris Hargreaves joined the club in 2005 but his bags of experience was unable to help the U’s maintain their League Two status.
The 33-year-old, who played 35 games that season, had played for eight clubs before joining the U’s, including Grimsby Town, Hull City, Hereford United and Northampton Town. Hargreaves made under 100 appearances for the U’s during his two-year spell, before joining Torquay United, where he’d spend a further three years.
Hargreaves returned to Oxford in January 2010 and was part of the squad that returned to the Football League following their promotion playoff win.
In 2014, Hargreaves was appointed manager of Torquay. He was unable to keep the club in the Football League and left in the summer of 2015. He was then appointed development squad manager at Bristol Rovers, before being replaced by former teammate, Lee Mansell.
Jay Smith
The 23-year-old central midfielder only played six times having joined on loan from Southend United but played 89 minutes of the game against the O’s.
Smith had a succession of injuries throughout his career but returned to the Shrimpers following the U’s subsequent relegation. He turned out for Notts County, Eastwood Town and Tamworth before ending his career at AFC Telford United in 2013.
Tcham N’Toya
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, striker Tcham N’Toya scored four goals in eight appearances while on loan at Oxford.
The 21-year-old arrived from Chesterfield but joined Notts County in the summer following the U’s relegation. The striker then joined Israeli Premier League side Maccabi Herzliya followed by Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, before heading to Cyrpus to turn out for Atromitos Geroskipou.
Eric Sabin
French-born striker Eric Sabin only played the one season for the U’s, finishing the campaign with just seven goals from 29 appearances. Despite that, he was the second-highest goalscorer behind Steve Basham, who netted eight, highlighting a key reason as to why the U’s went down.
Starting his career in 1994, Sabin played for numerous lower league French sides before arriving in England, where he turned out for Swindon Town, QPR and Northampton Town before his arrival in Oxford. Capped three times by Martinique, he returned to France before hanging up his boots in 2008. He was last known running a French Football Academy.
Andy Burgess
Injuries hampered left-midfielder Andy Burgess’ game time after he arrived in October 2015, but you can’t help but feel that a fully fit and fully focused Burgess could have kept the club in League Two.
He joined from Rushden & Diamonds where he spent seven years, before rejoining them after leaving the U’s. He turned out for Luton Town and Mansfield Town before various short term spells in non-league.
From 2009, he has had brief managerial roles. Firstly with Sheffield Wednesday Women’s, Preston North End Women and Leeds United Ladies, he then managed non-league Barnton.
Since then, Burgess had had various behind the scenes roles at a number of clubs, including Head of Recruitment at Torquay United, Academy Representative at Manchester City and Head of Recruitment at Mansfield Town.
