Saturday, April 16, 1983 – a day that supporters of Oxford United and Reading will never forget after U’s owner and chairman Robert Maxwell announced plans to merge the two clubs.
Maxwell, who also owned a 19 per cent share in the Royals, was looking to take full control of the club. He later announced plans for a new shared stadium while alternating matches at the Manor Ground and Elm Park until its completion.
The reasoning behind the idea is that Maxwell felt both clubs were heading for financial ruin. It’s true, both clubs were struggling financially. However, both Oxford and Reading would secure two promotions in the following years while the U’s also secured the Milk Cup and even turned a profit under Maxwell’s ownership.
After the announcement, both sets of supporters would hold protests. Reading fans marched to Elm Park from the town centre before a match against Millwall while 2,000 Oxford supporters sat on the pitch ahead of their game against Wigan Athletic, causing a 30-minute delay to kick-off.
The merger was later dismantled after Roger Smee replaced Frank Waller as chairman at Reading, and the idea was rejected as Smee opposed the plans.
