After listening to the latest podcast from Oxblogger and friends, Vital Oxford have selected their best XI of the decade from 2000-2010.
On the pitch, it was a disastrous ten years with two relegations and financial difficulties but the U’s ended it with a return to the Football League.
Read More: Oxford United Team of the Decade 2010-2020
GK: Ryan Clarke
230 appearances
2009-2015
While he only played one season in the decade, it was a monumental one for Oxford United.
Clarke had dislodged Billy Turley as the club’s number-one goalkeeper following his arrival from Salisbury City and made it a season to remember.
The shot-stopper helped the U’s return to the Football League after winning in the Conference playoff final at Wembley, despite fumbling the ball into his own net in a 3-1 victory over York.
LB: Matt Robinson
192 appearances/4 goals
2002-2006
A regular starter at left back, Matt Robinson was a mainstay in the Oxford United starting line-up.
The defender made over 40 appearances in all four seasons at the club but he was one of the unfortunate players to suffer relegation from the Football League in 2006.
CB: Andy Crosby
122 appearances/13 goals
2001-2004
The recently sacked Port Vale manager was a solid defender for the U’s during a difficult spell between two relegations after joining in December 2001.
The defender was vital in both boxes and he netted winning goals in matches against Bury, Leyton Orient, Lincoln City and Boston United as the U’s just missed out on the playoffs.
He would add another five goals the following season before joining Scunthorpe in the summer.
CB: Chris Willmott
102 appearances/4 goals
2005-2009
Centre-back Chris Willmott’s first season ended in relegation from the Football League. The defender was also sent off in the final match of the season against Leyton Orient which condemned the U’s to the drop.
Despite that, he was a mainstay at the back for Oxford during the Conference years but left in 2009.
RB: Damian Batt
180 appearances/3 goals
2009-2013
Like Ryan Clarke, right-back Damian Batt joined the club towards the end of the decade but was a key part as the U’s won promotion to League Two.
A progressive full back, Batt would be seen bombing up and down the wing throughout the entire 90 minutes.
CM: Dean Whitehead
136 appearances/9 goals
1999-2004
Born in Abingdon, midfielder Dean Whitehead is an Oxford boy through and through.
He made 23 appearances in a breakthrough season for his hometown club, although the U’s suffered relegation to the third division.
However, he was a mainstay for three seasons before joining Sunderland in the Championship, where he also won promotion to the top flight with the Black Cats.
It’s safe to say that spells at Sunderland, Stoke, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield made him arguably the most successful academy product the club has developed.
CM:Barry Quinn
199 appearances/6 goals
2004-2009
Maybe not the most pleasing player on the eye, midfielder Barry Quinn was another mainstay in the Oxford side.
Unfortunately, he was another to suffer relegation from the Football League, but his experience was vital during the Conference years. However, like Chris Willmott, he left one year before the U’s won promotion to League Two.
Quinn won the Player’s Player of the Year award in the 2006/07 season and would be appointed captain by the late Jim Smith.
RM: Chris Hackett
142 appearances/9 goals
2000-2006
Another product of the Oxford United academy, Chris Hackett was an explosive winger.
His promising displays prompted interest from several clubs, including Manchester United, Newcastle and Middlesbrough.
He moved to Hearts in January 2006 – just months before Oxford’s relegation – and would later play for Millwall, Wycombe and Northampton.
He returned to the club in a coaching role and was appointed assistant manager to Des Buckingham earlier this season.
LM: Joey Beauchamp
429 appearances/79 goals
1989-1994/1995-2002
We don’t need to go into too much detail about the brilliance of Joey Beauchamp. Over two separate spells, the Oxford-born winger was a revelation for the club.
He famously left the U’s to join West Ham with the club struggling financially but that move lasted just 58 days before he joined Oxford’s rivals, Swindon.
This move came because he wanted to be closer to home and it wasn’t long before he returned home to see out his Oxford career.
While he wasn’t as active in his latter years at the club, his all-round involvement means it is impossible not to include him in our team.
ST: Steve Basham
187 appearances/49 goals
2002-2007
After breaking his leg at Preston, Steve Basham was released by the club but would sign for Oxford in the summer of 2002.
Another to suffer relegation from the Football League, Basham ended two separate campaigns as the club’s top scorer.
His final season at Oxford, and first in the non-league, was blighted by injury and he was released at the end of the campaign.
ST: James Constable
280 appearances/106 goals
2008/09 (loan)/2009/2014
James Constable hit 23 goals in 42 Conference matches while on loan from Shrewsbury.
The striker would join the U’s on a permanent basis the following season and fire the U’s back into the Football League with 26 goals from 44 appearances.
While the majority of his appearances and goals came in the following decade, there is no denying that ‘Beano’ was the best striker the club had over the ten years, and ended his Oxford career just one goal short of the club’s joint-highest goalscorer.
