Oxford United were due to play Wycombe Wanderers away tomorrow and we can't think about that game without recalling a magic moment 24 years ago...
The 1995/96 season was a memorable one for United as the club came from a mid-table position in the New Year to embark on a run that took the U’s to second place and automatic promotion.
There were a number of special games during that late run but one that stands out in particular was the game at Adams Park at the start of April. Manor legend Paul Moody scored the game’s second goal to spark wild celebrations and an iconic photograph.
“I was a substitute for that game, as was Stuart Massey, and we both came on and both scored,” Moody recalls. “We had just hit a run of form that we needed to get ourselves up into the promotion places.
“Wycombe had beaten us at the Manor earlier in the season and beaten us well. We were 1-0 up at half-time after David Rush had put us ahead. Then I came on for Martin Aldridge and all I really remember is celebrating in front of that sold-out away end with the fans going wild. I’ve obviously seen the photo of the celebrations – I had no idea at the time that Stuart was hanging on the crossbar.”
“There was a myth going around that Denis Smith had asked me not to do that goal celebration. I’ve long had problems with my back but every time I scored, I did a somersault, and as far as I know Denis was perfectly happy with it. He certainly never spoke to me about it.”
"That really was an incredible run we went on. We only lost one of our last 17 games. We beat Swindon during it as well. And when you consider that we couldn’t buy an away win before the end of January, it really was something else.That momentum we built up made us pretty much unstoppable and when we overtook Blackpool right at the end to get promotion, that was such a good feeling.”
Look out for more Wycombe memories across our social channels this Saturday...