Everyone at Oxford United would like to congratulate Peter Rhoades-Brown who has been awarded a special EFL Award for long service.
‘Rosie’ has been with the U’s since joining from Chelsea in January 1984. A flying winger, Rosie was part of Jim Smith’s side that took the U’s all the way to the top flight before a knee injury ended his career early.
After a short break away from the game Rosie returned to help set up the club’s very first Community team and for the last few years has been part of the Commercial team at the Kassam Stadium.
He told us:
“It was a nice surprise to receive the award and nice to receive it from the Gaffer.
"It’s not often you get chance to sit down and look back on things but maybe 2020 gave all of us that opportunity and I am so proud to have been part of this amazing club for so long. I have played alongside and then worked with so many fantastic people and it has been an absolute pleasure to go in to work every day, whatever the role.
“It’s been great and I’m far from finished yet. There is still a lot of hard work to do but I look forward to being part of a successful 2021 for the whole club.”
Karl Robinson led the tributes to one of the club’s great servants:
“One thing I noticed when I walked in to the building was the number of people who have been at the club for many years and the unbelievable experience they provide. They get the history and are so proud to work for Oxford United and Rosie is right at the top of that list.
“He played at the very highest level and then successfully made the transition to working behind the scenes. He knows everyone in the game but also everyone in Oxfordshire: he has coached so many people during his time in Community or worked with so many businesses with the Commercial team.
“Whoever he meets it always starts and ends with a smile because he is a great person to be around and the club could not have a better ambassador.”
See Peter taking about the award here: