As well as being a fantastic day for everyone concerned with football in Oxford, Sunday’s ‘One for the Road’ memorial game for Mickey Lewis is also about raising money for his family and we have been overwhelmed by some of the offers from Mick’s friends and former colleagues.
An online auction is about to kick off over the weekend but before it does there is already one very special item that has gone under the hammer.
In 2010 Chris Wilder guided the U’s to promotion at Wembley, a day that no U’s fan will ever forget and one of the highlights of Chris’s career.
We are pleased to say that Chris will be returning to Oxford on Sunday to play in the match but as soon as he heard of the auction he was in contact to offer something very close to him, as he explains:
“Obviously Mickey was a good friend of mine and his wife Suzy and son Zach have been incredible through all of this so I wanted to help and offered to put my 2010 promotion medal up for auction. We won that together and it means a lot to me but I want it to help Suzy and Zach so I’m hoping it goes to a good cause.”
As soon as they heard this news the owners and Board at Oxford United decided that the medal should stay within the Oxford United family and made a substantial bid. The committee have decided that should be the winning bid, so the medal can be presented back to the club and be seen not just as a memory of 2010 but also of Mickey, one of the club’s great heroes.
Managing Director Niall McWilliams tols us:
“Mickey’s death was such a shock to so many at the club because he remained a friend to everyone. The Board completely understand the history behind that era of the club and the current day and they also wanted to help Suzy and Zach. It’s a great gesture from them, and from Chris, and the medal will be in very safe hands.”
The medal is just the start of the auction which will also see:
Signed items from Shaquile O'Neal, Anthony Joshua and Alan Carr
Meet and Greet Rob Brydon at the London Palladium with tickets for his show
A Weekend / Week in Cornwall
4 Ball at Heythrop Park and Golf Lesson by Golf Pro Jamie Cook
Jamie Brooks’ shirt - the first goal ever scored at the Kassam Stadium
Dean Whithead’s Oxford United Debut Shirt
Steve Wood Shirt
Rangers Signed Shirt
Liverpool signed shirt
Northampton Town Signed Title winning shirt
Sam Ricketts Wales Debut Shirt
Bournemouth Premier League Shirt
Gareth Bale Signed Wales Shirt
Callum O'Dowda Republic of Ireland signed Shirt
Callum O'Dowda Bristol City signed Shirt
Man Utd Class 92 Signed Shirt
Signed England Shirt
Man United Signed Shirt
Trent Alexander Signed Shirt
QPR signed shirt
Luton Town signed shirt
OUFC Box Executive Box for up to 5 games
3 x VIP days at Oxford United- two seats in the Boardroom, meet the manager and Backstage tour
Signed OUFC shirts
Training ground tour, meet the players, have lunch
Full details will be online at www.mickeylewis.co.uk