The U’s welcome Blackpool to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday and the fixture will spark some great memories for former U’s defender Anton Rogan.
A Northern Ireland international from Belfast, Anton Rogan was a member of the United squad between 1993 and 1995, having joined from Sunderland and then finished his playing career with Blackpool in 1999.
“I had five great clubs and loved them all. Starting off at Celtic in their centenary year was special. My claim to fame is that I played in five cup finals in successive seasons. The Scottish Cup in ’88, ’89 and 1990 and the FA Cup in ’91 and ’92. I think that’s probably a quiz question somewhere! Anyway, I had two great years at Roker Park and then Terry Butcher told me Oxford were interested and that was it, I upped and left. Sometimes you just know when it’s the right time to do something and I felt that the move to Oxford was right for me. I’ve lived there for 30 years now and I just love the place.”
“We had a great side at Oxford, with some fantastic players like Micky Lewis, Matty Elliott, Jim Magilton, Joey. We played some great football and I was doing really well until I ripped my hamstring and missed the second half of the season when we got relegated. I got back in though and we almost made it back up but just tailed away at the end.
“After that I went to Millwall and had two great years there and then I finished at Blackpool.I didn’t play as much as I’d have liked for Blackpool as I got a blocked artery behind one of my knees and it required surgery to remove the blockage; it was quite a major op but I managed to get back playing again.
"I was 33 and had a good career to look back on. I had moved up to Blackpool for the two years I was there but kept my place in Oxford because my wife Nickie is a Kidlington girl. We live in Bladon now. It was difficult, not so much giving up the playing but being away from the dressing room and having that daily banter with the lads. I really missed that.
“But looking back, I had a great career and now living in Oxford is fantastic because I fell in love with the place. I’m still following the side and love that they’re doing so well. I was lucky enough to meet Cameron Brannagan recently. We went fishing together at Blenheim. He’s a lovely bloke.”
Read the full interview including one amazing story about Anton’s adventures with Micky Lewis, only in Saturday’s programme.
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Fans can expect all these fantastic activities for our Family Day
- Meet our mascots Olly and Olivia
- Coaching demos from the top class Oxford United in the Community team
- FREE Facepainting (Yellow and Blue of course!)
- Gaming Parties Gaming Van
- World Championship freestyler Luca Placintino showcasing his amazing skills
- Smash Padel will be hosting lots of fun games for supporters to take part in
- Escape Hunt Oxford will be testing supporters' cognitive skills with a mini escape
- Fun photo opportunities with Oxford New Theatre
- Partyman World, Oxford in attendance