On this day 40 years ago at Wembley Stadium, Oxford United etched its name into English football history.
Defeating QPR 3-0 in front of 90,000 people at the national stadium, Maurice Evans’ side lifted the Milk Cup, the first and only piece of major silverware.
Goals from Trevor Hebberd, Ray Houghton, and Jeremy Charles saw the trophy come to the Manor Ground in what was the most historic period in United’s long history.
Winning back-to-back titles and promotions, United played in the top flight in the 1985/86 season for the very first time, capping off a remarkable three-year period with the League Cup success.
To mark fourth decades since the most memorable moment in the Club’s history, a new documentary is out now, speaking to the key figures that made that historic moment happen.
‘The Unbelievable Has Happened: The Story of Oxford United’s 1986 Milk Cup’, is out on the Club’s YouTube and OUTV now. The documentary tells the story from the origin of the Club known as Oxford United in the early 1960s, through to the glory years of the 1980s.
Sharing first-hand insights from the likes of Peter Rhoades-Brown, Ray Houghton, and Milk Cup captain Malcolm Shotton, watch and hear one of English football’s most remarkable success stories, as United rose from Third Division obscurity to the top of the English game.
Under the guidance of Jim Smith, Oxford had made it to the top, but it all unravelled in pre-season with Jim leaving the Club to join QPR, replaced by Maurice Evans.
Now in this new documentary, hear how the whole story unfolded with rare stories from Nick Harris and Jim Rosenthal, who share their views as supporters in the press hotseat, commentating on their Club’s big day at Wembley.
Alongside this, there are more amazing tales from Milk Cup winners Les Phillips, Kevin Brock, and Alan Judge.
Make sure you watch it now and remember the famous Milk Cup success 40 years ago today.
The Unbelievable Has Happened: The Story of Oxford United’s 1986 Milk Cup is out now.
TICKET NEWS
Tuesday night’s home fixture against Wrexham will see the Club celebrate the anniversary, with members of the iconic 1985/86 squad in attendance as we recognise their unforgettable success.
It promises to be a special evening, with plenty of pre-match entertainment across the Exhibition Bar, Icons Restaurant and pitchside, including 80s-themed games and music, while several members of that historic, trophy-winning squad will be joining us as special guests.
The squad will join guests in the Icons Restaurant to take part in a special Q&A session, and at half-time, they will join Peter Rhoades-Brown pitchside to parade the Milk Cup around the Kassam Stadium.
Tickets remain available online, in person, and over the phone, so make sure you’re there to back the team in an important fixture, and to celebrate the Milk Cup 40 years on.
You can purchase your tickets HERE.
