Kassam Stadium
Thursday 22 January, 6:00pm
Oxford United’s rising stars are in action at the Kassam Stadium as they face Colchester United in the FA Youth Cup fourth round, knowing a victory could set up a home tie in the next round against either Manchester United or Derby County.
How Both Teams Got Here
- Oxford United: The Yellows entered the competition at the third round stage and beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the Kassam back in December. Jack Lee and Mo Missanga scored either side of half time to seal a comfortable victory.
- Colchester United: The visitors have had to navigate a longer path to the fourth round, having entered the competition in the first round. Their FA Youth Cup campaign began with an impressive 5–2 away victory over AFC Wimbledon, followed by a convincing 3–0 win against Barnet in round two. Progress to this stage was secured with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over FC Halifax Town in the previous round.
Oxford United: A Team In Form
The U’s have been in sensational form in recent months. Unbeaten in their last seven matches (W6 D1), they head into this fixture brimming with confidence and will be keen to put on another show at the Kassam, just as they did against Wigan Athletic in the previous round.
Those six victories have come in a variety of circumstances, highlighting the squad’s adaptability and resilience. Narrow away wins at Bristol Rovers and Portsmouth demanded disciplined, professional performances to preserve clean sheets, while the most recent 6–3 triumph over Cheltenham Town showcased the team’s attacking flair and fighting spirit, as they came from behind on multiple occasions to secure a memorable victory.
Last six results:
- Oxford United 6-3 Cheltenham Town
- Bristol Rovers 0-2 Oxford United
- Portsmouth 0-2 Oxford United
- Oxford United 2-0 Wigan Athletic (FA Youth Cup)
- Oxford United 4-1 Plymouth Argyle
- Stevenage 1-1 Oxford United
Get To Know Some Of The U's Academy Stars
- Jack Lee: A commanding presence in attack, Lee has been clinical in front of goal this season and poses a constant threat to opposition defences. Strong in the air, technically assured with his feet and blessed with a natural poacher’s instinct, he is often central to the attacking flair on display. Lee signed his first professional contract with the Club in the summer of 2025, a clear indication of Oxford United’s belief in his ability and confidence that he can fulfil his immense potential.
- Josh Holton: Josh has been with the Club since the Under-9s and has steadily risen through the ranks. A creative midfielder, he finished the 2024/25 season with double-digit assists and established himself as a regular for the Under-21s while also featuring for the Under-18s. Often the key link in midfield, Holton excels at playing incisive passes through the lines to ignite attacks and is likely to play a crucial role in the team’s attacking strategy.
- Charlie Cramond: Captain of the Under-18s this season, Charlie Cramond joined at the Under-16 level from grassroots football. The skipper played a total of 37 games last season for the Under-18s, the second most by any scholar. A composed, ball-playing centre-half with a complete skill set, he will be eager to lead the side to another clean sheet and lay the foundations for victory.
A Word From The Gaffer:
Under-18s Head Coach Niall Keown has given his thoughts ahead of Thursday night's game:
"Overall, looking back at the (Wigan) game I was really pleased with how the boys did on the night and how they dealt with the occasion. I think that was one of the main things going into the game is with it being pretty much for all of them the first time playing at the Kassam and for a lot of them the first time playing in a Youth Cup.
We know that there's still a long way for them to go in terms of their development and they've got to keep pushing in the way that they have at the start of this season to give themselves the best possible chance of succeeding longer term."
When asked about the opportunity that lies in front of the team this week, Keown went on to say:
"Firstly, grateful again to get the opportunity to be back at the Kassam. I think that first game that you're often playing in, those situations can be the most difficult. In terms of mentally being able to deal with that occasion, I think it was generally really positive how the group dealt with it.
It took a few of the boys a bit longer to find their rhythm in that game and they’ll be massively better off the back of that experience going into Colchester."
Voices from the Camp:
TICKETS
Tickets for this match remain on sale. Secure your seats for this exciting encounter in OX4 by:
- Clicking HERE
- Calling 01865 337 533
- Visiting the Ticket Office in person
RETAIL
The Club Shop will be open from 10am on Thursday, so be sure to stop by and check out the latest 2025/26 merchandise ahead of kick off. Our January Sale is in full swing - offering you great discounts across a range of products.
