Oxford United’s Under-18s are back in action on Thursday night as they take on Colchester United in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, with a fifth-round tie against either Manchester United or Derby County at stake.
The Club’s academy has a proud history of producing talented players who have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the game. Here, we take a look back at the journeys of some of those standout graduates.
Matty Taylor
A local lad from Kidlington, Taylor came through Oxford United’s academy from the age of eight and made his first-team debut at 17. After loan spells at Abingdon United and Didcot Town, he moved to Conference side Forest Green Rovers, where he spent three years before joining Bristol Rovers.
At Rovers, he became a fan favourite, scoring 68 goals in 132 appearances and helping secure promotion to League One, finishing as League Two’s top scorer with 28 goals in his first full season. In January 2017, he controversially joined rivals Bristol City before returning to his boyhood club Oxford in 2019, going on to net 64 goals for the U’s. Now 35, Taylor continues his career with Salisbury FC in the National League South.
Callum O'Dowda
Callum O’Dowda is another excellent graduate of the Oxford United academy, having joined the Club’s youth setup at the age of nine and progressed through to make his senior debut in 2013. After establishing himself with over 100 appearances for the U’s and playing a key role in their promotion from League Two, he earned a move to Championship side Bristol City in 2016, where he spent six excellent seasons in the Championship.
He later signed for Cardiff City in 2022 before embarking on a new chapter with Hungarian champions Ferencváros in 2025, playing under former Ireland legend Robbie Keane, while also becoming a regular Republic of Ireland international with more than 30 senior caps to his name.
Joey Beauchamp
Joey Beauchamp was a true Oxford United legend who came through the Club’s youth system and went on to etch his name into its history. Born in Oxford, he signed as a trainee in 1987 and made his senior debut with the U’s, quickly becoming a fan-favourite winger known for his skill, direct running and eye for goal.
Across two spells with United he made 428 appearances and scored 79 goals, placing him among the Club’s all-time leaders in both categories. After a brief move to West Ham and a season with Swindon Town, Beauchamp returned home to continue his distinguished career before it was sadly cut short by injury in 2002. Beauchamp sadly passed away in February 2022 at the age of 50, but his legacy at the Club lives on through the Joey Beauchamp Foundation.
Sam Ricketts
Born in Aylesbury and son to former world show jumping champion Derek Ricketts, Sam Ricketts is a notable Oxford United academy graduate who began his professional journey with the U’s, making his first-team debut in 2000 before carving out a long and successful career in the Football League. He made 48 appearances for the Yellows, scoring one goal.
After a loan at Nuneaton and a season with Telford United, he moved to Swansea City, helping secure promotion to League One before progressing to play in the Premier League with Hull City and later Bolton Wanderers. He also captained Wolverhampton Wanderers to the League One title and finished his playing days at Coventry City, earning 52 caps for Wales along the way. Following retirement, Ricketts moved into management, starting at AFC Wrexham in the National League before becoming manager of local rivers Shrewsbury Town in League One.
After leaving the Shrews in 2020, Ricketts left management and opened a builder's merchant.
Dean Whitehead
Dean Whitehead began his professional journey after coming through the Oxford United academy. Firstly playing for the Abingdon Town youth team, he joined the youth scheme at Oxford United as an apprentice before turning professional in 1999. He went on to make 136 first-team appearances for the U’s before earning a move to Sunderland in 2004.
He built a highly respected career as a combative midfielder, featuring in more than 600 senior games that included spells at Sunderland, Stoke City, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town, and enjoyed promotions to the Premier League along the way. After retiring in 2018, Whitehead transitioned into coaching, initially joining Sam Ricketts' backroom staff at Shrewsbury Town. He went on to hold roles with Huddersfield’s academy and several senior clubs before most recently joining Blackburn Rovers , where he is now the assistant head coach.
Jack Stevens
Jack Stevens came through the Oxford United academy and signed his first professional contract with the Club in 2016, progressing from youth prospect to senior goalkeeper. After developing his game with a series of loans at clubs including Cirencester Town, Oxford City and Tamworth, he made his Oxford United first-team debut in the 2018-19 season and went on to make over 60 League One appearances, establishing himself as a reliable presence between the sticks.
In 2022 he spent a season on loan with Port Vale before leaving United in 2023 to join Cambridge United, where he continued as first-choice goalkeeper. In June 2025, Stevens signed with Reading, where he currently continues his professional career.
Chris Hackett
Chris Hackett is another proud graduate of the Oxford United academy, having come through the youth ranks at his hometown club and making 142 first-team appearances for the U’s after breaking into the senior side in 2000. Known for his pace and work rate on the wing, he went on to enjoy a lengthy professional career with spells at Hearts, Millwall and Northampton Town, amassing more than 440 league appearances before retiring from playing.
After hanging up his boots, Hackett returned to Oxford United in coaching roles and now forms part of Matt Bloomfield's backroom staff.
Max Crocombe
Max Crocombe began his professional journey after coming through the Oxford United academy, signing his first contract with the Club and making his Football League debut in 2013 before gaining experience on loan at Banbury United, Nuneaton Town, Barnet and Southport. After leaving United, he built a varied career across England and abroad, including spells with Carlisle United and Salford City, where he featured in back-to-back promotions, and playing in the Australian A-League with Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.
Returning to England in 2021, Crocombe helped Grimsby Town win promotion to the Football League and enjoyed strong performances at Burton Albion, earning Player of the Season honours, before signing with Championship side Millwall. Internationally, he has 21 caps for New Zealand and been part of their run to FIFA World Cup qualification.
