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The Manor Ground (Oxford United, 1925-2001)

The Manor Ground

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Capacity: 16,000
Club Nickname: The U's
Year Opened: 1925 (Closed in 2001)
Pitch Size: 110 yards by 72 yards
Address: London Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 9BZ, United Kingdom.
Shirt Sponsors: Singha Beer
Manufacturer: Puma
Home Kit: Yellow and Blue
Away Kit: Black and White
Last Update: September 13, 2024

Ground Opened: 1925

Ground Closed: May 2001

Number of years at the ground:  76 years

First Competitive Game Played:

Last Competitive Game Played: 

Record Attendance: On 29 February 1964, a record 22, 750 fans attended the 6th round of FA Cup clash with Preston North End at the Manor Ground.

The club moved to: Kassam Stadium

Distance from The Manor Ground to the new Kasm Stadium Stadium: 42.0 miles (approximately 67.6km)

The Manor Ground was originally built in 1925, for £10,000.

The first match played at The Manor Ground was between Oxford City and Bicester Town on August 22, 1925.

The Manor Ground was also used for rugby union matches and hosted the Oxfordshire Sevens tournament for many years.

The ground was flooded in 1947 when the River Thames burst its banks and covered the pitch in several feet of water.

The floodlights were officially switched on for the first time on October 31, 1959, for a match between Oxford United and Bournemouth.

The Manor Ground hosted several international matches, including England vs. Ireland in 1954 and England vs. Brazil in 1984.

The Manor Ground was the home of Oxford United between 1925 and 2001. It was a traditional English football stadium with four separate stands, each with its unique character and atmosphere.
The Oxford United old ground had a capacity of around 12,000, with the largest stand being the Cuckoo Lane End, which could hold around 5,000 spectators.
Despite its rich history, The Manor Ground had become outdated by the turn of the millennium, and plans were put in place to build a new stadium on the city’s outskirts.
In 2001, Oxford United played their final match at The Manor Ground, a 1-0 defeat to Port Vale. The stadium was subsequently demolished, and a private hospital, The Manor Hospital, now stands on the site.
The final season that Oxford United played at the Manor Ground was their worst run in 35 years as they finished bottom of Division Two with 27 points and were consequently relegated to Division Three.
Overall, The Manor Ground was a traditional stadium with a simple, functional design. While it may not have been the most modern or luxurious stadium, it had a charm and character unique to English football in the 20th century.

Every stand at the Manor Ground in Oxford was named based on the road they faced and so was the Cuckoo Lane End. It was the largest of all the stands. Cuckoo Lane End has a holding capacity of 5,000 spectators. 

This stand was covered and it had a distinctive roof supported by pillars and was reserved for the away fans. The other three stands were uncovered and had a more basic design.

The London Road End was the smallest of the stands at the Manor Ground and was situated behind one of the goals. It was a simple structure, with a few rows of seating and a small terrace.

The Cowley End was located opposite the Cuckoo Lane End and was the second-largest stand. It had a similar design to the London Road End, with a few rows of seating and a small terrace

The Headington Hill End was located behind the other goalpost and was the only stand that was not directly connected to the pitch. Instead, it was separated from the playing area by a large fence.

The stand was uncovered and had a small terrace and a few rows of seating.

The Manor Ground was a traditional English football stadium with four separate stands, each with its unique character and atmosphere. 
However, with the relocation to Kassam Stadium, which is about 42 miles away from the original venue, the Oxford United old stadium was demolished in 2001.
The original home ground for Oxford United now hosts a private hospital known as the Manor Hospital.
Here is a post from X showing the Manor Hospital.

While it served its purpose, the Manor Ground underwent important significant structural changes to improve its look over the years. Here are some posts from social media to take you down memory lane.

The Manor Ground had a capacity of 16,000 seats. The ground was opened in 1925 and had a grass surface.

Originally, the stadium had a 9,500 seating capacity but upgraded over the years to accommodate more fans.

Notably, the most sold-out match at the Manor Ground was on 29 February 1964 when Oxford United hosted Preston North End for a clash in the FA Cup. There were a total of 22, 750 fans in the stadium during the FA spectacle.

The least attended game at the Manor Ground, Oxford, was during a clash with Tranmere Rovers on 3 October 2000 as only 1,500 were at the venue.

After 76 years, the Oxford United old ground was finally demolished in 2001 to pave the way for a hospital establishment, today known as the Manor Hospital. It was reportedly for an estimated £6milion.

The Oxford United old stadium hosted the last game against Port Vale.

It was the worst season for the club and the game ended 1-1, with the hosts opening the lead in the 82nd minute.

However, Port Vale equalised a minute later to deny Oxford United what would have been a history win in a final match at the Manor Ground. Oxford United were relegated to Division Three that season.

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