A Tale of Two Cities

It seems that every time us and Cambridge meet the press gets hold of it and attempts to turn it into some sort of derby clash. They see the boat race and assume that not only is everyone from the varsity cities a posh sort but also that they care about the University rivalry. For what it's worth does usually have a bit of extra spice to it, but that is more down to a long standing history of crowd trouble between the fans - not because the light blues boat sank in so-and-so year or because Oxford lost the Rugger at Twicker's what-ho!! When Oxford meet Cambridge there is a bitter derby fought between two cities but it is not the battle the press latch onto; it is instead the old battle of town v gown rather than any varsity rivalry which causes the greatest local unease. As the clubs do their best to attract students the regular fans go to great lengths to distance themselves from any varsity references and go out of their ways to make any potential student spectators as unwelcome as possible.To me it still seems that there is an incredible amount of social snobbery on both sides and it must be said that it is the town side that has the greatest chip on it's shoulder. It should always be remembered that if you took the University out of Oxford with all the wealth it brings to both the City centre and surrounding areas, you would be left with a run down semi industrial mess. Love or loath the University it makes Oxford the vibrant beautiful city it is and you can enjoy all the positives of the city without ever coming into direct contact with the university establishment if you so wish.As for the gown side, it is always argued that they do not seem to want to integrate into local life, that they feel they are somehow above the local residents like some sort of überpopulation living in a sheltered world of there own. Well yes they do, but if you take a wander through Cowley Centre on a Saturday you can't help feeling they might be on to something.
The modern football fan is far more varied than ten years ago, he is just as likely to be a she and can come from any social background. A windy Kassam Stadium on a Tuesday night watching yet another rubbish Conference game is hardly inviting to anyone - let alone an Oxbridge Student that "Doesn’t really follow football…". It seems some old wounds never heal and perhaps it's better to leave each to his own. Trying to force together two opposing factions who simply don't have any intention of mixing yet can co-exist quite happily is essentially a pointless exercise.
What game? Oh yeah 1-1, an equaliser from Eddie Anaclet on the hour(ish) mark saved the day. We were better but clearly there is quite some way to go. We should be burying teams like Cambridge without to much trouble.