Its all over

Well thats it for another year. Oxford United can now call themselves an established non-league team and it hurts. I have deliberately gone quiet on the subject of Oxford and our play-off campaign as I have tried to remain low key, tried to not get carried away with the belief that just for once we might acheive something. It hasn't softened the blow.
On Tuesday 8th May we were beaten at home by Exeter on penalties in front of 10500 people live on Sky in the play-off second leg. If the truth is told (and believe me it has) then we were damned rubbish and barely deserved to get as far as penalties. I cannot muster up the passion or enthusiasm to go into a rant, I'd rather just draw a line under it. This season has been for the most part fun, despite the football being dreadful and us having precious little success after Christmas. I would go as far as to say this season and its trips to 'real' football grounds up and down the country has given football back to many of our fans after 5 years in the sterile 4th division. Say what you like about the Conference but it is a far more interesting place to be than than League 2/Div 3/Div 4 or whatever it will be in the future but Oxford Utd simply cannot afford to be in the Conference in the Conference without some serious cost cutting. When we reclaim our place in the Football League it will be a great day but it will also be a shame to leave a league where fans are treated as fans - not expendable commodities.

It must also be noted that after yet another heart breaking end to a season I have realised I am not cut out to keep a record of the highs and lows of being a football fan. I continue to go to games on a regular basis (sometimes 3 in 8 days) but I am slowly losing the passion. I didn't go to the Oxon Senior cup final this year even though it had previously been one of my seasons highlights, I stopped going to Banbury in January and haven't felt the pull to go back (I more than get my fare share of non-league grounds with Oxford these days) and most importantly of all I no longer wish to write about my experiences.
Next year all will change for me, I won't be living in Bicester for much of the year and probably will not be going to much football, least of all Oxford. I will continue my part-time interest in Bordeaux but to be honest without living near to the club its difficult to write about anything other than re-hashed news. Basically this is my last post. I may try to do something else next year but as far as this blog is concerned, well...

Il est mort.

Bordeaux - Un vrai courage à leurs coeurs

Last Sunday a sell out crowd at Parc Lescure witnessed perhaps the turning point when a team thought to be punching above it's weight makes the next step and becomes one of genuine quality. A home game against Lens is alway one of the hardest of the season, in fact last years fixture was won with the only shot on target - and that was from the penalty spot!! The Lensoise are not only a good footballing side, they are backed by some of the loudest fans and most loyal fans in the country with 700 fans made the very long trip south west and making themselves heard all evening.
Any fears that the quality of Lens would mean Bordeaux adopting their game killing tactics were quickly put to when when right from kick off they took the game to the visitors forcing corners, firing in crosses and shots and then in the 11th minute taking the lead thanks to ex Lens striker Jussie. Les Girondins continued to dominate the first half playing with exactly the spirit that was lacking during the early season, indeed it appeared to be only a matter of time before the lead was doubled, would it really be this easy?? Well no...
In the 38th minute David Jemalli got himself sent off for one of those tackles that can only be described as 'Leg-breakers', the sort of tackle that anyone who has a tibia can only watch behind a cushion. Any other team may have gone to pieces but if there is one team in the world that can sit on a one goal lead for nearly an hour then it surely is Bordeaux. Sure enough Ricardo made the changes and Bordeaux went into the withdrawn defensive mode that earlier in the season would bring wistles of discontent from Virage Sud, no heckles this time though as Les Girondins put in a solid display of bravery and maturity to hold on an record a victory that not only put them into pole position in the race for second, but a victory that will be long, long remembered by the 32377 people in attendance.