Kassam Stadium: Oxford United 2-0 Norwich City

Oxford United 2-0 Norwich City

While Ross headed across the A50 to the Potteries to watch Stoke City vs Coventry City, I headed south down the M40 to see Oxford United’s return to the 2nd tier for the first time in 25 years. My last trip to the Kassam Stadium was in 2011/12 for a League 2 match. A very enjoyable trip as well but if you had journeyed from Norfolk you won’t agree. I originally went to the Kassam Stadium when it opened in 2001 following Oxford’s move from the Manor Ground. From memory there were construction issues and delays and when complete it was a three sided stadium. The main stand is a two tiered seating stand while the north and east stands are just one tier of seating. The 4th side was never developed and now sees a fence separating the ground from a car park and a leisure park featuring a cinema and various food outlets. Consequently although the Kassam looks sizable from the outside, it really isn’t and today’s attendance of 11,333 was not far from capacity. A great atmosphere within the stadium from the home fans, still on a high from the play off final win but todays opponents Norwich City looked difficult opposition, last season they had reached the play off semi-finals finishing 6th. It was therefore a surprising game with Oxford going at Norwich from the first whistle backed by the home crowd and throughout the game Oxford showed greater intensity commitment and desire against the out of sort’s visitors. After the game we heard that a Norwich player Jonathon Rowe had pulled out of the game in the morning as he looks to move, this would not have helped the preparations. Take nothing away from Oxford, they deservedly took the lead on 28 minutes, Mark Harris completely wrong footed Hanley, Duffy did not close down quick enough allowing a shot on goal which went through Gunn’s legs. A fully merited lead but a dreadful goal to concede. Early in the 2nd half, the new Norwich head coach was making changes but United were not going to be denied their day of glory, Cameron Brannagan who earlier had seen a shot deflect on to the cross bar smashed home a right footed shot from the edge of the box making it 2-0 on 58 minutes. An excellent ball played in from right back Sam Long. Norwich’s best chance fell to Jack Stacey, his right foot shot deflected away for a corner off Joe Bennett. An excellent performance from I guess at this level the minnows of Oxford United but if they can turn in performances like that they will surprise many. Norwich City, I’m afraid were poor, it’s fair to say they were never given anytime by their tenacious opponents to settle and, one or two looked rattled. The Canaries hierarchy will no doubt plead for patience and strap lines like “trust the Process”, but not sure the fans will be very patient if they travel away and see inept performances like that. Its early days for everyone, new managers and coaches, new players so it’s always difficult to judge on the opening day but at this level Norwich City fans will expect their side to be competing near the top. If this is to happen, a dramatic improvement is required and as we know from football you don’t get much time.

Oxford United 1-0 AFC
Wimbledon

We set off at 4:30pm heading down the M1 Southbound coming
off at Northampton onto the A43 towards Oxford before joining the A34. We
arrived at 6:30 and parked off Grenoble Road which is a little further up from
the ground where there is continuous lay-bys where people can park free of
charge. Once we parked, we walked through the Fry Hill estate towards the
ground to get our tickets and take pictures of the exterior.

The Kassam Stadium
is named after the ground's owner, and former chairman of the club, Firoz
Kassam. The building of the Kassam Stadium commenced in the summer of 1996, but
construction ceased in December 1997 after financial problems meant the
contractors weren't paid. The ground consists of three sides making the total
capacity of 12,500.

The game saw Oxford United closely compete against AFC
Wimbledon. In front of a crowd of 6,366, Oxford United won thanks to a goal by
Dean Morgan on 57^th minute.

We left the ground prompt and ran through the Fry Hill estate back towards the
car before battling our way out of Oxford. We arrived back home at 11:15pm.

The Kassam Stadium is a really nice modern stadium which
should be featuring at least League 1 level of football. It’s ruined by the
incompletion of the west side of the ground which is standless, which at the
moment may not be needed unless they progress into League 1 upwards.

Kassam Stadium

Tuesday, 3 September 2024

Oxford United 2-0 Norwich City

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