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Post by eaststandfan on Jul 15, 2011 14:22:46 GMT
Quite hard to believe that we're soon approaching our 10th year in the Kassam Stadium. Doesn't seem to long ago the Rochdale 2-1 defeat in August 2001. Anyone got any fond memories of great games and fantastic goals? Despite how unlikeable he is, i still think Andy Burgess scored one of the best goals i've seen at the ground along with Mooney and Davies's strikes against Yeovil. In terms of matches, the first real memory was of course the Swindon 1-0 in the FA Cup 2002. We've had some great entertaining matches after and in recent memory the York 2-1, Port Vale finale, Eastbourne 6-3 and the epic 6-1 thrashing of Bristol Rovers. My personal favourite is undoubtedly the Rushden and Diamonds play-off semi final which was an amazing day all round and hopefully there are plenty more of those over the next decade. Consdidering we haven't actually progressed in the last 10 years and are still in the 4th tier of football, it has been one of the most dramatic eras in the clubs' history but looking back then and where we are now, we are in such a good position to move forward; it's quite incredible. 10 years time, we could be back to the top tier
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Post by m on Jul 15, 2011 15:12:11 GMT
I won't argue with your use of the word 'dramatic' to describe the last decade, but I have to say that other (perhaps slightly more profane) words pop into my head first!
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Post by surreyman on Jul 15, 2011 15:14:24 GMT
Not trying to be a killjoy, but whereas I have loads of good memories of The Manor (some of them to do with its utter crapness) I have few of the Kassam. In fact, none immediately spring to mind.
There was the anti-climactic Boxing Day 0-0 bore with Woking when we creamed the BSP attendance record, and the miserable play-off semi defeat to Exeter, but no real laughs.
PS I should make clear that the two major high points (Swindon and Rushden), I missed.
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Post by ox4eva on Jul 15, 2011 15:39:20 GMT
Its a ground i attend to watch our team, no fond memories of it though!
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Post by John Lennon on Jul 15, 2011 16:01:01 GMT
There have been some good exciting games at Kassam's stadium. But no fond memories, I hate the place
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Post by Lone Gunman on Jul 15, 2011 16:21:54 GMT
I have the odd fond memory of the Kasstad. Rushden obviously, and a couple of games I've done on birthdays, notably a 5-1 victory over Farsley when they brought 30-odd fans. Perhaps since I'm a fairly infrequent attendee at home games due to being an exile it still has something of a novelty value, but as grounds go it isn't architecturally spectacular and is actually fairly soulless, blustery and doesn't have the same feeling of being 'home' as the Manor. Maybe that will change if and when we own the place and can build a more fan-friendly fourth stand as the OUFC 'kop.' If there was real fan involvement with such a project it might be that the stand itself as much as the ground would be a true successor to the Manor which i personally don't think the Kasstad is.
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Post by mcf86 on Jul 15, 2011 16:33:04 GMT
Nothing in my memory i could call being 'fond' of when it comes to the k stad. Imho it will never feel like the home of OUFC whilst the Club does not own it, there's not a single match that i can recall feeling that nervous excitement as the supporters stream towards the Stadium before a big match- as used to be the case up t Hill.
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Post by rollsy on Jul 15, 2011 16:36:38 GMT
Like already been said, been a few enjoyable matches, but no great memories. But then i have seen plenty of them at away grounds, as the Kas Stad is just a shocking ground to have as a home ground.
I do remember going mental one boxing day match, 2004 possibly, against Leyton Orient. We was top of League 2. In the 90th min, ball went over the top. Julian Alsop PACED through and chipped the keeper, to win 2-1.
Anyone remember Alsop's 'scissor kick'?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2011 17:26:54 GMT
I can remember all the talk about the banana kick
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Post by Lithuanian Disco Power on Jul 15, 2011 17:30:01 GMT
Top class memory of being stood right at the back of the Oxford mail before kick off in the Rushden game and the whole stand singing with hairs up on the back of my neck soaking it all in. That whole game was class really, the scenes when the goals went in and when we had won. Mega.
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Post by baldy on Jul 15, 2011 20:18:24 GMT
Two games that really stick in my mind are the Peterborough home game which was Jim Smiths home coming and capped by N'Toya grabbing the winner. Great atmosphere pre match and it continued throughout.
The second one was the Luton home fixture when we won 2-0 with Cooks wonder strike. A really cracking atmosphere, bit of bad feeling on the pitch and two sets of fans who positively hated each other.
They are my two stand out games, even more so than more landmark games like the Rushden home fixture that took us to Wembley.
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Post by Simon Lill on Jul 16, 2011 7:14:24 GMT
Like others I find it difficult to recall fond memories of the ground itself as it's a pretty souless place.
Our problem of course is that we had it so good back in The Manor. Sure it was a bit sh*tty (though I still dispute that it was the worst in the league!) and yeah the facilities were lacking, but it had a heart, a soul.
And on those numerous special matches, you actually felt like the London Road was moving.
The atmosphere was so epic at times, that it's difficult to recall matches at the Kassam in the same way.
Swindon of course, Rushen in the semi's and for me nicking it 1-0 against Lincoln in the last minute sparking their fans to act like utter scrotes.
Things will improve when we own it, build the fourth stand, move up the leagues and hopefully one day even fill in the corners, but ultimately, its a fairly lifeless experience that will never compete as a place to watch the yellows over The Manor.
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Post by junior1 on Jul 16, 2011 7:49:11 GMT
Fully agree with the ones mentioned. One that sticks with me is the Swansea game when i think we won 3-0, allsop scored .. Atmosphere was brilliant and i remember the whole stand joining in. Think we got 2 goals in a minute??
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Post by eaststandfan on Jul 16, 2011 11:36:56 GMT
Fully agree with the ones mentioned. One that sticks with me is the Swansea game when i think we won 3-0, allsop scored .. Atmosphere was brilliant and i remember the whole stand joining in. Think we got 2 goals in a minute?? I remember that and it was actually 3 goals in 5 minutes. Crosby pen 85, Rawle 87 and Alsop 89 I think it was back in 2003/04. I felt sorry for anyone who decided to leave early and missed that!
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Post by junior1 on Jul 16, 2011 12:15:48 GMT
Fully agree with the ones mentioned. One that sticks with me is the Swansea game when i think we won 3-0, allsop scored .. Atmosphere was brilliant and i remember the whole stand joining in. Think we got 2 goals in a minute?? I remember that and it was actually 3 goals in 5 minutes. Crosby pen 85, Rawle 87 and Alsop 89 I think it was back in 2003/04. I felt sorry for anyone who decided to leave early and missed that! Cheers. All up the east stand as well..
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Post by eaststandfan on Jul 16, 2011 16:52:13 GMT
I remember that and it was actually 3 goals in 5 minutes. Crosby pen 85, Rawle 87 and Alsop 89 I think it was back in 2003/04. I felt sorry for anyone who decided to leave early and missed that! Cheers. All up the east stand as well.. It was practically a 5 minute non-stop celebration and brilliant it was down the mail end! I've actually found a match report of the game but can't seem to find any highlights. www.swanseacity.net/page/MatchReport/0,,10354~22101,00.html
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Post by Mark on Jul 16, 2011 17:03:19 GMT
I'd pick beating York last minute on opening day 2 years ago, beating Vale last minute last season after they had run on the pitch, the Rushden play-off, and the Luton game. Also the carling cup game we won 6-1 against Bristol was a fun night.
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Post by scoob on Jul 17, 2011 10:09:59 GMT
The Kassam will never be as good as the Manor and I agree that, so far, it has not come close to matching the atmosphere at the old place. However, most of us are not comparing like for like. We are currently in the fourth division and I can't remember many games at this level at the Manor that had fantastic atmosphere's. Maybe in the 60's & 70's but I was not around (well not in the ground anyway) in those days.
The first pulsating atmospheres I can remember were when we were top of the old third division and playing Championship or Division One opponents who brought big crowds with them and we beat them. The end of the Dennis Smith promotion season was special too but I can also remember many games in the nieties where the Manor felt half full and there was a poor atmosphere even in the London Road.
The vast majority of matches in the last decade have been in a stadium less than half full. Maybe the Swindon game this season will give us a true feeling for what the new stadium could be like when we get back up to the second division.
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Post by concretebob on Jul 17, 2011 13:10:27 GMT
Bad memories -
Orient 2006.
Great memories -
Beating that lot down the road. Beating Rushden in PO's semi.
It's hardly perfect, but I'd much rather be playing in it than some of the dumps we've been to other the years.
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Post by yelloexile on Jul 17, 2011 15:32:57 GMT
Agree with a lot of the comments, but in a decade there are some good memories. In the end we need the fourth stand and for the club to own the stadium.
Atmosphere wise, there were a few games that showed what could be....
For the pain, Orient and the Exeter p/off. For the joy, Rushden. For the hell of it, Luton - mainly because it had been a while since there had been a bit of 'needle'.
The Woking game was flat - for a good atmosphere, I think you need a good away following, not just a big home support.
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Post by pottersrightboot on Jul 17, 2011 19:36:18 GMT
You miserable gets. The Kas Stad - having said that still HATE the name - has provided us with loads of decent memories already. The Maor was an embarrassment for ooh the last five years of our tenure there at least. A toiiet, a pigsty. We had to leave. Forget the past, it's gone I'll give you six great moments to kick off: Swindon -2002 - Peterborough - 2006 - the hope, the hope Leyton Orient - 2006 - horrible day, awesome atmosphere. Dagenham -2007 - Yemi's second goal - electricity hit.. Wrexham -2009 - the last second winner. Rushden - 2010 - we were all in it together and there are plenty more great games to come no doubt. Forget who owns the stadium at the moment - all that matters is that WE own it on Saturday afternoons at 3 p.m.
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Post by John Lennon on Jul 17, 2011 19:47:37 GMT
You miserable gets. The Kas Stad - having said that still HATE the name - has provided us with loads of decent memories already. The Maor was an embarrassment for ooh the last five years of our tenure there at least. A toiiet, a pigsty. We had to leave. Forget the past, it's gone I'll give you six great moments to kick off: Swindon -2002 - Peterborough - 2006 - the hope, the hope Leyton Orient - 2006 - horrible day, awesome atmosphere. Dagenham -2007 - Yemi's second goal - electricity hit.. Wrexham -2009 - the last second winner. Rushden - 2010 - we were all in it together and there are plenty more great games to come no doubt. Forget who owns the stadium at the moment - all that matters is that WE own it on Saturday afternoons at 3 p.m. Sorry, but its basic, soulless, and not a place that feels like home. Nothing will ever beat standing In the London Road
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Post by surreyman on Jul 17, 2011 19:55:45 GMT
You miserable gets. The Kas Stad - having said that still HATE the name - has provided us with loads of decent memories already. The Maor was an embarrassment for ooh the last five years of our tenure there at least. A toiiet, a pigsty. We had to leave. Forget the past, it's gone I'll give you six great moments to kick off: Swindon -2002 - Peterborough - 2006 - the hope, the hope Leyton Orient - 2006 - horrible day, awesome atmosphere. Dagenham -2007 - Yemi's second goal - electricity hit.. Wrexham -2009 - the last second winner. Rushden - 2010 - we were all in it together and there are plenty more great games to come no doubt. Forget who owns the stadium at the moment - all that matters is that WE own it on Saturday afternoons at 3 p.m. Of course The Manor was a dump, so what? We've moved on physically because we had to, but emotionally the heart has not followed. There have been some decent games and some great goals at the Kassam, but I can't imagine sitting in a pub in 20 years time reminiscing about any of it.
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Post by unification on Jul 17, 2011 21:56:50 GMT
I think a lot of people here are forgetting about which way football is going. As beloved as The Manor was to so many fans, football and the average football supporter has changed drastically over the years that the stadia that goes with it has to change too. The events of Hillsborough, Valley Parade and Heysel were horrific scars on the game and only served to see the changes in football stadiums change for the safety of many. Whatever you say about The Manor, its days were numbered and with a heavy heart we had to leave it. It was dated, dilapidated and was no longer what the club needed to move forward.
So we ended up in the Kassam Stadium. I would agree that it doesn't embody the same spirit of The Manor, but why should it a decade into its existence and how the team has fared in that time? All it has seen is fourth and fifth tier football, a few sporadic local derbies (only one of which had an real significance) and a handful of 'big' clubs paying us a visit. Despite it being a decade old, we really haven't had much to shout about in it. It's not the stadium's fault really, but a succession of chairmen, managers and players who just haven't cared, bothered or had any shred of ability to take this club back to where we expect. When we get that combination right, THEN we can start forming the memories that this modern stadium needs to truly start calling Grenoble Road home. We may have that combo right for this season ...
That said, my best memories from the last decade have been:
- Swansea 3-0 - three goals, five minutes, took us top of the league if I remember rightly? - Cambridge 2-1 - Ramon Diaz's first game in charge. Weirdest spell ever under the Kassam tensureship. - Lincoln 1-0 - Crosby last minute penalty. - Yeovil 1-0 - Strictly a giant killing by definition. I think we all knew otherwise! - York 2-1 - Creighton's scuff into the back of the net. Set a prelude to a rollercoaster, promotion season. - Rushden 2-0 - Wembley-bound.
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Post by Wright for England on Jul 18, 2011 2:48:13 GMT
Let's be honest with ourselves here though. The last few years at The Manor were no better (atmosphere wise) than our current 'home'. I remember going to the Manor when we were playing teams like Pompey, Newcastle and Cardiff on a regular basis and with that comes a good atmosphere, fond memories etc. When we eventually climb the football ladder and away teams bring more than 200 fans every other week, we will feel more excited when walking from the Blackbird to the ground.
Good memories for me so far:
Scum game Luton game when Beano missed a penalty and scored 30 secs later Rushden game was quite emotional when the whole stadium was singing 'que-sera, sera'
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Post by moobs on Jul 18, 2011 13:11:25 GMT
6-1 v Halifax?
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Post by longliveclarkey on Jul 18, 2011 13:34:43 GMT
My personal highlight, as I was mascot for that game! Oh I am so young...
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Post by dougie07 on Jul 18, 2011 16:51:15 GMT
Agree with those posted above. One of my favourites was Yemi's second in the Dagenham home game. Sadly, like so many of the memories from this stadium, it ultimately ended with disappointment. The atmosphere when we got back into that game and then took the lead was brilliant. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LFCH1Wgn4o&feature=related
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Post by scoob on Jul 18, 2011 17:18:31 GMT
Agree with those posted above. One of my favourites was Yemi's second in the Dagenham home game. Sadly, like so many of the memories from this stadium, it ultimately ended with disappointment. The atmosphere when we got back into that game and then took the lead was brilliant. www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LFCH1Wgn4o&feature=relatedThat was one of the few memorable games/atmospheres at the new ground for me. All but the last second of the Exeter Play-Off, the Rushden Play-Off, the Villa game and Port Vale last season are some of the others.
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Post by saddletramp on Jul 19, 2011 13:01:56 GMT
Most memorable game/day for me,Bristol Rovers after the bald Eagles 2nd coming. It was Cheltenham festival week,and we were at an organised do at the Black Horse at Gozzards ford, we started at 11am,had lunch,drank all day won £500 on the hosses,got a lift to the game,Oxford won 1-0,and we decided to celebrate by getting wasted in the Bowlplex,mate was so p*ssed he forgot to let go of the ball, finished up half way down the lane with a broken wrist. He was that p*ssed he didnt realise till the next day that he had a broken limb.
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