Manor Ground (Oxford) facts for kids
London Road terrace
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| Location | London Road, Headington, Oxford, England |
|---|---|
| Owner | Oxford United F.C. |
| Capacity | 9,500 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1925 |
| Opened | 1925 |
| Expanded | 1946 |
| Closed | 2001 |
| Demolished | 2001 |
| Tenants | |
| Oxford United F.C. 1925–2001 | |
The Manor Ground was a famous football stadium in Oxford, England. It was the home of Oxford United, a football team, for many years. The club played their games there from 1925 until 2001. Before becoming Oxford United, the team was known as Headington United.
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The Manor Ground: Home of Oxford United
The Manor Ground was a very important place for Oxford United fans. It saw many exciting matches over the years. The biggest crowd ever at the stadium was 22,750 people. This happened on February 29, 1964. Fans gathered to watch Oxford United play against Preston North End in an FA Cup match.
Stadium Features
The stadium had different areas for fans to watch the games. The main seating area was called the Beech Road stand. This was on the west side of the stadium. The 'home' fans usually stood on the London Road stand, which was at the south end. Visiting fans, or 'away' supporters, stood at the Cuckoo Lane end on the north side. The fourth side of the stadium was the Osler Road stand. In 1966, a new entrance was made onto London Road. This happened after a small building called Sandfield Cottage was removed.
Why the Manor Ground Closed
By the 1990s, football stadiums in England were changing. A report called the Taylor Report suggested that all stadiums should have seats for safety. The Manor Ground had many standing areas, called terraces. These terraces were becoming old-fashioned. Many fans thought the stadium looked a bit run-down compared to others.
It was hard to change the Manor Ground into a modern stadium with only seats. Its location made it difficult to expand. So, the club decided to build a brand-new stadium. This new stadium would have seats for everyone. It was later named the Kassam Stadium. It was built outside the city, near the Blackbird Leys area.
Work on the new stadium started in 1997. However, it stopped later that year. This was because the club had money problems. Building started again in 1999 after a new owner took over the club. Oxford United finally moved to their new home in 2001.
The Final Game
The last league match played at the Manor Ground was on May 1, 2001. Oxford United played against Port Vale. The game ended in a 1–1 draw. Andy Scott scored for Oxford United with only eight minutes left. It looked like Oxford would win their final home game. But then, Tony Naylor scored for Port Vale just one minute before the end.
The club's last season at the Manor Ground was a tough one. Oxford United finished at the very bottom of Division Two. They only got 27 points. This meant they were moved down to Division Three. This was their lowest position in 35 years.
What's There Now?
After Oxford United moved out, the Manor Ground stadium was taken down. Today, the site is home to The Manor Hospital. This is a private hospital run by Nuffield Health.
