Captain Creighton's Must-Win Match Changed So Much

A crystal ball is a tool many wish they had at their disposal in football, but for Mark Creighton and Oxford United ignorance was bliss.

Ten years ago it seemed like the club didn’t have a care in the world as 33,000 of its fans packed out Wembley.

They had just defeated York City 3-1 to reclaim their place in the Football League after four years away, but but the sea of Yellow could have been watching their precious club drown.

You may reconise their manager. Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder credits that victory for where he is today - and if you dig a little deeper, he isn’t paying lip service to the importance of that soggy day in north west London.

Captain Creighton isn’t, either. He only knew the severity of the situation some time after.

“If we didn’t win that match things would have been very, very different for many people - 100 per cent,” said the centre-back, the much-loved Beast of Kidderminster and Wrexham as well as the king of the Kassam Stadium.

“It was only after the game where we found out exactly how important it was. Credit to Chris (Wilder) and to Kelvin (Thomas chairman) as if they managed to keep the situation far away from the players.

“We discovered that if we lost there was every chance the club would have closed that summer. That’s a scary thought. The situation was that perilous for Oxford.

“How would things have played out if we knew what was at stake? It could have been a totally different story - the weight of that burden on the players’ shoulders would have been immense. It wouldn’t have been right to tell us.

“So you have to say well done to those in the know that they kept it under their hat as it may have had an impact on what actually happened.”

As it turned out, Oxford produced arguably the nearest thing we’ve seen to a flawless Promotion Final performance.

Two goals in the space of five first-half minutes put the U's in charge. Matt Green firing them in front with a neat half-volley before James Constable doubled the Yellows’ lead with a fierce left-foot drive.

The only error came when keeper Ryan Clarke fumbled in Ben Purkiss's cross to give York a lifeline, but Alfie Potter made it safe - and few could argue with the end result.

“I can’t remember most of the game, but my one over-riding memory of the day was that we were comfortable,” the 38-year-old recalled.

“You can’t say we breezed it, but we certainly deserved to go up. We didn’t let the occasion get to us. It was the same in the semi-finals against Rushden - we were commanding and there wasn’t any doubt we were the better side.

“It’s not often in the play-offs teams play really well - it’s just too tense - but that year we did.”

He took a trip down memory lane to mark a decade since that great win, adding: “I asked on Twitter last weekend to see people’s pictures of the day.

“I wanted to see things from their eyes. I couldn’t believe the response, it was amazing looking back, so fantastic.

“We also had a Zoom call with the Wembley squad and it was put online. Chris Williams (Oxford press officer) said towards the end ‘Beast, you’re unusually quiet’ - he’s right it’s not often I don’t say what’s on my mind!

“But I just loved hearing people talk about the day, it’s emotional and I just wanted to listen.”

It’s not just Oxford’s history that could have changed thanks to that win over York City, but Sheffield United fans have a lot to thank the class of 2010 for as well.

“Football is about fine lines - what if we lost that day and Chris is then out of work as the club struggles?” he adds.

“The game is about being in the right place at the right time. Of course he would have got another job, but what if he picked the wrong one?

“He is on record as saying that victory was the start of his trajectory, and it’s the same for Oxford who could still be playing in the Championship next season.

“We always knew Chris was a fantastic manager, but you don’t actually sit there and think ‘he is going to the Premier League’ - it’s not really a thought that goes through your mind.

“He never has the most gifted set of players, but what he creates is the most gifted of teams.”

Since hanging up his boots, Creighton became assistant manager at Kidderminster and then Southport. He works as a pundit for BT Sport and runs a tattoo studio. He now works in Employment Law, HR and Health & Safety Consultant for Peninsula UK.