Oxford Go Looking To Make Up The National League Numbers Tonight

After Saturday and Sunday’s incredible first round return for National League sides in the famous old competition, they want to cap off a wonderful weekend this evening.

If Oxford were able to see off Northampton Town on Monday night, it would make it 12 of our clubs through to the second round in total - the joint highest amount in The National League's history.

David Oldfield is at the helm and after growing up not far from their League One opponent’s ground, the 52-year-old wants his club to get it right on the night.

Oxford have been at the first round stage in each of the past four seasons - a big achievement for a club who haven’t pulled up trees in the National League South for a while.

But they have won through just once, in 2017 against Colchester United, and Oldfield wants his charges to give it everything they’ve got in front of the BT Sport cameras - and make full use of their home advantage.

“We have done really well in the FA Cup in recent years, so a few boys in the changing room will know what’s coming,” he told the National League’s Oli Osborn in a Zoom chat.

“We are building on the good work done previously, we’ve had some tricky ties - there have been some great things done in the past here, but we need to focus on what we’re doing now.

“The TV cameras heighten the excitement. We’ve just got to try and perform and we will see what happens.

“We know what a challenge this is going to be - we know we are going to have to be at our very best. This is a chance to showcase the club. It’s such a massive shame the supporters can’t be here, but we have to stay safe.

“We can play our part. If it isn’t to try and find a place, a role in the community, then why are football clubs there?”

Oldfield, who was a part of the Luton Town squad who reached the 1988 FA Cup semi-finals, was announced as the club’s new manager in March - just as the pandemic struck.

He joked: “I was very fortunate to be unbeaten during the lockdown!

“It was one of our better runs, for sure. But no, during that period we just tried to keep communicating with everyone, we did it as a collective group.

“We make everyone feel important and relevant - we want to be the type of club who does that, and does things right.

“This is a great opportunity to raise spirits. We don’t want it to be a great occasion and to get carried away. We have to make Monday a really good memory for everyone here - it’s a game to enjoy and hopefully remember.”

To get this far they beat Royal Wootton Bassett, thrashed Tamworth 6-1 and won away at National League Weymouth.

This is actually Oxford City’s best start to a season in five years - not that their manager feels it!

“It actually doesn’t seem that way,” said the former Leicester and Manchester City midfielder. “There’s no illusion of building excitement - we’re a new group and it’s very early into the new season.

“I think we have been OK, and OK is where we’re at. We need to react to our defeat last weekend against Hampton and pick up some more points once we’re back in league action.

“The division is unforgiving. We have to respect the game constantly. It didn’t happen for us last Saturday, but we’ll take it on the chin.

“But I am a big believer in the fact that it’s not just about football. There’s so much more to it than results on the weekend.

“We want to progress as a football club, and I am so keen about the feel of the club and the environment here.

“Our facilities are well used in the community and that’s so important. It’s actually great to get to training and have to wait because there are so many kids on there! We’re going in the right direction.”