1988/89 SEASON
League:
Level
Barclays League Division 2
Position:
17th
FA Cup:
Fourth Round
League Cup:
Second Round
Chairman:
Kevin Maxwell
Managers:
Mark Lawrenson, Brian Horton.
Top Scorer:
Martin Foyle (15)
Notable Players:
John Durnin, Martin Foyle, Colin Greenall, Richard Hill, Mickey Lewis, Robbie Mustoe, Jimmy Phillips, Dean Saunders, Paul Simpson, Gary Smart.
Kit Manufacturer
Although Oxford United had dropped out of the top tier of English football, their contract with Umbro secured another season with a 'fashionable' kit supplier.
Sponsor
This was to be the last of 4 seasons featuring Wang as the club's sponsor.
Home Kit & Away Variations
Long
sleeves
The shirts displayed subtle differences from the 1987 design. The crest no longer featured the 25th Anniversary text and the white stripe was now positioned in the centre, whereas the three yellow stripes had been centred previously.
1987
1988
Such attention to detail was not afforded to the fan's replica kit, with the replica shirt stripes not even positioned symmetrically, or aligning front and back.
Odd Shirts
Later in the season, replacement shirts began to appear, featuring a stripe pattern arranged in the reverse order. The pattern was also centred in the same position as it had been on the 1987 shirts.
Away Kit
Long
sleeves
Oxford United returned to their familiar all-red change colours, with a smart design with plenty of interesting detailing.
Until 1988, Oxford United rarely used away colours unless their opponents wore yellow or gold. However, from this point onward, the away kits began to be worn frequently, even in the absence of a colour clash.
Third Kit
Long
sleeves
Now in its fourth season, the white kit became the third choice and was worn just once at Watford. This version featured a slight change, with a new style of white socks.
Goalkeeper Jerseys
Borrowed Shorts - West Brom
For the away fixture at West Bromwich Albion, Oxford United arrived with their navy shorts, only to be asked to change due to the home side also sporting navy.
West Brom provided their white Umbro away shorts for Oxford to wear. The borrowed shorts featured blue piping that matched the Oxford shirts, so many spectators may not have even noticed the switch.
Kit Clash
Borrowed Shorts - Plymouth
For the away fixture at Plymouth Argyle, Oxford United once again found themselves with a kit mix-up, bringing their navy shorts, which were deemed too similar to Plymouth's black Umbro shorts.
This was a schoolboy error, as Oxford had a history of wearing alternative shorts when facing teams in dark shorts, such as Newcastle, Sunderland, and Southampton. Plymouth provided their white Umbro away shorts for Oxford to wear instead.
Kit Clash
Match By Match
Leeds
Away
Hull City
Home
Brighton
Home
Chelsea
Away
Leicester
Home
Oldham
Away
Bournemouth
Away
Bristol City
Home
Shrewsbury
Home
Swindon
Home
Portsmouth
Away
Bristol City
Away
Ipswich
Away
Blackburn
Home
C Palace
Away
Bradford
Home
Sunderland
Home
West Brom
Away
Birmingham
Home
Plymouth
Home
Ipswich
Home
Man City
Away
Barnsley
Home
Watford
Away
Walsall
Away
Stoke
Away
Chelsea
Home
Sunderland
Away
Sunderland
Home
Sunderland
Away
Leeds
Home
Man Utd
Away
Swindon
Away
Portsmouth
Home
Blackburn
Away
Ipswich
Home
C Palace
Home
Birmingham
Away
West Brom
Home
Bradford
Away
Oldham
Home
Brighton
Away
Walsall
Home
Leicester
Away
Hull City
Away
Stoke
Home
Shrewsbury
Away
Bournemouth
Home
Man City
Home
Barnsley
Away
Plymouth
Away
Watford
Home