1998/99 SEASON
League:
Level
Nationwide League Division 1
Position:
23rd - Relegated
FA Cup:
Fourth Round
League Cup:
First Round
Chairmen:
Robin Herd, Firoz Kassam
Manager:
Malcolm Shotton
Top Scorer:
Dean Windass (18)
Notable Players:
Nicky Banger, Joey Beauchamp, Jamie Cook, Kevin Francis, Phil Gilchrist, Matt Murphy, Paul Powell, Mark Watson, Phil Whitehead, Brian Wilsterman, Dean Windass.
Kit Manufacturer
New Balance were a relative newcomer in the football world and began a 3 year 'official' partnership with Oxford United.
Sponsor
Football League Branding
The were no changes to the competition sleeve patch.
Home Kit & Away Variation
Long
sleeves
New home kits were introduced for the 1998-99 season, featuring the New Balance brand. However, both the home and away shirts were clearly using the same templates as Leicester City’s 1996-98 kits, which bore the Fox Leisure brand.
As the season progressed, some match shirts required replacement. These new shirts featured a different sewn block style number and were used alongside the older printed-numbered shirts during the same matches.
Original
numbers
Replacement
Shirts
Away Kit
Long
sleeves
The white change strip remained unchanged in its design, with the only modification being the repositioning of the club crest and sponsor lower on the shirt to accommodate the New Balance logo.
Goalkeeper Jerseys
The jerseys remained unchanged, except for the addition of the New Balance motif.
Only occasionally would the matching keeper shorts/socks feature, it was more usual for the outfield shorts/socks to be worn.
Opponents Kit - Watford
In a rather embarrassing turn of events, Oxford United had to don Watford’s away kit during their fixture at Vicarage Road after the yellow kit was mistakenly packed.
According to an inside source, the backroom staff feared the club was on the verge of being wound up, which resulted in a rather 'heavy' Thursday night out. A dreadful hangover was cited as the reason for the mix-up with the kits!
Kit Clash
Watford made a similar error for the return fixture (minus the hangover). They intended to wear their blue away kit, but the referee determined that both teams could not wear blue shorts and socks. As a result, Watford ended up playing in Oxford's away shorts and socks.
Match By Match
Bristol City
Away
Luton
Away
Wolves
Home
Luton
Home
C Palace
Away
Grimsby
Home
Barnsley
Away
Portsmouth
Home
Swindon
Away
Ipswich
Home
Sunderland
Away
QPR
Home
West Brom
Home
Huddersfield
Away
Tranmere
Home
Bolton
Away
Bury
Away
Sheffiled U
Home
Crewe
Home
Watford
Away
Birmingham
Away
Port Vale
Home
Norwich
Away
Bradford
Home
Birmingham
Home
Stockport
Away
C Palace
Home
Portsmouth
Away
Crewe
Away
Bristol City
Home
Grimsby
Away
Chelsea
Home
Barnsley
Home
Chelsea
Away
Wolves
Away
Swindon
Home
Ipswich
Away
Sunderland
Home
QPR
Away
West Brom
Away
Huddersfield
Home
Watford
Home
Crewe
Away
Sheffield U
Away
Bolton
Home
Tranmere
Away
Bury
Home
Port Vale
Away
Norwich
Home
Bradford
Away
Stockport
Home