2000/01 SEASON
League:
Level
Nationwide League Division 2
Position:
24th - Relegated
FA Cup:
Second Round
League Cup:
First Round
Chairman:
Firoz Kassam
Managers:
Denis Smith, Mike Ford (caretaker), David Kemp, Mike Ford (caretaker #2).
Top Scorer:
Phil Gray (9)
Notable Players:
Steve Anthrobus, Jamie Cook, Peter Fear, Phil Gray, Wayne Hatswell, Richard Knight, Manny Omoyinmi, Paul Powell, Jon Richardson, Andy Scott, Paul Tait, Dean Whitehead.
Kit Manufacturer
This was to be Oxford's last season with New balance.
Sponsor
Oxford-based internet web agency Domino Systems featured as the shirt sponsor, but for just one season only.
Football League Branding
The league issued yet another variation of their competition sleeve patch.
Home Kit & Away Variation
Long
sleeves
New Balance produced an unpopular design for Oxford United’s last season at the Manor Ground. The shirts had a metallic brass colour with tiny blue specs, resulting in a rather dirty or muddy green appearance, especially under floodlights.
The fabric used for these shirts was identical to that worn by Sunderland’s away kit during the 97/98 season.
The shirts featured two versions of the club crest: one that read "OXFORD UNITED" in all caps and another that displayed "OXFORD United F.C." with a mix of capitalisation.
The kit colour did not resonate well with supporters, and coupled with relegation, it marked a miserable end to the club’s time at the famous Manor Ground.
Away Kit
Long
sleeves
The navy change strip design remained largely unchanged.
The shirts now featured the new sponsor and competition arm patches, whilst the socks gained navy trim on the turnovers.
'Rehashed' Away Shirts
Not all change shirts were new. Some were Unipart shirts rehashed with a rectangular Domino patch crudely applied over the embossed Unipart logo. This demonstrates how dire the club's finances were at that time.
The Domino logo on these shirts was also in an incorrect ‘condensed’ version of the logo typeface.
Goalkeeper Kits
MAKESHIFT Goalkeeper SHIRT
At Wycombe, reserve keeper Hubert Busby Junior was introduced as a half-time substitute. He played wearing a baggy red training top and outfield shorts and socks.
Match by Match
Peterboro'
Home
Port Vale Away
Wolves
Away
Brentford
Home
Walsall
Away
Cambridge
Home
Wolves
Home
Wycombe
Away
Stoke
Away
Bury
Home
Millwall
Away
Bristol City
Home
Swindon
Away
Wrexham
Home
Luton
Home
Rotherham
Away
Wigan
Home
Reading
Away
Bristol Rov
Home
Swansea
Away
Macclesfield
Away
Notts C
Home
Oldham
Away
Brentford
Away
Chester
Away
Northampton
Home
Colchester
Away
Bournemouth
Home
Brentford
Away
Walsall
Home
Colchester
Home
Peterboro'
Away
Wycombe
Home
Bury
Away
Stoke
Home
Millwall
Home
Bristol City
Away
Wrexham
Away
Swindon
Home
Rotherham
Home
Cambridge
Away
Northampton
Away
Bournemouth
Away
Oldham
Home
Luton
Away
Wigan
Away
Reading
Home
Bristol Rov
Away
Swansea
Home
Port Vale
Last game at The Manor Ground
Notts C
Away
Prototypes
New Balance provided the club with a number of prototype options for the final season at the Manor Ground. At the time of manufacture, these examples incorrectly presumed Unipart would continue as the club sponsor.
I'd suggest the yellow pinstripe option was a much better design than the 'muddy' shirt which was eventually chosen.
PRE-SEASON KitS
Despite Domino being announced as the new club sponsor, the new kits were not ready in time for the pre-season fixtures.
As a result, Oxford United wore their old 1999 strips for these matches. The away kit was updated slightly, featuring new-style socks with a navy band on the turnovers.
RaritIES
The 1997 white away shirts were repurposed with the Domino sponsor patch crudely applied over the original Unipart logo. The same process was applied to some of the navy away shirts.
These white shirts were never worn in a first-team match, but were likely used by the reserves.
Thanks to @MY1OUFC for discovering this.