'Don't take the Championship for granted'

Oxford United will play in the second tier of English football for the first time in 25 years

Oxford United are a very different club to the one that exited the second tier of English football with a whimper 25 years ago.

On the face of it, a lot is similar. Not least they are within sight of a move to a new stadium – as they were then.

But then they were in decline and the three-sided Kassam Stadium with much of its high end spec promised in the original design would never be able to keep pace with a quickly evolving football world. The club that played there couldn’t either.

But Oxford had been in the top two divisions for 15 years, their fans were used to it. Some might be heard bemoaning another trip to Carrow Road or Hillsborough.

When people say “careful what you wish for” I immediately reflect on those thoughts back in the late 90s.

They would soon get kinder trips to places like Wycombe and Cheltenham.

Then it was Aldershot and Rushden.

And then, Histon and… Droyslden.

At the time, as a southern based reporter, I had to look up where that was. United lost 3-1.

Some of the last 25 years have been incredibly enjoyable for those who stuck with the club.

Two Wembley wins define lives, not just the football watching. Long awaited derby wins at Swindon were to be revelled in.

Like great shots on a bad round of golf there was just enough to keep those in yellow interested.

I have heard it said of Olympians in the last couple of weeks that experience demonstrates that the journey is as important as the destination.

The journey back to the second tier of English football has been long and at times painful, but it is also who Oxford are.

Now they have finally arrived, it should not be taken for granted, there will be challenges every week of this season.

United’s players, staff, management and fans should embrace and enjoy them.

They know better than their counterparts of yesteryear that, whatever happens, things could be worse.