Behind The Badge: Recent Episodes
James Roberts
An unofficial Oxford United podcast uncovering the stories of yesteryear. Dan and James speak to former players, managers, board members and more to get the inside track on their time with the U's.
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Only the most optimistic Oxford United fans would have predicted that we'd be talking about promotion-winning bonus edition podcasts just a couple of months ago, but here we are.
With great joy, pride and emotion, Dan and James look back on the unbelievable last couple of months of the season, taking you through their journey and the one that saw Des Buckingham's side win promotion to the second tier of English football after an absence of 25 years.
What an end to an incredible season!
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Dan and James bring the curtain down on a brilliant fourth series of Behind The Badge. We look back at some of the best bits from the past eight weeks and talk about the here and now at Oxford United.
Our thanks to everyone who listens to our podcasts and engages on social media. We'd like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and prosperous 2024!
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For the last time in Series 4, Behind The Badge is out and about - and this time Dan and James had the pleasure of meeting the former United goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach Wayne Brown.
'Brownie' was on top form and gave up more than an hour and a half of his time to look back fondly on his time with the U's. He also had some fascinating insight into his career before joining United. Our particular favourite was his time in South Africa!
We asked Wayne about his United exit, which he answered with unbelievable honesty.
We know that we say this every week, but this really is an episode that you won't want to miss!
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The penultimate guest of Series 4 of Behind The Badge is the former Oxford Mail photographer Dave Fleming.
An Oxford lad, who grew up just around the corner from the Manor Ground, Dave is a lifelong United fan and landed what some would say is the dream job as a photographer capturing images of famous matches both home and away.
Please check our social media platforms for the photos that we discuss with Dave, from fabulous derby wins and promotions to desperate times in the Conference.
Find out the stories behind the stories and more!
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This week, Behind The Badge speaks to a player that didn't spend long at United but will forever be remembered as part of the side that completed the double over Swindon in the 2011/12.
Oli Johnson scored the second goal in a nail-biting 2-0 win at the Kassam Stadium, as the U's played 80 minutes with 10 men after James Constable's early red card.
Oli tells us of his sharp rise into professional football and his equally rapid decline back into non-league, which began when he was told he would be leaving United. His insight into the dressing room at a time when Chris Wilder's team had just missed out on a play-off spot is interesting...to say the least!
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On this edition of Behind The Badge we had the pleasure of speaking to the former Oxford United manager Brian Horton.
'Nobby' is one of the most experienced men to ever grace the game with over 2,000 matches in professional football as a player, manager and assistant manager.
He kept United in Division Two (now the Championship) against all the odds during a turbulent time off the pitch, but on it the U's were bringing through fantastic young players and selling on the likes of Paul Simpson, Mark Stein and Andy Melville for huge profits.
Brian’s relationship with Kevin Maxwell is well documented throughout and he recalls the day he was famously asked to succeed his good friend Mark Lawrenson as manager.
We also hear about numerous other interesting parts of Brian's long career in football. It's a fascinating listen!
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Behind The Badge is back with a special episode discussing the recent departure of Oxford United Head Coach Liam Manning to Championship side Bristol City.
We're joined by the Oxford Mail's Liam Rice to discuss Manning's time at United, how events unfolded and what happens next. Who could fill the role and be United's third permanent manager of 2023?
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Behind The Badge speaks to a man who helped launch the United careers of the likes of Joey Beauchamp, Chris Allen, Jamie Brooks, Paul Powell, Dean Whitehead, Chris Hackett.....the list goes on!
Malcolm Elias has worked in football for almost 40 years, starting as youth development officer at the Manor Ground in the 1980s. He's still going strong at Fulham in 2023, via spells at Swansea City, Southampton and Liverpool.
Malcolm had plenty of fantastic stories to tell, including how he started the Centre of Excellence at United before going on to help discover the likes of Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott at Southampton and begging Liverpool to give Trent Alexander-Arnold a chance - despite his strong roots on the blue half of Merseyside.
A fascinating listen!
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Dan and James start Series 4 on the road with a trip to meet former United No.1 Ryan Clarke.
'Clarkey' joined in 2009, made well over 250 appearances for the club and will forever be remembered for being part of the team that won promotion back to the Football League at Wembley.
Behind The Badge hears how the 'keeper played through the pain barrier, fought back from injury to win player of the year under Michael Appleton - only for the club to then let him go - and how he forged a lasting bond with fellow members of the goalkeepers' union, Alan Hodgkinson and Wayne Brown.
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Behind The Badge is back for Series 4 and, as always, we kick-off with a preview of what you can expect this time around.
Dan and James discuss a positive few months for United - on and off the pitch - and also reveal our guests for this series. We hope you enjoy!
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It was worth the wait! Stuart Massey played the best football of his career on the hallowed Manor Ground turf. As an Oxford United fans' favourite of the mid 90s, he loved every minute of it.
Sometimes you listen to a podcast and hang off every last word that the guest has to say....this is one of them. Get in there!
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Jason Burt reports on the very best that football has to offer in his job as The Telegraph's Chief Football Correspondent.
Now settled with his family in Oxford, he is very much an Oxford United supporter and loves it when the chance arises to report on the U's - or watch them as a fan when he's not working.
With interesting views on the new stadium proposal, especially when you consider he's a North Oxford resident, Jason offered an intriguing insight into the club that he's now adopted as his own.
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Back in the summer of 2011, Oxford United announced the signing of a former Premier League defender. Not only that, this man had played in Champions League semi-finals and had the look of someone that could tell a good story.
Sure enough, Michael Duberry didn't disappoint! Unfortunately for 'Dubes', his spell at United ended following a career-threatening neck injury. We speak to him about that, his interesting first impressions of the club and, of course, doing the double over that lot up the road. Enjoy!
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Next up on Behind The Badge is a man whose voice is forever etched in supporters' memories for his clever and witty reports as Oxford United went from the top of English football to the bottom, with further ups and downs along the way.
Tim Russon was the Central News South sports editor for more than 30 years, covering United as they won the Milk Cup and gained promotion to Division One. He was even offered a senior role at the club by Firoz Kassam! Listen in on some great stories, and some embarrassing fanboy chat!
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The last man to lead Oxford United to promotion is the next guest on Behind The Badge.
Little was known of Darryl Eales before he headed up the takeover from Ian Lenagan. Buried in the same press release was the news that Michael Appleton was United's next manager.
What followed was a season of consolidation before promotion to League One and a number of glorious cup matches.
It wasn't all plain sailing though, and we find out more about his reasons for leaving the club when he did. A must listen!
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Steve Basham played for United for five years, signing in 2002 under Ian Atkins before leaving at the end of the first season in non-league football in 2007.
'Bash' was top scorer on three occasions in his time at the club as the U's twice came close to reaching the League Two play-offs before suffering a heart-breaking relegation in 2006.
He relives the ups and downs of his United career and reveals how the players coped with particular restraints under the ownership of Firoz Kassam.
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Behind The Badge is back and Series 3 promises to be the best yet! A plethora of guests look back at the good, the bad and the ugly of Oxford United's history. Promotions, relegations, big games...stay tuned for more!
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All good things must come to an end and that's exactly what's happening to Series 2 of Behind The Badge.
In this episode we wrap up the second series, look ahead to the third (there definitely will be one!) and talk about James's time ending at the Oxford Mail.
Oxford United's very own captain marvel is the latest guest on Behind The Badge. It's the man who's had more different hairstyles than club goals, Mike Ford!
Fordy had 10 years playing at United, and 3 more on the coaching staff. He played in teams that were relegated, promoted and more than held their own at Championship level.
He's got some great stories to tell from his team both on and off the pitch!
The latest guest on Behind the Badge is a player that although was only an Oxford United player for a couple of years, left a big impression and is still highly regarded.
Midfielder (cum left-back!) Scott Davies had other things going on in his life whilst playing at United but it was only after he left the club in 2014 did things really start to unfold.
Scott told us his story, warts and all, in exactly the way that you would expect. Full of honesty, charm and good humour!
One of United's unsung heroes from the playoff challenging era at the start of the 2010's is the guest on this week's podcast.
Defender/Midfielder Andy Whing played a massive part in two derby victories against Swindon, was scorer of a goal of the season and bowed out as a cult hero with injury cutting his career short at the age of 30.
He's now well on the way cutting his managerial teeth at non league level, as we discuss the key moments in his time at Oxford United,
Behind The Badge is back and what a way to begin our second series, with one of THE faces at the Manor Ground behind the scenes.
It is of course Mick Moore, United's former groundsman (and stadium manager!) and he sure does have some fantastic stories to tell!
Johnny 'The Magnet' Mullins is our guest on this edition of Behind The Badge.
We delve into the 2015/16 promotion winning squad, find out about Johnny's interesting relationship with the manager of a previous club and get an honest and frank answer on how it felt when he didn't get offered a new contract by United in the summer of 2016.
We're getting a bit of a different perspective on this week's edition of Behind The Badge, speaking to an internationally recognised journalist who's been following Oxford United in depth for over 25 years.
Amongst many other things within the media, Jim White is a columnist at the Daily Telegraph and a former writer for The Guardian. He moved to Oxford in the 1990's and has stayed here ever since, enjoying the highs and lows from boys in yellow and blue!
Kelvin Thomas's time at Oxford United was eventful, to say the least!
The former United chairman tells Behind the Badge pretty much everything about his time at the club from relegation to promotion, to new (blue!) home kits and a League 2 title challenge against the U's after moving to take over at Northampton.
In our opinion, it's a great listen and definitely not one to miss!
Behind the Badge speaks to our first former Oxford United manager in the shape of Ian Atkins.
After a successful playing career which took in top flight football with Sunderland, Everton and Ipswich Town; Ian embarked on a management career which lead him to United during their first season at the Kassam Stadium.
It was a turbulent time at the club but Atkins steered the U's to safety in his first season before two play-off challenging seasons. His stint at United ended in rather strange circumstances but we'll find out how and why, as well as the tough decisions he had to take in moving on fans favourites.
This week Behind The Badge speaks to a 90's Oxford United legend who played for the club for 8 years, winning promotion and suffering relegations. (It was the 90's at OUFC after all!)
Matt Murphy joined United from non-league and went on to make nearly 300 appearances, scoring 65 goals along the way.
He scored two goal of the season contenders in one season and played with some of the best footballers to have ever played in the famous yellow shirt.
The first former Oxford United player to speak to Behind The Badge is Andy Burgess. Andy gives a full and frank assessment on his time at United, uncovering a medical condition that hindered his time at the club and speaks of his worst moment as a professional footballer.
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Introducing Behind The Badge - a NEW podcast on all things Oxford United!
Dan Freeman and James Roberts speak to former #oufc players, managers and more to get the inside track on their time at the club.
In this, the pilot episode, Dan and James discuss some of the names they’ll be chatting to over the coming weeks.