Who are Oxford City?
Oxford City Football Club is based in Marston Oxford. They currently play in the National League South, which is the sixth tier of English Football and they play the home games at Marsh Lane.
The club was founded in 1883, becoming the leading club in Oxfordshire winning the FA Amateur Cup in 1906. The following year they joined the Isthmain Leauge.
Highlights of the next decade included two years in the Isthmian League Premier Division and an epic FA Cup run in 1999 – 2000 which culminated in a three-game battle against Wycombe Wanderers in the First Round proper, eventually being edged out 1–0 at Oxford United’s Manor Ground. The first replay had been abandoned due to a fire alarm just as the penalty shootout was about to start; this remains the only FA Cup tie to go to a second replay since the FA ruled that all ties should be settled after a maximum of two games.
Team News
Oxford City
Manager David Oldfield has said there are a few knocks in his squad but he expects to have a fully-fit squad to choose from.
Northampton
Scott Pollock and Joseph Mills are long-term absentees but Ricky Holmes, who rejoined the Cobblers last week, may be handed his first start.
Last year in the cup.
Northampton
The Cobblers reached the fourth round of the FA Cup last season and they avoided a potential banana skin at the first hurdle as they were decisive 3-0 winners at Chippenham, who finished level on points with Oxford City in the National League South last season.
The Cobblers followed that with victories over Notts County and Burton before taking Championship Derby to a fourth-round replay. They should be confident of teeing up another fruitful cup run at the expense of David Oldfield’s Hoops.
The Cobblers are three levels higher than Oxford City in the footballing pyramid and that gulf in class should tell at Court Place Farm.
Oxford City
Oxford City, who conceded in all three of their FA Cup qualifiers against Royal Wootton, Tamworth and Weymouth.
National League side Solihull Moors were 5-1 winners at Marsh Lane in the first round of the FA Cup last season
Where to watch?
The BT Sport cameras have pinpointed Northampton’s FA Cup first-round trip to National League South side Oxford City as a potential giantkilling, but we all know it won’t be.
Previous meetings
The Cobblers and Oxford City have never faced each other in a competitive match meaning this will be their first-ever meeting.
One To Watch
Vale.com reports that James Roberts is Oxford City’s danger man. Roberts has impressed for the Hoops in National League South this season and has three goals in four games so far in this campaign. Roberts will hope to unnerve the Northampton backline on Monday night and could be the key to City booking their place in round two.
OXFORD BOSS: David Oldfield
“Normally in the FA Cup you have a crowd and a muddy pitch but we’re missing both! Northampton won’t have played on an artificial pitch too often but it’s a very good pitch and it’s not a huge advantage.
“A lot of clubs at our level do it and without doubt Northampton are good enough to adapt to it, so it won’t be an issue. It’s a cup game and as much we I try to play it down, we are excited and we are looking forward to it.”
Keith Curle
“It’s a competition that all football clubs look forward to and we are no different, You never know potentially where your next game can lead you and that is the exciting thing about it.”
“We are very respectful as coaching staff and as a football club and we will treat Oxford City no different to anyone else we come up against. We have done our due diligence to gain as much information as we can and then we come up with a plan.”
Referee
FA Cup Memory Lane
Court Place Farm
