CASE OF THE OLD & NEW FOR CITY
But Oldfield’s yet to taste defeat!
DAVID Oldfield’s Oxford City reign got off to a false start – but at least he’s still unbeaten!
The former Luton, Manchester City and Leicester midfielder took charge in early March and expected to have a run of games to run the rule over his squad before the end of the season.
In the end, though, he had just one league game – a 1-1 draw at Hampton & Richmond – before the coronavirus intervened and the season was cut short.
Since then the 52-year-old has had to play a waiting game to really get stuck into his new job.
“I was in for five days before lockdown, had one training session and one league game,” he told The NLP. “On the one hand, it was a frustrating way to go into it, but, on the other, the priority was people’s health and safety and everyone understood that.
“It’s been very strange circumstances – I’ve got one of the longest unbeaten runs as manager in the club’s history!”
But Oldfield will be glad to put that fivemonths and counting record to the test when the Hoops – who finished mid-table last term – return to competitive action at the start of October.
“We’ve retained some of the boys from last season, we have nine or ten signed and we’ve still got some work to do,” he explained. “The boys have been excellent in their attitude and willingness to work hard.
“There was a lot of good work done at the club before I arrived and we want to push it forward. We want to be as competitive and strong as we can be. “If we can do that and get close to realising our potential, then hopefully we won’t be too far away.” Oldfield is in familiar surroundings in Oxford. He played for United from 2002 to 2004 and also had a couple of spells in caretaker charge of the U’s.
“Oxford was a big pull,” he admitted. “I was lucky enough to play for United, a great club, and City are run by some really good people who are trying very hard to progress the club.
Education
“The fans will be very important and how Oxford City sits in the community is very important. I’m interested in the feel of that and hopefully we can get the club going.”
Oldfield can certainly draw on plenty of his own experiences as he gets stuck into his City challenge. He racked up almost 700 league appearances in his two decade-long playing career and also has an extensive coaching background.
He played under the likes of David Pleat at Luton, Howard Kendall at Manchester City and Brian Little at Leicester.
“I was lucky enough to play for some really big clubs,” added Oldfield, who previously managed Brackley Town. “Luton was a great place to start back in the David Pleat times – that was a really good education.
“I went to City and had the taste of how big the club is, and the same with Leicester.
“Towards the end of my playing days, I wrote things down so I wouldn’t forget them. As a manager, you try to take the best of all your experiences and put your own spin on how you do it. You have to be yourself, be authentic.”