1982/83
League:
Level
League Division 3
Position:
5th
FA Cup:
Third Round
League Cup:
Second Round
Chairman:
Robert Maxwell
Manager:
Jim Smith
Top Scorer:
Mick Vinter (14)
Notable Players:
Gary Barnet, Kevin Brock, David Fogg, Steve Hardwick, Trevor Hebberd, Mark Jones, George Lawrence, Malcolm Shotton, Mick Vinter.
Kit Manufacturer
Spall began a three-year association with Oxford United during what is still regarded as the club's greatest period.
However, they struggled to accurately reproduce the club crest on these shirts. The Ox's head appeared stretched, and the curve at the top of the head was inverted.
Sponsors
This marked the beginning of the Robert Maxwell era, coinciding with several seasons of unmatched success. Maxwell used the Oxford United shirts to promote his publishing empire, with BPCC (British Printing & Communication Corporation) serving as the official club sponsor.
Home Kit & Away Variation
Long
sleeves
Oxford’s new Spall shirts featured a v-neck design with pinstripes, which were common design elements in football kits at the time.
The official team photo featured players wearing socks with a blue hoop on the turnovers, however, plain socks were worn for the season.
Home Shirt - Pergamon
From October onwards, all of the home matches featured shirts with Maxwell’s Pergamon Press as the sponsor.
Pergamon's headquarters were based just down the London Road at Headington Hill Hall (now Brookes University campus).
Away Kit
Long
sleeves
The choice of all-red change colours continued with the Spall kits, using the same design template as the home shirt for the away kit.
Goalkeeper Jerseys
TV Shirts
Prior to 1983, television companies refused to broadcast matches featuring sponsored football shirts. As a result, Oxford United wore plain shirts during several matches when the TV cameras were present.
Match By Match
Gillingham
Away
W 0-1
Reading
Away
W 0-2
LC1
Bournemouth
Home
W 2-0
Doncaster
Home
W 3-0
Preston
Away
W 1-2
Reading
Home
W 2-0LC1
Portsmouth
Home
D 1-1
Huddersfield
Away
L 0-2
Chesterfield
Away
W 1-2
Cardiff
Home
D 2-2
Huddersfield
Away
L 0-2
LC2
Millwall
Away
L 2-1
Walsall
Home
W 4-2
Brentford
Home
D 2-2
Wrexham
Away
D 1-1
Huddersfield
Home
W 1-0
LC2
Exeter
Home
D 1-1
Bradford
Away
L 3-2
Sheffield U
Home
D 0-0
Plymouth
Away
L 2-1
Folkstone
Home
W 5-2
FAC1
L Orient
Away
W 1-5
Worthing
Home
W 4-0
FAC2
Wigan
Away
W 0-1
Bristol Rov
Home
W 4-2
Newport
Away
W 1-2
Southend
Home
W 1-0
Reading
Away
W 0-3
Torquay
Home
D 1-1FAC3
Torquay
Away
L 2-1
FAC3R
Gillingham
Home
D 1-1
Portsmouth
Away
L 1-0
Preston
Home
W 3-2
Bournemouth
Away
L 2-0
Huddersfield
Home
D 1-1
Cardiff
Away
L 3-0
Walsall
Away
L 1-0
Bradford
HomeW 5-1
Wrexham
Home
W 2-0
Exeter
Away
L 3-1
Lincoln
Home
W 1-0
Sheffield U
Away
L 3-2
Brentford
Away
D 1-1
Plymouth
Home
D 1-1
Newport
Home
L 0-3
Bristol Rov
Away
W 0-1
L Orient
Home
D 2-2
Doncaster
Away
W 0-1
Wigan
Home
W 2-0
Millwall
Home
W 1-0
Lincoln
Away
D 1-1
Reading
Home
L 1-2
Chesterfield
Home
W 1-0
Southend
Away
W 1-2
Pre-season Kits
A variety of older Adidas kits were worn for the pre season fixtures.
The red kit was the 1980 version with red collars and cuffs, but with the 1981 Sunday Journal sponsor applied.