1996/97
League:
Level
Nationwide League Division 1
Position:
17th
FA Cup:
Third Round
League Cup:
Forth Round
Chairman:
Robin Herd
Manager:
Denis Smith
Top Scorer:
Nigel Jemson (23)
Notable Players:
Martin Aldridge, Joey Beauchamp, Matt Elliott, Bobby Ford, Phil Gilchrist, Martin Gray, Nigel Jemson, Stuart Massey, Matt Murphy, Paul Powell, Les Robinson, David Rush.
Kit Manufacturer
The ‘own brand’ Manor Leisure branding was dropped in favour of the initials O.U.F.C. Garment labels featured the name ‘Sports & Leisurewear’.
Sponsor
Football League Branding
A new, felt style of Football League competition patch was introduced, now featuring the league sponsor.
Home Kit & Away Variations
Long
sleeves
This kit was designed by supporter and broadcaster Andrew Self (Selfie) and had a ‘retro’ feel reminiscent of abrasive football kits from the 1970s.
Initially, the match shirts featured a screen-printed block number. However, starting from match 5, these were replaced with shirts featuring a more traditional sewn sans serif number.
First 4
Fixtures
Most of
season
Away Kit & Variation
Long
sleeves
Despite a new supplier for the home kit, the popular AC Milan styled shirts were reinstated as the away colours.
These new shirts featured the new style league arm patch and were paired with an eye-catching combination of plain white shorts.
Goalkeeper Jersey
The keepers' jersey was updated to feature the same 'OUFC' branding and club crest as the home shirts.
Strangely, the keepers' shorts featured a number 1.
Match By Match
QPR
Away
L 2-1
Norwich
Home
D 1-1
LC1
Southend
Home
W 5-0
Norwich
Home
L 0-1
Port Vale
Away
L 2-0
Norwich
Away
W 2-3
LC1
Reading
Away
L 2-0
Wolves
Home
D 1-1
Bradford
Home
W 2-0
Sheffield W
Away
D 1-1
LC2
Grimsby
Away
W 0-2
Sheffield W
Home
W 1-0
LC2
Portsmouth
Home
W 2-0
Tranmere
Away
D 0-0
Swindon
Away
L 1-0
Barnsley
Away
D 0-0
Birmingham
Home
D 0-0
Port Vale
Away
D 0-0
LC3
Charlton
Away
L 2-0
Stoke City
Home
W 4-1
Ipswich
Home
W 3-1
Port Vale
Home
W 2-0
LC3R
Man City
Away
W 2-3
Huddersfield
Home
W 1-0
Bolton
Home
D 0-0
Oldham
Away
L 2-1
Southampton
Home
D 1-1
LC4
Charlton
Home
L 0-2
C Palace
Away
D 2-2
Sheffield U
Home
W 4-1
Southampton
Away
L 3-2
LC4R
West Brom
Away
D 3-3
Wolves
Away
L 3-1
Reading
Home
W 2-1
Bradford
Away
L 2-0
Tranmere
Home
W 2-1
Watford
Away
L 2-0
FAC3
Portsmouth
Away
L 2-1
Man City
Home
L 1-4
Stoke City
Away
L 2-1
Oldham
Home
W 3-1
Ipswich
Away
L 2-1
C Palace
Home
L 1-4
Huddersfield
Away
L 1-0
West Brom
Home
W 1-0
Sheffield U
Away
L 3-1
Grimsby
Home
W 3-2
Southend
Away
D 2-2
QPR
Home
L 2-3
Norwich
Away
D 1-1
Port Vale
Home
L 0-2
Bolton
Away
L 4-0
Swindon
Home
W 2-0
Birmingham
Away
L 2-0
Barnsley
Home
W 5-1
Prototypes & Rarities
A prototype for the 1996 shirt featured the same repeating pattern of three 'Ox Heads' ghosting across the front panel, a design element that had been used on the Manor Leisure kits for the previous two seasons.
A more subtle detail was a yellow button on the collar, although this was ultimately replaced with a small blue popper for the full production run.
In early 1997, rumours circulated that the club was in talks with Flavio Briatore, the renowned F1 boss and Juventus owner, regarding a takeover, or partnership between the two clubs.
This Juventus inspired shirt was intended to replace the red 'AC Milan' styled away kit.
The deal must have seemed certain, as a full numbered set of shirts was produced and competition sleeve patches applied. However, the deal never came to fruition, and as a result, this kit was never used by the club.