The Oxford/Swindon rivalry explained

[Hoop Blah]

I was always told by Swindon fans when I worked there that the Oxford-Swindon rivalry was centred a lot around the Rover factories that used to be in both towns, especially when there was a strike in Oxford and Rover brought in scab labour from Swindon to break it, something that went to the very core of the respective communities deeper than football.

That is absolutely correct + in the '70's they played each other a lot more than we did each.

I know lifelong Swindon and Oxford supporters and they just laugh at the suggestion of us being their rivals. They couldn;t give a hoot about Reading. A bit like us and Bournemouth.

How long is lifelong in that context, though? Oxford United didn't even exist until 1960, and weren't a league team for a few more years. Somehow I don't believe Swindon had a massive rivalry with Headington United before then.....

You could be about to pick up your pension in the next year or so and have grown up with the Swindon/Oxford rivalry as the main one for either club. I'd say that's lifelong enough really.

I've seen it kick off more than well enough between Reading and both to know that there is a real rivalry there too, but probably not quite as keen as the Swindon/Oxford one.

[TheMaraudingDog]

Again using words like "carnage" and "trouble" doesn't really paint the scene for me here.

I'm still imagining a few middle aged blokes with receding hair lines and beer bellies, a lot of gesturing, and a little bit of fisticuffs between a handful of gelled hair youths. And the police over reacting.

The Manor in 1998 and the Kassam 2003 were both pretty respectable efforts at hooliganism by both sets of fans. I remember walking down London Road shortly after the 98 game and the road being absolutely covered in broken glass, bottles and even snooker balls. As I passed the John Radcliffe I was met by the glorious sight of police horses being chased by Reading fans. Never seen that before or since. Great skillz.

Nothing happened in 03. Reading were about 80 handed in the Warwick Arms and had some pub sorted in Oxford. We got lunch time cabs into Oxford but got pulled over on route.

I guess the OB were tipped off when 15 black cabs pulled over on the A4074 and 80 blokes had a piss stop against house walls.

Wasn't at the 98 game as too young but there was one last trip to The Manor Ground inbetween where there was some good action. I was up very early doors with some TV famous hoolies and Reading quickly assembled a good mob that 'took' their boozer then smashed it to pieces.

[Ian Royal]

How long is lifelong in that context, though? Oxford United didn't even exist until 1960, and weren't a league team for a few more years. Somehow I don't believe Swindon had a massive rivalry with Headington United before then.....

Biscuits and Royals, the David Downs book, says that before Oxford entered the league in the 60s there would usually be a handful of Tappins coaches bringing supporters down from Oxfordshire to watch Reading games. He describes the sight of "a line of orange coaches lined up on Norfolk Road".

When Oxford entered the league, these coaches pretty much disappeared and it's assumed that these supporters started going to the Manor instead of Elm Park. I guess a lot of time has passed, but I'd say nicking another club's supporters is decent grounds for animosity.

Jerry and Platy - Not arguing with historical facts, just stating the feeling - and the way it is - for the Ox/Sw diehards. As I said Bournemouth regard us as 'rivals' (presumably because we were their closest opponents for a stretch) as do Wycombe to a degree latterly, yet we would sneer at the suggestion of both.

Surely it depends on age. If you ask some of our older fans they'll scoff at Swindon or Oxford being our rivals and wax lyrical about Aldershot. Ask someone in their 30s and they'll probably tell you Oxford or Swindon and dismiss Aldershot. Ask someone in their teens or early 20s and they may say we don't have any real rivals, or name someone like Wolves perhaps. All may still be lifelong fans. Just of different ages and formative eras.

[Big Foot]

Oxford the only ones I truly care about

[Wimb]

The 3-0 win over Swindon at Elm Park when Archie scored a hat-trick is one of my happiest memories of that ground

[LUX]

we do this subject often. Our mutual rivals are Aldershot. Ok, this mostly started during my young days (70's and 80's) but to suggest Oxford and/or Swindon is just wrong. They don't like us at all, but I doubt you would find many of their fans, of any age, who would call us their main rivals.

The comments on Bournemouth are true. They see us as number one, but no-one cares here. Disagree with Wycombe. Absolutely no feelings anywhere there.

[Red]

this mostly started during my young days

Isn't this the point? As fans we will always hold dear the rivalries of the time when we first started watching Reading.

For me it was mainly Swindon simply because we were in the same division as them. Surely the Aldershot thing has had it's day? They're a new club now for starters.

[LUX]

yes, but the key element is the mutual-, er, -ity.

Swindon for you, perhaps. Probably for many of us. Or Oxford. But they would certainly not put us as their main rivals.

Many, if not all, Aldershot supporters would, and a large part of our support too.

[Deadlock]

The 3-0 win over Swindon at Elm Park when Archie scored a hat-trick is one of my happiest memories of that ground

They'd recently sold Tore Andre Flo and Archie celebrated his goals by doing Flo's "aeroplane" move in front of the Town End. Happy days.

[Wimb]

The 3-0 win over Swindon at Elm Park when Archie scored a hat-trick is one of my happiest memories of that ground

They'd recently sold Tore Andre Flo and Archie celebrated his goals by doing Flo's "aeroplane" move in front of the Town End. Happy days.

Torre Andre Flo? you mean Jan Åge Fjørtoft

[Royal With Cheese]

Nothing happened in 03. Reading were about 80 handed in the Warwick Arms and had some pub sorted in Oxford. We got lunch time cabs into Oxford but got pulled over on route.

I guess the OB were tipped off when 15 black cabs pulled over on the A4074 and 80 blokes had a piss stop against house walls.

Wasn't at the 98 game as too young but there was one last trip to The Manor Ground inbetween where there was some good action. I was up very early doors with some TV famous hoolies and Reading quickly assembled a good mob that 'took' their boozer then smashed it to pieces.

You've been watching the football factory again.

[postwhisperer]

oxford and swindon are sh!t rivalries with reading.. no one gives a crap about them. point of rivalry is to play them at least once a decade. chelsea are our modern rivalries.. ive seen some mental internet battles over the sets of supporters.. everytime we play its going to be very heated.

[Wax Jacket]

Again using words like "carnage" and "trouble" doesn't really paint the scene for me here.

I'm still imagining a few middle aged blokes with receding hair lines and beer bellies, a lot of gesturing, and a little bit of fisticuffs between a handful of gelled hair youths. And the police over reacting.

The Manor in 1998 and the Kassam 2003 were both pretty respectable efforts at hooliganism by both sets of fans. I remember walking down London Road shortly after the 98 game and the road being absolutely covered in broken glass, bottles and even snooker balls. As I passed the John Radcliffe I was met by the glorious sight of police horses being chased by Reading fans. Never seen that before or since. Great skillz.

Nothing happened in 03. Reading were about 80 handed in the Warwick Arms and had some pub sorted in Oxford. We got lunch time cabs into Oxford but got pulled over on route.

I guess the OB were tipped off when 15 black cabs pulled over on the A4074 and 80 blokes had a piss stop against house walls.

Wasn't at the 98 game as too young but there was one last trip to The Manor Ground inbetween where there was some good action. I was up very early doors with some TV famous hoolies and Reading quickly assembled a good mob that 'took' their boozer then smashed it to pieces.

the Britannia

[Red]

Just round the corner from that house with a shark sticking out the roof.

[Wax Jacket]

indeed, owned by self-proclaimed local radio legend Bill Heine

[soggy biscuit]

The 3-0 win over Swindon at Elm Park when Archie scored a hat-trick is one of my happiest memories of that ground

They'd recently sold Tore Andre Flo.

[No Fixed Abode]

The 3-0 win over Swindon at Elm Park when Archie scored a hat-trick is one of my happiest memories of that ground

They'd recently sold Tore Andre Flo and Archie celebrated his goals by doing Flo's "aeroplane" move in front of the Town End. Happy days.

Do you mean Jan Aage Fjortoft?

[exileinleeds]

The 3-0 win over Swindon at Elm Park when Archie scored a hat-trick is one of my happiest memories of that ground

They'd recently sold Tore Andre Flo and Archie celebrated his goals by doing Flo's "aeroplane" move in front of the Town End. Happy days.

Do you mean Jan Aage Fjortoft?

Only 4 hours late with the "joke" Kes.

Must be rattloled.

[TheMaraudingDog]

Now that deserves a

[LoyalRoyalFan]

I seem to recall games against Oxford where we had more away fans than they had home fans.