Ken Oxford
Kenneth Oxford (14 November 1929 – 6 August 1993) was an English footballer. A goalkeeper, he played 296 league games in an 18-year career in the Football League. He spent time with Manchester City, Norwich City, Derby County, Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale, and Boston United. He helped Boston to win the West Midlands (Regional) League in the 1966–67 season.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kenneth Oxford[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 14 November 1929[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Oldham, Lancashire, England[1] | ||
| Date of death | 6 August 1993 (aged 63)[1] | ||
| Place of death | Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Manchester City | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1947–1948 | Manchester City | 1 | (0) |
| 1953–1958 | Norwich City | 128 | (0) |
| 1958–1963 | Derby County | 151 | (0) |
| 1964–1965 | Doncaster Rovers | 16 | (0) |
| 1965 | Port Vale | 0 | (0) |
| 1965–196? | Boston United | ||
| Total | 296+ | (0) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career edit
Oxford started his career by winning a contract at Manchester City, playing one First Division game at Maine Road in the 1947–48 season. He later had a non-playing spell at Chesterfield. He eventually ended up with Norwich City, who finished seventh in the Third Division South in 1953–54. Norman Low's "Canaries" finished in joint-11th place in 1954–55. Oxford was selected to play for the Third Division South representative side on 16 March 1955, and kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory over their Northern counterparts. Norwich then finished seventh in 1955–56, before finishing in last place in 1956–57. New boss Archie Macaulay then took Norwich to eighth spot in 1957–58. In his five years at Carrow Road, Oxford played 128 league games. He moved on to Derby County, who ended the 1958–59 campaign in seventh place in the Second Division. Harry Storer's "Rams" went on to finish 18th in 1959–60, 12th in 1960–61, and 16th in 1961–62. New manager Tim Ward took County to 18th in 1962–63 and 13th in 1963–64. During his five years at the Baseball Ground, Oxford made 151 league appearances. He spent the 1964–65 season with Bill Leivers's Doncaster Rovers, and made 16 Fourth Division in a brief stay at Belle Vue. In March 1965, he moved on to Jackie Mudie's Port Vale.[1] He never played a game for the "Valiants", and remained on the sidelines as Jimmy O'Neill kept his first-team place as the club were relegated out of the Third Division.[1] He left Vale Park on a free transfer to Boston United in May 1965.[1]
Post-retirement edit
After leaving the game, Oxford became a security guard.[2] He died of a heart attack on 6 August 1993.[2]
Career statistics edit
| Club | Season | Division | League | FA Cup | Other | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Manchester City | 1947–48 | First Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Norwich City | 1953–54 | Third Division South | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| 1954–55 | Third Division South | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 1955–56 | Third Division South | 39 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| 1956–57 | Third Division South | 32 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| 1957–58 | Third Division South | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| Total | 128 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 0 | ||
| Derby County | 1957–58 | Second Division | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| 1958–59 | Second Division | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| 1959–60 | Second Division | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| 1960–61 | Second Division | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 1961–62 | Second Division | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| 1962–63 | Second Division | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| Total | 151 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 162 | 0 | ||
| Doncaster Rovers | 1964–65 | Fourth Division | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 0 |
| Port Vale | 1964–65 | Third Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Boston United | 1966–67 | West Midlands (Regional) League | 39 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| Career total | 335 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 268 | 0 | ||
Honours edit
Boston United
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 222. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
- ^ a b Fissler, Neil. "Port Vale – O". where-are-they-now.co.uk. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ Ken Oxford at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
- ^ "Stats". neilbrown.newcastlefans.com. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Statistics Season 1966/7". bufc.drfox.org.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2023.