On Tuesday 10th April 1973, Banbury United beat Oxford United 3-1 at the Spencer Stadium in the final of the Oxfordshire Professional Cup, remarkably their first win over the boys from the Manor in this competition at the 27th attempt!

After a goalless first half, Banbury would take a deserved lead ten minutes into the second half when Paul Day opened up the square looking Oxford defence with a ball inside the full back to put Paul Duester clear, the big striker hitting a low shot wide of goalkeeper Mick Kearns’s right hand into the net. Fifteen minutes later it was 2-0 when Day sent Tony Foster away down the right wing whose cross was met by the head of the diving Duester, the ball hitting the roof of the net. A Pete Svenson own goal put Oxford back into the game and they then put pressure on the Banbury side looking for the equaliser. However, Banbury would have the last word, breaking away to score the all-important third goal when Day lobbed the ball down-field to Foster and he whipped the ball past Kearns with the Oxford defence appealing for an off-side that never came.

Banbury United: Stewart Rennie, Pete Svenson, Bob Haynes, Colin Moulsdale, Ken Butler, Dave Matthews, Paul Day, Tony Foster, Tony Jacques, Paul Duester, Gino Crognale. Sub: Mick Sherrell.

Oxford United: Mick Kearns, Jimmy Light, Steve Flay, Ken Skeen, Peter Hatch, Mick Tait, David Sloan, Graham Atkinson, Moody, Geoff Bray, Billy Jeffrey, Sub: Pickett.

Three connections from the Oxford side with Banbury United worth a mention:

Goalkeeper Mick Kearns started out with Banbury United, playing for the youth and reserve sides, as well as making one first team appearance in a minor cup game at the end of season 1967/68. He would go on to make a total of 356 Football League appearances playing for Oxford United, Plymouth Argyle (loan), Charlton Athletic (loan), Walsall and Wolverhampton Wanderers as well as play international football for the Republic of Ireland. He returned briefly to play for Banbury United in season 1987/88, deputising for regular custodian Keith Baker, making seven appearances for the club that season to add to the one he made 20 years previously.

Ken Skeen’s son Jon played in goal for Banbury in season 1999/2000, playing a key part in United’s Hellenic League Championship winning side that season and also appeared for the club in the first two months of the following season as Banbury returned to the Southern League.

Billy Jeffrey was appointed Banbury United manager in March 2009 and had just over two years in that position before leaving in the summer of 2012 due to upcoming hip operations which would make him unable to commit the necessary time to the club.

There follows below a photo of some of the Banbury players with the Oxfordshire Professional Cup after their win. The players left to right are: Pete Svenson, Ken Butler, Tony Foster, Stewart Rennie, Bob Haynes, Paul Duester, Tony Jacques (partially hidden), Paul Day and Dave Matthews.
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The following is a photo from the game, Oxford United goalkeeper Mick Kearns, on this occasion, getting to the ball ahead of Banbury’s two goal hero Paul Duester with Tony Jacques (number 9) looking on.
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Finally, here is a high-quality team photo for this season 1972/73 taken before the club’s pre-season friendly against Kettering Town. This was the first time the club had worn the famous, or should that be infamous, blue and white striped shorts! You will notice the squad changed little throughout the season as all the players in the end of season cup game against Oxford United are pictured here except for Paul Day who joined the club midway through the season.

The players are: Back Row (Left to Right): Des Anderson, Paul Duester, Dave Matthews, Tony Jacques, David Munslow, Bob Haynes, Pete Svenson, Stewart Rennie, Colin Moulsdale.

Front Row (Left to Right): Tony Foster, Michael Hickey, Mick Sherrell, Ken Butler, Phil Lines, Gino Crognale, Eamon Kearns.

Goalkeeper Dave Munslow had joined the club that summer from Ruscote Sports though I can’t find he made a first team appearance other than in the Kettering friendly whilst Michael Hickey was a youngster from Oxford who made appearances for the club that season in the Premier Midweek Floodlit League.
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