12th Man Fund update

The figure as at 23rd July 2010 (see thermometer image at the right of the page) for the total raised by 12th Man since it began is £32,781. Of this, a total of £31,170 has now been spent, and £1,611 remained in the fund at that date.

To date the fund has been used to assist with financing the signings of the following six players (fund contributions in parentheses) - Jamie Cook (£5,000), Onome Sodje (£3,142), Anthony Tonkin (£10,000), Ashley Cain (£1,000), John Grant (£4,528), and Jake Wright (£7,500).

12th Man Squad Picture

We're pleased to bring you this picture of the 12th Man version of the 2010-11 season Oxford United squad picture, complete with 19 year old Joshua Smith from Long Hanborough, the proud winner of the place in the picture to represent the fans.

We hope you can work out which one is Joshua, given the number of new players coming in this close season, but if you start from club chairman Kelvin Thomas and look around, you shouldn't have too much of a problem.

We expect the picture to be featured on the club website and in the matchday programme pretty soon.

Joshua's obviously enjoying the experience and he had a great time meeting the players.

Joshua's step-dad has also let us have this picture of the two of them at the photo shoot:

2010/11 Squad Photo Raffle

This evening, 11 year old OxVox member, Amber Brightman, made the draw for this seasons 12th Man Squad Photo prize.

The winner was 18 year old, Joshua Smith, from Long Hanborough and he will take his seat in this seasons squad picture, due to be taken next week.

The runner-up, who will win a copy of the Play-Off Final win, was HK Yellow, from HK

Thank You all who purchased a ticket or 100 and to Trevor Lambert and Andy Cantwell who sold a large number of the tickets in aid of the fund.

World Cup Competition result!

As you probably know by now, Spain beat Holland 1-0 yesterday in extra time in the World Cup Final.

The World Cup Competition scores have been calculated and the winner is declared to be Anthony Williams, who came through the field, having correctly tipped Holland and Spain to progress through to the semi-finals and the final, and Spain to win.

Congratulations to Anthony who wins narrowly by two points from Gilo, with an almost identical record but one fewer correct tips at the quarter final stage (five tipped correctly as opposed to six for Anthony). Sheedy11, the early leader, unfortunately did not pick any of the four semi-finalists. OxVox Neil ran the first two close, five points further back, but tipped Germany to contest the final with Spain.

A word of commiseration for trust committee member Brahma Bull bringing up the rear with Nightowl on 18 points. Don't give up the day job, BB!

Full results: Anthony Williams 49, Gilo 47, OxVox Neil 42, Adelino 41, Graham Neal 38, Mark Merritt 36, Mad Mick 35, Matt Derbyshire 33, Ian Faulkner 33, Sheedy11 25, KerryB 25, Phil Hawke 25, Yellow Dragon 24, Scoob 23, Clare-Mc 23, Chris Davis 21, Brahma Bull 18, Nightowl 18.

12th Man Squad Photo Raffle 2010/11

As happened last year, the club has offered a place in a squad picture for a fan, for the 12th Man. Twelve months ago we auctioned this opportunity and it raised £620.00 when Colt Simmonds won the opportunity to be photographed with the team.

This season, the person who wins this honour will attend the photocall on July 27 when the official squad photos are taken, meet the players, and a special squad picture will be taken including him or her, which will be displayed in the programme and on the club website.

A bit of an email debate has been held among the 12th Man contact group today about the best and fairest way to give everyone a chance to win this prize while raising funds for the 12th Man, and the conclusion is to raffle rather than hold an auction.

So tomorrow at the Open Day we'll be selling tickets at the OxVox stall for £1 each.

Also we are looking at ways of getting more tickets into people's hands before July 20 when it will be drawn. Unfortunately we don't have a home friendly before then so we'll have to be creative.

We'll set up something online next week, hopefully, we have to take care about prohibitions on raffle ticket selling e.g. on eBay and PayPal.

The 12th Man Fund today helped Oxford United make a major signing ahead of the new season with defender Jake Wright joining on a three year deal.

Jake had a wonderful spell at the club last season which culminated in his excellent performance during our play-off final win at Wembley. He arrives on a free transfer and Chairman Kelvin Thomas was delighted to welcome Jake to the club, he said:

“I think signing Jake is a fantastic deal for this football club. Jake was a major part of our Wembley success. He has experience at a higher level and I know he is very excited about coming to Oxford. It is also pleasing that the 12th Man was able to help to push this deal over the line and help Jake to relocate to the Oxfordshire area.”

Our latest 12th Man signing said: “I’m delighted to have signed. From the moment I arrived on loan I have been made to feel at home. The Manager and staff are first class and the lads have been great with me. We have a great team spirit and a great belief and I want to be part of that. The fans at Wembley were brilliant and this is where I want to play my football.”

Robert Newton added “Jake's signing is a great step forward for the club. His arrival will be hugely popular with the fans and the 12th Man is delighted to have played a part in funding it. Once again, thanks to every fan who has contributed to the fund or got involved. We hope the fund will continue to grow this year and will play its part in signing players of this calibre."

12th Man are delighted with the signing and thank every single one of our supporters for contributing over £30,000 in the last twelve months.

Game of 66 World Cup Competition

How good are you at predicting the outcome of the World Cup?

Choose the teams you think will go through at each stage, and the eventual winners


This is a simple prediction game in which you select the teams you think will progress at each stage in the competition. At each stage you will get points for each correct choice. It’s not a very sophisticated game, you can even make inconsistent predictions, but you can only name the correct number of choices at each stage and you will only get points for correct predictions, naturally. Half the takings will go to the 12th Man Fund. A single winner will receive the other half (see below) unless there is a tie even after the tie break question in which case the prize will be divided equally. Please enter – the more the merrier. Entries will be accepted up to and including the closing date of 16 June, by which time all teams will have played the first of their group matches.

You can enter by post (£4) or online (£4.50). Full details are given http://www.oxvox.org.uk/news.aspx?id=183