Oxford United vs Bolton Wanderers

Matchday 19 marked the second fixture in a 10-day period, setting the stage for a series that will eventually cover the furthest northern and western clubs. Despite the journey covering a short 1.5 hours, we found ourselves at The Kassam Stadium, the current home to Oxford United, which is slated for relocation in the summer of 2026. The drive to Oxford, though trouble-free given the time of day, had a minor hiccup when a warning light indicated low pressure in both front tires about an hour into the journey. After a quick check on the onboard tire monitoring system, I decided to deal with it after the game. Approaching the stadium, we were guided around the back of a local leisure complex, featuring a VUE cinema and Hollywood Bowl, offering ample free parking just a 5-minute walk from the ground. A stop at the club shop resulted in the purchase of our matchday scarf and program, totaling £19. The stadium, boasting three substantial stands with a car park behind one of the goals, left me puzzled about leaving such a charming venue.

A pleasant stroll around the stadium exterior led us to a corporate event hosted by Nuffield Health, where both Liam and I were generously given goodie bags, including a teddy for Liam. The absence of queues and security checks made our entrance seamless despite entering with a backpack. Heading to our seats, I realized I had booked two seats next to the dugout, reminiscent of our experience at Derby County. Liam was ecstatic to be so close to the Bolton Wanderers players, offering a perfect view of the pitch and both managers. The most significant drama of the match unfolded as Bolton’s manager and assistant manager engaged in constant arguments with the fourth official, displaying a lack of respect. The game itself was characterized by end-to-end action, with Bolton having the best chances. If not for the heroics of the Oxford keeper, Bolton could easily have clinched the win. At halftime, Liam enjoyed his customary cup of hot chocolate at a reasonable price of £3.

Facing an extremely cold night in Oxford and considering the volume of cars around the stadium, we made the wise decision to leave on the 85th minute, avoiding traffic and reducing our journey time home. This decision proved to be fantastic, as we encountered no issues with traffic, and despite a brief stop to top up the air in the tires, we arrived home in less time than it took us to get to Oxford.

Looking ahead, Matchday 20 will see us visiting Nottingham again, this time with a visit to Meadow Lane, home to Notts County.