We had played the previous season at under 17 level which we found hard-going against lads older than us, and this was our second year as youth players - the Oxford City Colts were in the same league as us but were all at the under 17 level.

This was our strongest season and was a big success for the club.

We were brought over to Oxford City under the influence of Ray Elbro and Paul Holden as City didn't have a youth policy and this was seen by the two managers.

At under 16 youth level, the majority of the team had played for Garsington and won the league. However, only two players were actually from Garsington, Graham Wakefield and Steve Parker - and this didn't go down particularly well with the board/committee there. It seemed very short-sighted really, as Garsington in the previous 6 years had always been one of the whipping boys of our league....they got success, and didn't "want" it because it wasn't their lads from the village achieving the success.

So the choice to leave at the end of the under 16 year was made for Ray and Paul - and City were to benefit from Garsington's decision.

The unusual thing about this team was that we had all played against each other from the age of nine. We came from all different teams, and now merged into one, enemies for so many years, we all now had to work together within the same side. Our previous teams ranged from Quarry Boys, Northway, Rose Hill, Summerton Stars, Kennington and Kidlington - we all knew each other and their abilities as so many battles over the years against the same players is something you'll always remember.

During this season we won the Oxford Sunday League and Cup, and also the Allied Midweek Counties League and Cup.

We also had the success of three players making it into the first team of Oxford City during this year, Brian House, Jason Caffell and myself. The following year - the majority of this youth side held their own in the reserves and more players became "regulars" in the first side.

Where are they now?

We are all the wrong side of 30 now - not the same young pups in this picture, full of arrogance thinking we could play for ever, and some have finally realised that there are better things in life to do than playing football.....

Jason Caffell is playing at Witney Town, Brian House ran Abingdon Town reserves for a while, he now manages a different local side in the senior league - I can't for the life of me remember who they are. Matthew Elbro and Russell Irving both played for Worcester College last season against us in the Senior Cup, Jon Ward is having a (permanent?) break to concentrate on his house renovation, but he was player/assistant manager with City reserves last season.

The biggest surprise of the lot is Dean Gordon - he has had the last laugh. Dean was something of a comical figure when playing for us during this time and was often the target of a lot of good natured ribbing and teasing about his ability - or lack of it. He was a clumsy bull of a player, with possibly the worst first touch I have ever seen in my life, and I think that he would admit to that observation now and at the time!

However, he met a girl from Ireland, moved out to live with her, and became a professional footballer over there and has become very successful. Out of all of the players that might have been a success in the game, the one who would have had the longest odds has become the success story.

As I said earlier, the majoirty of this youth team stayed to fight for reserve and first team places, and the last season that we had at the Whitehouse saw seven of us make it to the first team and in one game I think six of us were on the pitch at once. The Colts were only a year behind us, and they had players who could push for places as well - the future looked very bright indeed for the club, but then we have the Keith Mercer, Les Goodchild, Dr. Robert Gasser and Brasenose College saga and the rest is history.

In our inpatience and uncertainty of the future of the team and club status - a lot of decisions had to be made and none were made in time for the start of the season and the players had to make their beds with other clubs. Abingdon Town (and Paul Lee) becoming the main benefactors of City's misfortune. (Wayne Holden, Jason Caffell, Brian House, Jon Ward and myself signing.)

The Battle for the Whitehouse is something that I remember so clearly and vividly, and I had the good fortune to play the last game at the White House ground, but it is an episode that causes such a strong feeling of anger and thoughts of "what could have been".

I will share my thoughts and history of the Battle for the Whitehouse another day.....

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