THESE smartly-dressed boys were on the way to make their mark in the football world. They were members of the successful Oxford Boys’ under-15 team, who fought their way to the final of the English Schools’ Trophy competition in 1966.

We published a picture of some of the 6,062 fans who packed the White House ground in Oxford to see them defeat Luton 2-1 in an enthralling semi-final (Memory Lane, April 14).

Now one of the players, Terry Jeakings, has sent in this picture of the team outside their Sunderland hotel before the quarter final against Seaham in County Durham. Led by team manager Michael Hammett, a teacher at Wheatley Park School, they accounted for High Wycombe, Swindon, Woking, Cambridge and Havant in the early rounds.

They then travelled to Seaham, where they won 2-0 with goals from none other than – Terry Jeakings.

He was brought into the team for his debut an hour before the match and proved to be the match winner.

The right winger was on the spot to slot home a pass from Barry Smith in the 18th minute, then sealed victory by tapping the ball home after David Rockall had hit the post early in the second half.

As a young sports reporter, I was privileged to follow the team throughout the season.

The Seaham victory brought a home tie with Luton in the semi-final, and the White House ground, Oxford City’s former ground off Abingdon Road, has seldom been so full.

Everything looked lost when Luton broke away to take the lead early in the second half, but a calmly-taken penalty by skipper Tony Tompkins signalled Oxford’s comeback.

With 10 minutes left, Stephen Whelan scored after the Luton goalkeeper dropped a cross and from then on, Oxford’s superiority was never in doubt.

The final whistle brought a huge roar from the crowd, which filled every side of the ground.

The first leg of the final at Oxford United’s Manor Ground at Headington attracted even more spectators – 9,062.

Sadly, East London proved too powerful for Oxford, winning the first game 3-2 and the return leg at Millwall 2-1.

Oxford may not have emulated the England team, who lifted the World Cup soon afterwards, but had the satisfaction of recording the team’s finest season since 1908.

Memory Lane this week