Mick Woodley, who was instrumental in the rebirth of Oxford City in 1990, after two years in the wilderness, has retired as club chairman after 13 years at the helm.

A former City youth and reserve player Woodley, 65, did not get involved in an official capacity until City were evicted from their White House Ground by landlords Brasenose College in 1988.

The club did not play a game for two years, but after an exhaustive fund-raising effort in which they attracted sponsorship from Woodley's former employers Unipart, the club started playing again in the South Midland League Division 1, with Woodley taking over as chairman.

City first played at Cutteslowe Park, and Pressed Steel, before moving to their present home, Court Place Farm, in 1993.

Woodley, a member of the Ryman League management committee, said: "The board have known about it for three weeks, but the news wasn't announced to the players until Friday at the presentation night.

"I'm going to have a rest, relax a bit.

"I think the biggest achievement was getting the ground at Court Place Farm opened in 1993, when we beat Oxford United in our first friendly.

"We had to fight a long legal battle to get it built after the Secretary of State, Michael Howard, called the application in.

"Other highlights include reaching the FA Vase final in 1995 (they lost 2-1 to Arlesey), and the FA Cup saga with Wycombe Wanderers in 1999 (when City eventually went out 1-0 after a first-round second replay).

"Since becoming chairman, I have given Oxford City absolute commitment and have missed just two games of more than 650 played.

"From absolutely nothing, the club now has some of the best non-league facilities in the county, and I retire knowing that today Oxford City has a lot more going for it than when I took over.

"It would be foolish for me to believe that I won't miss all the involvement. But it will be a great relief for the first time in many years, not to have what has been an almost sole responsibility to raise most of the money."

Woodley, who was made a life president by the club, said he was unhappy about the way non-league football was being run.