By RUSSELL SMITH MEMORIES of many a clash between Wycombe Wanderers and Oxford City in years gone by have been rekindled by this Saturday's FA Cup tie between the two clubs.

The clubs met regularly in the Isthmian League when crowds of 6,000-plus flocked to their Boxing Day games.

The last time the two old rivals met in the FA Cup was almost exactly 40 years ago to the day, with Wycombe winning a fourth qualifying round tie 1-0 in front of 5,994 at Loakes Park on October 31, 1959. Cliff Trott grabbed the winner.

And it's 14 years since the last competitive game between the two clubs when Wycombe again triumphed 1-0, this time in the Isthmian League's Hitachi Cup semi-final at Loakes Park, with a Terry Glynn strike dividing the teams.

By coincidence, City's current manager Paul Lee played in that game after being signed by the then City boss John Maskell just hours before the kick-off. And this week, Maskell got together with his assistant at the time, Ian Rundle, who went on to take over the hot-seat at the White House Ground, and Lee at Court Place Farm to reminisce over old times and look forward to Saturday's first-round tie at Adams Park.

However, it wasn't the Hitachi Cup tie which Lee remembered, but an eight-goal Isthmian League thriller between the two clubs at Loakes Park on April 5, 1980 when Wanderers triumphed 5-3.

"Bobby Moore was our manager and we lost 5-3, and I scored a couple of goals," said Lee. "I scored 36 goals that year, which was the last year with Bobby Moore."

Maskell and Rundle's memories of City-Wycombe clashes go back even further.

Ironically, Maskell, who went on to become the longest-serving and arguably the finest goalkeeper in Wycombe's history, made his City debut against Wanderers in an Isthmian League encounter at a snow-covered White House Ground on Boxing Day, 1962.

"I can remember it like yesterday," said Maskell, now 56 and living at Toot Baldon where he manages the local Sunday League side. "I think Jack Woodley scored for us and the equaliser was by my old friend Ian Rundle, who scored an own goal.

"It was snowy and he was under pressure and he knocked it past me, and the game finished 1-1."

Rundle, now 55 and living in Wheatley, said: "I don't remember it, to be honest. They were just games."

And he joked of the own goal: "We did that on a fairly regular basis - they were always good ones!"

Maskell moved to Wycombe after a couple of seasons at City, and was followed there by centre back Rundle, who spent around ten years at the Bucks club. They became affectionately known as the 'Oxford Mafia' with another Oxon-based player, Mick Holifield, who went on to play 412 games for the Blues in the 70s.

Maskell made 616 appearances for Wanderers - a record for a goalkeeper and second only to striker Tony Horseman for the club - during a memorable 15-year playing career. His finest hour was probably when Wycombe came up against first division leaders Middlesbrough, managed by Jack Charlton, in the third round of the Cup in 1975.

Boro were held to a 0-0 draw in front of 12,000 at Loakes Park and only won the replay 1-0 at a 30,000-strong Ayresome Park to a late goal after Maskell had kept them in the game with an oustanding performance.

Centre half Rundle, who made 347 appearances for the club, moved on to play for Witney Town for two seasons before becoming manager of Flackwell Heath.

He then returned to Wycombe where Maskell was managing the reserves, before following him to City.

And although Maskell, who was a goalkeeping coach for Lee while he was Abingdon Town manager, and Rundle have strong affinities with both clubs, they will both be rooting for City on Saturday. Maskell, who may not attend the game due to other commitments, said: "If I do go, I will have split emotions, but I think I always go for the underdogs. I always like to see the smaller teams do well."

And Rundle, who hadn't even thought of going to the game, added: "Everyone has got a chance.

"I would like to see City beat them."

Story date: Thursday 28 October

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