HE may have scored 18 goals for Oxford United - more than half the club's total for the season - but I for one won't be sorry to see the back of Dean Windass.

The truth of the matter is that Windass no longer wanted to play for United. He and his agent made it clear he wanted to leave - and the last thing the U's need in the dogfight to avoid relegation is a player who doesn't want to play.

In the eight months or so that Windass has been at the Manor he's done remarkably well. But, as I've said previously in this column, his heart has never been with the club.

He's always seen his time at the Manor as a stepping stone to the big-time, though Bradford may not be the place to provide the striker with what he wants - a place on the Premiership stage.

From a financial point of view, United will hope Bradford step up to the Premiership because, if they do, there's another £50,000 due to wing its way to the Manor coffers.

But I'll bet there are many fans who dearly hope Bradford falter and that Deano gets left in limbo.

Better centre forwards than Windass have left Oxford - John Aldridge and Dean Saunders to name but two - and they have always spoken with the fondest regard for their time here.

With Windass I doubt that will be the case.

I hope Windass will be around to face United in Division 1 next season - and that's something I firmly believe will happen.

Even with no money to spend from the sale, United still have the players with enough guts and determination to steer themselves clear of relegation.

Then next season, in addition to a clash with old rivals Swindon, the rallying call can be: 'Bring on Bradford'.

WHEN we talk about top sportspeople, it's usually football, rugby and cricket that grab the headlines. How refreshing then that the major honours in the 1998 Young Sportsperson of the Year in Oxford went to youngsters who have shone in less high-profile sports.

The Young Sportsperson in fact comes from the world of swimming - Oliver Worthington, based at Temple Cowley and ranked the country's number one junior for the 200m indivual medley.

Runner-up is James Henderson, a cyclist from the Oxford University Cycling Club and a gold medallist in British University events.

Third place went to squash player Ben Garner and among merit awards are those to Gavin Pape (sailing), Kevin Bowerman (athletics) and Bryony Shaw (windsurfing).

It all proves that recognition can be obtained in all sorts of sports - and that's something we older sportsmen and women should encourage youngsters to think about.

AS part of the Carnival of Cricket surrounding the 1999 World Cup this summer, Christians in Sport is promoting the 'Church v Pub' Cricket Challenge. Teams drawn largely from local churches will play teams from their local pub or some other non-church local group.

The original idea came from Andrew Wingfield Digby, whose North Oxford church (St Andrews) has already arranged a match against the Woodstock Arms for May 20.

His thinking behind the initiative is that two sections of the community who might rarely meet, get together, build friendships and play the best game in the world - then go back to the pub for a party!

My only thought is that, in the event of a draw or a threat of rain stopping play, will there be some sort of divine intervention?

FRANCE 33, Wales 34 - a welcome, if unlikely, result in the Five Nations championship.

To me it was Bread of Heaven!

Story date: Wednesday 10 March

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.