This is an Oxford Times editorial from the newspaper's politics reporter Ed Halford.
Manchester United first came into existence when workers from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway came together to form a football club in 1878.
Back then, it was known as Newton Heath LYR but by 1902 the club was given a name by which millions across the world would recognise it by.
Shortly after this landmark, the club moved into Old Trafford.
A stadium associated with Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham’s free kicks and Paul Pogba’s changing haircuts.
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Oxford United also was conceived in the late 19th century and was given a less familiar name to start with.
The United football players became known as the “the boys from over the hill” and was initially known as Headington United.
Oxford United did spend time in division one (now known as the Premier League) and experienced glory in the golden years in 1980s and 1990s which fans can fondly look back at.
But the club has never had anywhere it can call its permanent home.
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Unlike Manchester United, there is nowhere you can easily identify as the heart and soul of Oxford United.
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Before the Kassam Stadium there was the Manor Ground, but this has since been converted into a private hospital because it didn’t have the capacity to be an all-seater stadium.
Since United moved into Kassam Stadium in 2001, the side experienced a period of financial insecurity and the lease for this stadium is set to run out in 2026.
But thankfully the new owners have given the fans something to cheer about: the opportunity to move into a new ground which can be called home.
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A stadium which the club owns outright.
The proposed site, called ‘the Triangle’, has caused controversy, but ambitious projects are lucky if they avoid the predictable backlash from homeowners worried about how changes may impact them.
Will they struggle to get out of their drive on the weekend because Away fans have skirted off to the pub, is a nagging question in residents’ minds.
Or will their evening Countryfile TV time be interrupted by fans chanting “We are top of the league, we are top of the league”?
If you can overlook the familiar complaints surrounding football stadiums, then this new stadium provides the club with an ideal opportunity to create a place which will bring together the community.
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Councillor Arash Fatemian said the stadium would allow fans to meet up in pubs before fans decide to stroll over together and hedge bets on the final score.
The economy is bound to get a significant boost and the stadium would provide a new venue where world renowned music artists can come to sing to thousands of people.
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Yes, there will be teething problems when the construction is taking place and dust is flying about, but a football stadium is more than just a place to watch your favourite player whack in a hattrick.
It’s a social hub for the community and brings together different generations.
Young fans may soon get bored of hearing their granddad natter “well, back in my day” for the ninth time but a new stadium is a chance for a renewed buzz of optimism to return to a club which has experienced a dreadful season on the pitch.
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About the author
To sign up to Ed's weekly Politics newsletter, click here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/newsletters/
Ed specialises in writing political stories for the Oxford Mail and The Oxford Times.
He joined in the team in February 2023, after completing a History undergraduate degree at the University of York and studying for his NCTJ diploma in London.
Ed’s weekly politics newsletter is released every Saturday morning.
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