THE end, when it came, was not how anyone could have imagined it.

And it was to be a sorry way for one of Oxford United’s most-loved to bow out in 2002.

Joey Beauchamp had been struggling with a toe injury for months, but was forced to admit defeat in his battle to play professional football again.

Having produced some fine displays under Malcolm Shotton that nearly saw him go back into the Premier League with Southampton, Beauchamp was faced with another manager who he knew he would struggle to win over when Mark Wright was appointed Oxford boss.

And sure enough, he was right.

“It seemed like he had it in for me and Paul Powell from the word go,” Beauchamp said.

“We were the local boys, who he maybe felt had it easy because all the fans loved us.”

But it was Beauchamp’s injury that Wright had the biggest problem with.

“My toe had been getting progressively worse over the years,” he said.

“Being so left-footed with all the twisting and turning had taken its toll and my toe was agony.

“I was having pain-killers and injections before, during and after games just to get me through.

“It was so painful that I told him there was no chance I could play in one match and he came out in the paper on the Monday and slaughtered me.

“He said that I had stubbed my toe, or something and couldn’t play – and said he’d never known anyone not play because of it before.”

Beauchamp admitted that he was in disbelief when he saw the comments.

“I saw it and didn’t know what to say,” he added.

“I was waiting for him to apologise to me about it, but he never did.”

It was to be one of the last real dealings the duo had before Wright’s dismissal from United.

And when Ian Atkins took over, Beauchamp was optimistic of better things.

“Everyone was saying to me that he couldn’t wait for me to get back which was a huge boost,” he said.

“I remember that I had trained – in pain – all week before the Exeter game.

“I had a fitness test on the morning of the game and the manager came over and asked me how I was.

“I was desperate to play and told him I was fine, even though it was really hurting me.

“I didn’t have the greatest game, but obviously was very rusty because I hadn’t played for so long.

“I scored a goal, most people remember it as a long-range spectacular one, but to be honest, the keeper should have saved it.

“But then it all went wrong.”

Beauchamp did not make another appearance for Oxford United.

“I was on the bench for a few games, but never got on,” he said.

“I called myself Mr Invisible because he would look at the bench and tell the other players to go and warm up, but never me.

“I just laughed at it after a while because there was no point in me being there.

“It wasn’t how it should have ended, but with my toe getting worse and worse, I just couldn’t play again.”

TOMORROW: LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL