Kassam attendance records - the highest

In order, 

12,243: 06 May 2006 - vs Leyton Orient FL2.   away 4,603 = home 7,640

The day we were relegated from the football league.  Orient were given the whole of the North Stand some weeks before when Oxford were seemingly safe. An early goal for United from Eric Sabin was equalised by Craig Easton.  Gary Alexander put Orient 2-1 ahead, before Chris Willmott levelled the score.  Late on, ex United player Lee Steele scored a third to win promotion for Orient, and relegation for United along with Rushden & Diamonds.  United finished with 49 points, Bury, Torquay, Notts County and Stockport were all on 52 points, and a victory for United would have seen them safe. 

12,177: 06 Nov 2002 - vs Aston Villa LCP.  away ???
 
11,963: 03 May 2010 - vs Rushden & Diamonds BSP POS2. away 1,109 = home 10,854

This has the record for the highest number of home fans = 10,854.  The match was the Conference play-off semi-final 2nd leg.  We had drawn the first leg away, but won the second leg, and went on to win the Wembley Play-off 3-1 against York and return to the football league.

11,825: 03 Mar 2012 - vs S***don Town FL2.  away 1,266 = home 10,559
The home tickets had sold out back in November, and the S***don tickets went on sale on the coldest night of the year.  United were down to 10 men early on after James Constable was sent off for an elbow on 10 minutes, but two quick goals from Asa Hall and Oli Johnson put the Yellows 2-0 up after 16 minutes.  With two banks of four, and Scott Rendell up front on his own, United defended resolutely on to claim victory, doing the double over S***don Town, and ending their 10 match winning streak.  

11,673 10 Jan 2016 - vs Swansea City, FAC 3rd round.  away 1,429 = home 10,244
United won 3-2 after going one nil down early on to Jefferson Montero, before a Liam Sercombe penalty on half time drew us level, and two second half goals from Kemar Roofe took us 3-1 up, before Swansea pulled one back to leave a nervy last 25 minutes.

11,647 30 Jan 2016 - vs Blackburn Rovers, FAC 4th round.  away 1,485 = home 10,162
United won 3-2 after going one nil down early on to Jefferson Montero, before a Liam Sercombe penalty on half time drew us level, and two second half goals from Kemar Roofe took us 3-1 up, before Swansea pulled one back to leave a nervy last 25 minutes.

11,645: 08 Dec 2002 - vs S***don Town FAC. away ???

11,121: 26 Dec 2001 - vs Luton Town FL2. away 2,646 = home 8,475

11,065: 26 Dec 2006 - vs Woking BSP. away 306 = home 10,759

10,691: 08 May 2007 - vs Exeter City BSP POS2. away 1,000 (Exeter's estimate) = home Est 9,691 
This was the second leg of the Conference play-off semi-finals.  United had won the first leg 1-0, and were 1-0 up after 27 minutes in the second leg, before Exeter drew one back before half time.  Rob Duffy missed a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Exeter took the scores level over the fixture, and the game went to extra time and penalties.  The match report says differently, but I think we hit the post on three of our spot kicks, and we were left to rot with another three years in the Conference.  Exeter went on to win the play-offs, and indeed were also promoted to League One whilst United remained in the BSP.

10,613: 08 Sep 2009 - vs Luton Town BSP. away 2,331 = home 8,282
Luton Town had been relegated three years in succession, and were now in their first year in the Conference, having had 30 points deducted the season before.  Oxford were no longer the only 'big' team in non-league.  Shortly into the season, Luton were the visitors on a Tuesday night to the Kassam stadium, apparently with many of their supporters unable to get into the match.  Early on, United won a penalty, but it was parried away, however the ball was soon back in the Luton area for James Constable to knock in.  

Jamie Cook, resigned by United the week before, scored a cracker, but this was the highlight of his season.    

10,298: 26 Apr 2009 - vs Northwich Victoria BSP. away 119 = home 10,179
The last game of the season, and Oxford were hoping for a miracle to reach the BSP play-offs, having had a five point deduction earlier in the season.  United needed a win and for other results to go in their favour.  However, the game was lost 2-1, with a pitch invasion marring the game.  Visiting goalkeeper Ryan Clarke gave a thumbs up to the home crowd at the end of the game, and would soon be signing as United's first choice goalkeeper.    

10,049 26 December 2013 - vs Plymouth Argyle.  FL2.  away 699 = home 9,350
Promoted by the club as "The Big Match", it ended up as a big disappointment.  After an even but uneventful scoreless first half, the Us conceded within 45 seconds of the restart, with a shot that Ryan Clarke watched shoot into the far corner to his left.  Asa Hall briefly put us level with a long range shot into the goal in front of the Oxford Mail stand.  Another defensive mix-up saw us 2-1 down, and once Dave Kitson gave away a penalty and it was 3-1 it was very much game over.  A late own goal on 88 minutes gave United a spectre of hope, but there was not enought time to force the equaliser. 

10,138:  2 Feb 2016 vs Millwall, LCP area final 2nd leg.

9,559 16 Feb 2016 vs Northampton.  L2.   away 1943 = home7616

9,870: 24 Sep 2003 - vs Reading LCP.  away ???

9,683 26 Dec 2015 vs Exeter.  away 547 = home 9,136

9,477: 26 Dec 2003 - vs Leyton Orient FL2. away 635 = home 8,842

9,440: 28 Dec 2010 - vs Macclesfield Town FL2. away 86 = home 9,354

Promoted by Bridle Insurance.  

Highest number of home fans in a conference match (incc play-offs) = 10,854 vs Rushden 
Highest number of home fans in a conference match (excl play-offs) = 10,759 vs Woking, 26 Dec 2006
Highest number of home fans in a league match = 10,559 vs Swindon Town

Highest number of home fans in an FA Cup match = 10,244 vs Swansea

Highest number of home fans in a League Cup match = ???

Luton Oxford February 2010

This was the game fans had been looking forward to all season from the moment the fixture list was announced. After the home victory, the anticipation had been rising all year. The threats and intimidation on the Outlaws site. Scarfers and casuals, young and old : all equally at risk. The weeks before the game rumours and talk galore:- trains to Dunstable, what time at St Pancras?, reconnaisance trips, coaches and minibuses.

The day of the match, the Outlaws "spotters" updating from every pub, pizzahut and service station within a 10 mile radius. The "it's kicked off in town with a glassing" thread at around 3pm.

Getting off the train in Luton: police everywhere, horses, riot vans - from about 5 different forces. Kebab shops, gold shops, sari shops, Halal butchers, an old cinema converted into an evangelical church. Small groups of lads circling the shops and parades near to the ground, making frantic phone calls.

The walk down Beech Hill Path to the away entrance. Hoodies lurking in the shadows. Rows of dilapidated terraced houses, huge piles of rubbish and bin bags in the front gardens, more rubbish and an old toilet in the back garden could be seen through a broken down panel fence.

Getting stopped and checked for tickets before entering a police cordon just to get in the queue to get in the ground. A strange entrance, squeezed in between the houses on the Oak Road. Another half hour wait, everyone gets searched before getting into the ground. Climbing what seemed to be an old steel fire escape steps to get into the Oak Road stand.

Constable, Murray, Cook and 2 others who were not in the squad sat in the segregation netting at the top to sit right up close to where the wildest Luton fans would be in the Main Stand. Were they sure about this?

Remnants of the old plastic pitch still being used surrounding the pitch. The "Executive Stand" being ludicrously small with a few boxes and 2 rows of seats in front, netting high above the stand to stop balls from straying into the gardens behind. An old goalmouth stacked up in the remains of the terracing to one side in the Kenilworth Road End.

Long before kick-off, songs ringing around the Oak Road end, a traditional deep terrace with a low metal barrel shaped roof, although now all seater, not that anyone was bothering to sit down.

Adam Chapman taking out Happy Harry the Luton mascot with a slide tackle from behind to win the ball. Harry offering Chappers an opportunity to discuss matters further outside.

Players warming up and taking pot shots at the goal in front of us. A woman getting smacked in the mouth by a loose shot. The programme seller positioned right behind the goal net, with every shot into the goal threatening to burst the back of the net and whack him on the back or the head.

The players and managers and coaches emerging from the main stand, before crossing the whole pitch over to the dug-outs by the Executive Stand.

The first 20 minutes played at full pelt by both sides. Stevenage going behind at Mansfield to put Oxford back at the top of the league. Luton going close with a shot against the post, quickly followed by Clarke punching another away with one fist.

People still arriving into the ground half an hour in. The strange feeling in recent years of being at an away ground more than outnumbered by the 7,000 home fans, all squeezed into a ground where the stands are no more than a few yards from the pitch, three sides all with low rooves to echo the noise around. EIEIO; my garden shed; sh!t ground no fans; Chrissy Wilder's yellow army; Give me an O; We are top of the league; Chris Wilder My Lord; Oh Swindon Town; Small town in Watford.

Luton fans: Bounce in a minute; Pussi Pussi. They had lots more songs, but we didn’t hear any over the sound of our own. 

Half time entertainment as ex-United player Nelthorpe warms up in front of the Oxford fans, firing a few loose shots into the crowd.

Deering off for Matt Green, who was soon sending the U's fans into delirium with 15 minutes to go. Police immediately sent to the front of the Oak Road stand to watch for any trouble from the Oxford fans. The delight of shouting down the Luton fans: Top of the League; Staying Down.

The Luton fans then pushing and fighting amongst themselves. Were there Oxford fans in amongst them? Was the bloke with the white hat/hoodie leading it? Steward and police in riot gear trying to restore order. A riot helmet being removed and thown around the crowd by the Luton fans in the top corner.

Chapman on for Potter, then with 2 minutes of normal time, Fran Green on for Midson - surely the time for Creighton at the back?

And then 5 minutes of injury time at 9:33. A draw might be fair as Luton had deserved their chances. One goal down from a corner. The Luton fans go wild, checking our watches at 9:38, surely that must be it. The ref checks his watch three times, but there is time for one last corner.

Keane scores direct from the corner with the last kick of the game, the Luton fans roar and bounce. The Oxford are in stunned silence, looking at each other in amazement, as if a small child has just kicked us in the shins and stolen an ice cream and run off.

Was it as bad as relegation against Leyton Orient? Then it just seemed inevitable as a win was needed and we were only drawing as the end of the match approached.

As bad as the play-off semi final 2nd leg against Exeter? After Duffy had fluffed a one-on-one with the goalie, again it seemed it would never be our night.

As disappointing as the game against Northwich? It ended that the play-offs were out of our hands anyway, and the defeat was a disappointing end to a cracking 2nd half of the season.

So yes, it did seem worse than all three of those games. The worry that not only are Stevenage and York breathing down our necks, but Luton might be up for the challenge too.

Slowly waiting to file out in silence, not even looking over to see the ecstatic Luton fans, the players celebrating as if they had won the title in one match.

An Oxford beanie hat dropped in the seats, or had it been thrown their in despair? 

Alsations and dog handlers in every other front garden on the Oak Road. The slow walk back to the station through the stationary traffic and Luton scarfers. Car horns beeping from all around town. Throngs of people from both sets of fans walking alongside each other in the same direction so you were not sure who was from which side. The wail of police sirens as the police vans made their way to the station.

Overall, a memorable night.