OXFORD United are mourning the death of their record goalscorer Graham Atkinson, who has died at the age of 73.

The former inside forward had been suffering with cancer and passed away during the morning of January 5.

Atkinson scored 107 goals over a 15-year period, netting 77 times in the league.

A statement from United says the club are “deeply saddened to report the death of one of their all-time greatest players.

“The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Graham’s family at this sad time.”

Atkinson signed for the U’s, then Headington United, in 1959 and was a key player in their rise to the Football League three years later.

He made his debut against Chelmsford City in the Southern League in September of that year, becoming their youngest player and scorer at 16 years and 108 days.

His more famous elder brother Ron, who went on to manage Manchester United, holds the record for the most appearances in an Oxford United shirt with 561 starts.

Former teammate Ken Skeen, who played alongside Graham for about seven years, said: “He was a great man and a great footballer, who I was proud to call my best mate, even after all these years.

“I am glad I came to Oxford and got the chance to know him.

“He was a true gentleman, who was at the heart of Oxford United for many years and he will be missed by everyone.”

Born in Birmingham on May 17, 1943, Graham Atkinson started on the groundstaff at Aston Villa and played at junior level for the club and Birmingham City.

After his move to United with Ron, he was selected for Oxfordshire in the County Youth Championship and the Southern League representative side.

He left the U’s in 1974 to join Kettering Town, while he also spent time on loan at Cambridge United in 1963.

Atkinson lived in Oxfordshire for most of his life with wife Jenni before moving from Standlake to Pembrokeshire in 2004.

The club say a minute’s silence will be held in his honour at a forthcoming game.

Atkinson never expected to still be topping Oxford United’s goalscoring charts.
Netting 107 goals in 398 appearances, the Birmingham-born inside forward has led the rankings since he left the club in 1974.
The closest anyone has come to equalling or breaking Atkinson’s record is James Constable, who was just a goal short of the haul when released by United in 2014.
Speaking a year earlier, he had admitted to only recently becoming aware of his record and had predicted United’s then No 9 to break it.
In an interview with the Oxford Mail in 2013, he said: “I was surprised when somebody mentioned it to me a few years ago, because I didn’t realise I had it.
“I never counted it or thought about how many goals I’d scored, that never came into it, but it’s a nice thing to have.
“James should do it, I would have thought he will.
“It’s lasted a while. I hope he does it quickly so I’ll be able to see it, because I’m getting on a bit now!”
Atkinson was also the first Oxford player to score against Swindon Town, netting in a 1-1 draw in 1968, and in the Football League, against Barrow in 1962.

  •  WE invite you to send in your memories of Graham Atkinson by emailing sportsdesk@oxfordmail.co.uk.