To mark Oxford United’s 125th season, we are looking back at what made the news this week in three of the club's promotion-winning campaigns.

1964

INSIDE forward Arthur Longbottom is ill with virus pneumonia and may be out for the start of the season.

Longbottom is confined to bed in his High Wycombe home and will not be back at the Manor Ground for at least another ten days.

Cyril Beavon is also a doubt for the pre-season game at Watford due to a strained Achilles tendon.

Despite temperatures approaching the 30s, United held a practice match on the Magdalen College ground yesterday afternoon, but tonight the players will be playing cricket again, against Pressed Steel at the Horspath Road ground, starting at 6.15pm.

1984

STEVE Biggins has rejected the chance to join Third Division Plymouth Argyle.

The Oxford United striker, who set a club record last season by scoring 24 goals, was the subject of a £25,000 bid from the Devon side last week.

United manager Jim Smith was prepared to release the 30-year-old, but Biggins’ personal terms caused Plymouth to ask for a lower fee.

And yesterday Plymouth manager John Hore received a call from Biggins, currently with the United party at Stowe School in Buckingham, with the news that he had decided not to move.

1995

FORMER Manchester City and England Under 21 international Andy May has arrived on trial and was immediately included in the team to face West Ham at the Manor.

The midfielder was released at the end of last season by First Division Millwall.

United’s director of football, Denis Smith, who was his boss at Bristol City, discussed May’s form and state of fitness on the phone with Millwall manager Mick McCarthy and decided to go for him.

Whether May is offered a full contract depends to a large degree on how he performs against the Hammers.

Smith said: “He’s one idea I have for us, but until I’ve seen the idea in action I can’t say whether I’ll be signing him.”