DAVID Horseman was among several Oxford United fans who had the very real dilemma of completing the London Marathon before legging it across the capital to make the Milk Cup final.

It was the first time the two events had clashed, but for the former bank employee from Chipping Norton decided there was no way he would miss either.

After completing the marathon in just over three hours, Mr Horseman sat in his tracksuit with his medal proudly around his neck.

The 61-year-old, who is now retired, received some rather bemused looks from fellow U’s fans before his medal was promptly passed along nearby supporters.

“People were thinking ‘what is this guy doing’,” he said.

“One or two clocked what I had done and my medal was passed along the row I was sat in and the one behind.

“I thought ‘I hope someone doesn’t take off with it’.”

He added: “I put my tracksuit over the top of my shorts, but I probably still had the socks and training shoes on.

“The poor people sat behind me might have got a whiff, but I was very glad to eventually get home and have a shower.”

After enjoying United’s passage to the final, the prospect of completing the marathon and making it to Wembley suddenly dawned on Mr Horseman.

With the race starting at 9.30am from Blackheath, the die-hard U’s fan managed to cross the line in an impressive time of 3hrs 1min 30secs.

After picking up his goodie bag, Mr Horseman dashed to find his change of clothes which were stored on double-decker buses.

And after getting the train to Wembley tube station where he had left his car, he arrived at the stadium an hour before kick-off.

Horseman, who had never been to Wembley before, said: “It was not as much of a rush as I had worried about.

“You have nightmares about not being able to find your kit, but it was a real special day.

“It was like all your birthdays had come at once.”

Despite just running the marathon, he then drove home and celebrated the best way he knew how.

“I sat in the pub with my medal and an Oxford United scarf round my neck and a silly grin on my face.”

  • PAUL Scaysbrook was faced with a rather frantic dash across London after completing the London Marathon in his wheelchair.

Embarking on his sixth marathon, Paul, who was born with spina bifida – a condition where the spine does not develop properly – crossed in 4hrs 21mins.

Because it had been raining and he stopped for an interview with Bob Wilson, it was one of the Abingdon residents slowest times, leading to a hectic trip to Wembley with his wife Sharon, mother Hazel and brother Steve.

The 52-year-old explained: “Steve was getting in a stress and when I was getting late he was getting a panic on.

“It put pressure getting across London to Wembley in time.

“We got talking to someone and he was a journalist.

“He offered us a lift in his car and speeded up our journey to Wembley.

“To this day I do not know his name and he said he would take us three stations down and it shaved half an hour off our journey.

“We arrived at Wembley and the taxi driver refused to stop where the stewards were and said ‘I have got a disabled man’.

“We got there ten minutes before half-time and somebody was sat in our seats so we had to get the stewards involved.

“Eventually we saw the win.”

  • NOT every Oxford United fan who completed the London Marathon that day was able to make it to the big game at Wembley.

But Peter Ladbrook, former general secretary and now life-vice president of the Oxfordshire FA, did get to meet a well-known comedian.

“I remember the day very well,” said the Cowley resident.

“Firstly because I was unfortunately unable to attend and secondly for a very good reason.

“I was running in the London Marathon, my first successful application, where I managed to complete the course in 4 hours 12 minutes.

“The only assistance I had was covering part of the course running along and talking to Rod Hull, who was running in his emu costume.

“At least Emu didn’t try to bite me (like Michael Parkinson).

“I am sure if it had I would have run a lot faster!”

Ladbrook raised money for the Oxfordshire FA Benevolent Fun, which assisted players financially when they are unable to work due to injury.

Witney Gazette:

Stewart Pether wearing his Milk Cup final T-shirt and Oxford United rosette

  • STEWART Pether was suitably dressed for the London MarathonMilk Cup final double header as he donned an Oxford United T-shirt and rosette to mark what turned out to be a special day.

After waking up at 5.30am and driving to Wembley Stadium from his home in Abingdon, he arrived at the start line by a combination of tube and train journeys.

It turned out to be a memorable day for him, even more so than another noteworthy date in his life.

He said: “It poured with rain for the first half of the race, but miraculously the sun came out at the halfway point crossing Tower Bridge.

“I finished just after 1pm and beneath my foil blanket, had a short rest, ate my Mars bar, changed and headed for Wembley, taking the tube from Westminster.

“I took my seat at approximately 2.15 and missed all the prematch entertainment, but the atmosphere was amazing when the match kicked off at 2.30.

“Oxford were brilliant and thoroughly deserved their 3-0 victory.

“I told my wife that it was the best day of my life, which seemed to upset her for some reason!”

  • Pick up a copy of today's Oxford Mail for the full 48-page Milk Cup supplement