Brian Cox R.I.P

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Brian Cox: 1940-2024

Oxford City Football Club is in mourning today following the death of Chairman Brian Cox, aged 83.

Brian was a hugely popular figure in football across Oxfordshire and worked tirelessly for the club.

Having signed for Headington United, Brian was forced to retire as a player aged just 19 but became a successful coach, especially in youth football, coaching hundreds of young footballers for over 25 years with the highlight a win for his City youth side at Wembley in 1995, beating Arlesey before the FA Vase final.

In 2003 he took over as Chairman at City, a role he continued for over 20 years, but he was so much more than that, as Owner Justin Merritt explains:

“Brian was Mr Oxford City, he dedicated much of his life to the club and to football in Oxfordshire and will be sorely missed by everyone associated with Oxford City FC.

Brian would be onsite nearly every day and whether it was watching any type of football, working tirelessly on stadium repairs and jobs or hosting the guests in the Boardroom he would always have a smile or kind word to offer. He guided the club through some difficult times but always with honesty, dignity and an enormous pride in the club’s history and vision for the future.

He had fought very bravely against illness and he will be a huge loss to us as a football club. Our thoughts are with his family.”

The thoughts of everyone connected with Oxford City are with his family and friends at this sad time.

Rest in peace, Brian.

[ChrisB]

Yes indeed, very much Mr Oxford City. Over the past 30 years or so Brian was at the heart of that important group of people who would not let the club disappear from the football map after the loss of The White House ground and were determined to build it up again. He would have been so proud that the club made it all the way from lowly 'rebeginnings' to Step 1.

R.I.P. Brian.

[Rijs]

And not only the loss of the ground in 1988, but also City's near extinction in 2016. I remember speaking to him at a match in Chelmsford early in the 2016/17 season after the tragic death of Colin Taylor, and Brian was worried whether City could continue financially. His period as Chairman saw us rise from the Spartan South Midland to the highest level of non-league football, and maybe it's appropriate that he leaves us just before City play their final game at that level. He was a lovely, humble man with good values, always willing to chat with supporters, and his will be a difficult act to follow.