James Roberts

Freelance journalist @MailSport, @FourFourTwo, @Flashscorecom & others | Prev. page editor @DExpress_Sport & reporter @OxfordMailOUFC | Pod: @behindthe_badge

[James Roberts @JamesR_95]

Why Norway are the 2026 World Cup dark horses... and they don't even need to rely on Erling Haaland

https://t.co/DFcf2gx7HI

[Behind The Badge @behindthe_badge]

Who would have thought that two #oufc goalkeepers from the 2011-12 season in League Two would be first choice for their country at the 2026 World Cup!

🇦🇷 Emi Martinez (Argentina)
🇳🇿 Max Crocombe (New Zealand - currently playing against England)

[FourFourTwo @FourFourTwo]

Pre-season predictions are always fraught with danger - and the 2025/26 campaign demonstrated that as clearly as ever. https://t.co/F1mdcHsZED

[FourFourTwo @FourFourTwo]

👨 Life begins at 40 - just ask Edin Dzeko

🙌 The ex-Man City forward has had a season to remember

🤝 In January, the Bosnia and Herzegovina skipper joined Schalke 04 on a free transfer, scoring on his debut

⬆️ He scored six in his first eight appearances, putting the former Bundesliga giants on the cusp of promotion back to the top flight

🇧🇦 Then, in March, shortly after turning 40, Dzeko scored in Bosnia's World Cup play-off semi-final against Wales, before going through on penalties

💪 Bosnia famously beat Italy in the ensuing World Cup play-off decider, booking their place at this summer's tournament

🎥 Dzeko and his Bosnia teammates went out that night, with the veteran striker live-streaming the celebrations in Sarajevo during the small hours of the morning

⏳ But, his campaign wasn't done yet

✅ Schalke were still vying for promotion - and Dzeko helped them clinch it

🎊 With Bundesliga football secured, the squad went to Marbella, with Dzeko front-and-centre of the celebrations again

😆 Naturally, the team lost their next match against Nurnberg, but it hardly mattered

🏆 This summer, Dzeko will lead his country at the FIFA World Cup, 12 years after their first and most recent appearance at the Finals as an independent nation

👏 Takes some beating, that

🔗 https://t.co/2bQa6vELrj

[FourFourTwo @FourFourTwo]

The Premier League relegation battle may go down to the wire...but it's nothing compared to what's happening in Spain. ¡Dios mio!

https://t.co/DCd88XstmW

[James Roberts @JamesR_95]

You've probably heard enough about 2006 after Orient plastered it all over here yesterday, but Chris offered some great insight into why that season went so wrong for #oufc.

[Behind The Badge @behindthe_badge]

ICYMI: Make sure you catch our pod with Chris Hargreaves!

⏰ Alarm bells after joining #oufc
🦅 A rude awakening for Jim Smith
🤯 Baffling build-up to the Orient game
🗣️ The comment that led to his exit
🏆 His triumphant return in 2010

Listen here👇
https://t.co/XXJA2pSctJ

[Behind The Badge @behindthe_badge]

*NEW POD*

Our episode with former #oufc captain Chris Hargreaves is out now!

Spotify: https://t.co/wZe4buPdzz

Apple: https://t.co/2jFElCKFVo

Amazon Music: https://t.co/7F5ofi5YFK

Acast: https://t.co/KAynfgZBhu

[Behind The Badge @behindthe_badge]

Don’t miss our pod with former #oufc captain Chris Hargreaves!

Chris spoke with typical honesty about the club’s relegation from the Football League in 2006, including the return of legendary former boss Jim Smith as manager.

Listen to the full pod tomorrow 🔜

[Behind The Badge @behindthe_badge]

Wednesday marks 20 years since arguably the darkest day in #oufc history: relegation out of the Football League.

We spoke to Chris Hargreaves, one of the key figures of that team, and he didn’t hold back with his views on the state of the club in that era.

Listen on Wednesday!

[Behind The Badge @behindthe_badge]

It didn’t go too badly the last time #oufc went to Millwall for their final away game of the season.

Two sweet strikes from Conor McAleny and a Josh Ruffels header earned a 3-0 win at The Den in 2017 🎯

📹 YouTube/Millwall FC

[James Roberts @JamesR_95]

@roller1004 Exactly 👍

[James Roberts @JamesR_95]

Relegation doesn’t change the long-term aim for #oufc: establishing ourselves as a stable Championship club playing in a stadium we own. Let’s hope the last hurdle for the new stadium is cleared soon and we can go into next season full of positivity again.

[Behind The Badge @behindthe_badge]

Whether #oufc are down or not come 3pm tomorrow, let’s hope the game is as entertaining as the last time they beat Sheffield Wednesday at home.

Sam Winnall’s header secured a 3-2 win in January 2022 - plenty of feeling in that celebration 👊

📹 YouTube/Oxford United Official

[James Roberts @JamesR_95]

@MeloYelo18 The most frustrating thing for me is that with other clubs’ points deductions and the generally poor standard of the league, we should have had enough to survive. This relegation has been mostly self-inflicted

[James Roberts @JamesR_95]

Gave ourselves too much to do and ran out of steam, which I guess is what happens if you play the same (young) starting XI every game. Underlines how the summer window and shambolic Indonesia tour let us down - began the season undercooked and playing catch-up from day one. #oufc

[James Roberts @JamesR_95]

@robmitchell_5 There was talk of the budget being reduced mid-window due to the new stadium uncertainty, which makes sense as we signed only loans after BDK/Spencer. Tbf to Rowett, he spoke about the squad lacking quality/balance even before the window shut so not sure how much influence he had

[FourFourTwo @FourFourTwo]

🌍 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Leicester City 2016

🏆 The Premier League title-winning Foxes squad have all gone their separate ways since their unlikeliest of triumphs a decade ago

🦵 While some are still playing, enjoying the twilight of their careers in far-flung destinations, others have gone quietly into retirement

👇 Discover what Fuchs, Okazaki, Simpson, Schmeichel, Vardy, Mahrez and co are up to nowadays

https://t.co/V6DbdJBFmO

[Behind The Badge @behindthe_badge]

It’s surely win or bust for #oufc tonight, but maybe there’s a good omen...

Eight years ago today, Karl Robinson’s side were also battling the drop when they went to Doncaster in League One - and James Henry’s header secured a vital 1-0 win 🫡

📹 YouTube/Oxford United Official

[Behind The Badge @behindthe_badge]

Happy Milk Cup day!

It’s 40 years since Hebberd, Houghton & Charles, Jim Rosenthal’s hat, “That’s three, and that’s victory!”, Ken Fish, and when Shotts went up to lift the cup.

Goalkeeper Alan Judge joined us on our latest pod - find it here👇

https://t.co/gc8lRmRobj #oufc

[Behind The Badge @behindthe_badge]

What we wouldn’t give for a smash-and-grab 1-0 win tomorrow...

#oufc did exactly that against Derby back in October 1992, when Paul Reece had the game of his life and John Durnin scored a brilliant late winner 😍

Who remembers this one?

📹 YouTube/OUFC Archive