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 at Oxford City Football Club are with Brian's family and friends at this difficult time.

Rest in peace, Brian.