Match Preview | Marine FC v Oxford City FC
City kick off their National League North campaign away in Merseyside.
Opening day is upon us as The Hoops are faced with a 352 mile-round trip to Marine FC.
After a successful Pre-Season, Oxford City travel to Marine for the first time as they prepare to kick-off their Vanarama National League North season.
It's a big occasion for the host's too, Marine taste NLN action for the first time in their history following promotion from Step 3 last season. In front of a big crowd, this will be no easy outing for City.
Comfortable victories against Braintree Town, Didcot Town and Barry Town United along with significant tests against the likes of Oxford United and Sutton United have left the Hoops in a good place ahead of the big kick-off.
Marine have had a fair outing in their pre-season as well. They enjoyed wins against Huddersfield Town and Vauxhall Motors, whilst battling for draws against Bootle FC and Hyde United.
City Manager Sam Cox has welcomed a host of new faces into the squad with a number of new faces in line to make their debuts for the club.
The last time City won on the opening day was back in 2020/21 when they beat Bath City 2-0. Can City secure their first win since then in the inaugural curtain-raiser.
Everything is set ahead of our trip to Merseyside, it’s almost time for the big kick off...
FIXTURE DETAILS
Marine FC v Oxford City FC
National League North
Rossett Park - Saturday 10th August - 15:00
Referee: Alexander Beckett Assistants: Andrew Daniels & Declan O'Reily | Fourth Official: Thomas Swift
HAVE WE MET BEFORE?
As you would expect, this is the first time that these two sides face each other.
Last season, the two clubs were two divisions apart. Last season, Marine won promotion from the Northern Premier League after battling through the play-offs to beat Macclesfield 1-2 against the odds.
Marine had a famous FA Cup run in 2020/21 in which they met Tottenham Hotspur in the third round, going on to lose 0-5 in the biggest mis-match in the competition's history.
Gareth Bale was one of the players in a star-studded line-up that day. Now, fans will be treated to Zac McEachran's mazy runs. They're similar, right?
ONE TO WATCH - Finlay Sinclair-Smith
Earning himself the Northern Premier League Young Player of the Year award (twice!), 22-year-old winger Finlay Sinclair-Smith is our 'One To Watch'.
Despite signing for Radcliffe in the summer, Sinclair-Smith soon re-joined the Mariners following his heroic Play-Off Final performance, where he scored to lead Marine to Step 2 for the first time in their history.
A big player for big moments, Finlay also scored the opener in the 2024 Liverpool Senior Cup final against City of Liverpool which Marine went onto win 2-0.
Finlay began his footballing career at Blackpool FC where he scored on his senior debut against Wigan Athletic in 2017. Sinclair-Smith had a short stint at Marine in 2018 where he was loaned to The Mariners on a 28-day spell.
He featured at FC United of Manchester and Bamber Bridge before signing on a permanent basis with Marine FC, where he has became fan favourite at The Mariners.
The Gaffer's Thoughts
Hear the thoughts of Sam Cox ahead of our trip to Marine.
THE MANAGER - Neil Young
Marine manager Neil Young has had quite the life to managerial football in non-league. His playing career was brought to a vast halt when injury took over him at 24 years which soon forced him into joining Rhyl as Assistant Manager in 2004.
A first successful run out for Neil Young saw the Welsh side win the Welsh Cup in 2006 as well as three consecutive seasons qualifying for UEFA competitions.
Neil was at the hands of much more success in Northern England with Cammell Laird and Colwyn Bay before his first outright success as a Manager came when he was appointed the first manager of the newly formed Chester FC in 2010.
From this point, it was on the uprise for him. Three back-to-back promotions left him and the club at Step 2 in the National League North. Neil was awarded the National League North Manager of the Year that season.
Neil had spells at Stockport County and Altrincham, before taking the role as Head of Scouting at FC Halifax Town up until February 2018.
He then decided a move to Marine suited best ahead of the 18/19 season. Neil took the club from Step 4 to the National League North in his time including a historic FA Cup run to the Third Round Proper in 2021 as well as Liverpool Senior Cup success.
