It has been an interesting first month of the season, with as much on the pitch to talk about as there was off it.

Dan and James catch up with the now former Oxford Mail reporter Liam Rice, who recently left the paper for pastures new. We speak to him about the four winless league games, United's dealings in the transfer window and the huge stadium news from Cherwell District Council, before reflecting on Liam's time at the newspaper including his favourite OUFC manager, player and what he's doing next!

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On the eve of the new Football League season, who better to speak to than Oxford United supporter and EFL expert George Elek to get his thoughts ahead of United's second campaign back in the Championship.

Lifelong fan George will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his first United match this season and tells us his own tale of being known as 'that Oxford United fan' whilst growing up in London, how his career in podcasting and support for the U's have intertwined and where the club still need to strengthen their squad ahead of the new campaign.

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It's hard to believe it now but back in the late autumn of 1998 Oxford United were on the verge of going into oblivion.

A fire sale of players including Phil Whitehead and Simon Marsh had been unsuccessful in keeping the wolf from the door and the club looked doomed, with United facing a trip to Watford without an away kit and players and staff going unpaid.

Something had to change and thanks to around a dozen ardent supporters the club was saved, bought by a London-based businessman who eventually managed to (nearly) finish off a half-built new stadium....but that would be just half the story.

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We all know that Oxford United have the best supporters the world has ever seen but few can lay claim to making hundreds of trips to watch their beloved U's from outposts such as the Shetland Islands, the Scottish borders and even the relatively short journey from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Former youth-team player Gary Silver is such a person, and a recognisable face on the terraces ever since he was released by United on the eve of their first season in the top flight back in July 1985.

Initially from Didcot, there isn't a corner of the UK that Gary hasn't graced and his stories range from the hillarious to the downright unbelievable.

You won't want to miss this - from a glimpse behind the scenes of the heady days of the mid-80s, to a hefty prediction as to how the next Championship season could unfold for the U's.....

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Oxford United retained their Championship status with a game to spare and finished 17th following an entertaining 3-3 draw at Swansea City in the last game of the season.

It has been a campaign of thrills and spills from the first to the very last minute.

Dan and James round up the season with the Oxford Mail's chief football writer Liam Rice, who soundly predicted back in August that things would go as swimmingly as they did (in the end!).

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The fifth full series of Behind The Badge wraps up with a fascinating chat with the former Oxford United striker Peter Foley.

Born and raised in Bicester, Foley went on to represent his boyhood club more than 300 times and scored 90 goals in the process. He played in an era when football was changing and that was certainly true at United, as the club went from a Third Division also-ran to flying up the pyramid.

Peter talked in depth about his time after leaving the Manor, including his spell as manager of non-League Marlow and the infamous FA Cup match against United in 1994!

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On many levels, Paul Simpson could be regarded as one of the best players to have pulled on an Oxford United shirt. A shrewd signing from Manchester City after United tumbled out of the First Division in 1988, 'Simmo' found his feet under the stewardship of Brian Horton and David Fogg and quickly became a huge crowd favourite.

Some of his strikes are among United's greatest of all time and he recalled some fantastic stories of a wonderful friendship with Mickey Lewis. After leaving the Manor, Simmo went on to have a stellar career in the Premier League with Derby County, before going into management and international coaching.

A fascinating listen!

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Behind The Badge had the pleasure of spending well over an hour in the company of the former Oxford United defender Eddie Odhiambo.

Eddie's football journey started in the parks of Oxford with his brothers, before he was 'poached' by Southampton just as he was beginning to make his way through the ranks at United.

Returning to his boyhood club under Jim Smith during the club's tumultuous first season in the Conference was an 'experience' for Eddie, before he enjoyed recalling a roller-coaster spell playing for Graham Westley at Stevenage.

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