Mick Brown, a lifelong supporter and fixture at Oxford United Football Club in Oxfordshire, is retiring at the end of the 2025-26 season after 44 years of dedicated service.
Brown first became involved with the club in 1977 when he founded the London Road Club to organise coach travel for away supporters. He officially joined the staff in 1982 and held a variety of positions over the following four decades, including ticket office manager and matchday programme editor. He served as the club secretary for 34 years starting in 1989, having learned the role under his predecessor, the late Jim Hunt, before moving into his current role as assistant club secretary in 2023.
The club leadership has praised Brown for his steadfast loyalty, particularly during the financial difficulties of the 1990s. During that period, when the club faced the threat of administration and staff members were left unpaid, Brown was credited with keeping the team together. Former director Nick Harris noted that Brown led the unpaid staff through those dark times, while current chief executive Tim Williams described him as the embodiment of dedication and professionalism.
Brown’s retirement comes during a transitional period for the club. Oxford United was confirmed as relegated to League One on 25 April 2026. Additionally, the club is preparing for its future move to a new stadium at the Triangle in Kidlington, following final planning approval in February 2026, as the lease at the current Kassam Stadium is set to expire in June 2026.
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