Des Buckingham, former Mumbai City
FC and New Zealand U-23 men's coach, is being hailed as a local hero after
leading Oxford United to a historic promotion to the English Championship. In a
thrilling match at Wembley Stadium, Oxford defeated Bolton Wanderers 2-0 in
front of a crowd of over 70,000, clinching promotion through the League One
play-offs.
A
Remarkable Turnaround
Buckingham, 39, took over as
Oxford’s head coach in November 2023. His appointment came at a critical time
for the club, which had narrowly avoided relegation to League Two by just two
points in the previous season. Under his leadership, Oxford United underwent a
stunning transformation. Despite winning only twice in 12 games between January
and March, Buckingham masterminded a remarkable change in form, steering the
team into the promotion play-offs.
A Dream Fulfilled
In his post-match interview,
Buckingham reflected on the whirlwind of the past six months:
"The last six months have been
a whirlwind. I spent nine years overseas so it’s not just been about taking a
job back in the English Football League, it’s about proving that you can coach
at this level, firstly to the players and to the fans and thirdly to everyone
else that’s in this level of football. I’ll go to sleep tonight very content
and very happy and when I wake up, I’ll hope it wasn’t a dream."
Hometown Glory
The victory at Wembley marks an
extraordinary season for Oxford United and a personal triumph for Buckingham,
who hails from Cowley, Oxford. Celebrating their promotion, the club’s website
lauded Buckingham's achievements:
"In one of the most
extraordinary seasons in Oxford United’s history, Des Buckingham, the local boy
from Cowley, has led his team to promotion in his first season in charge. For
Des Buckingham, it’s an incredible ending to his first season in the dugout.
Taking over in November, the head coach has now continued his success from New
Zealand, Australia, and India to bring more glory to his hometown club."
Buckingham was not alone in his journey.
Also present at Wembley was Joe Moore, a former NZ Football analyst, who joined
Buckingham’s staff in early 2024. Their collaboration proved to be a winning
combination, leading Oxford United to a memorable season finale.
As
Oxford United prepares for life in the Championship, the future looks bright
under Buckingham's guidance. The local hero has proven his coaching prowess on
an international stage and now brings that expertise back to his hometown.
Oxford United fans can look forward to an exciting new chapter in the club’s
history, driven by Buckingham’s vision and leadership.
Des Buckingham’s story is a story of
power, perseverance, adaptability, and the importance of local roots. His
journey from coaching overseas to achieving success at Oxford United is an
inspiration, proving that with dedication and hard work, dreams can indeed come
true.
