Oxford United Football Club, founded in 1893, is a professional football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. The club earned promotion to the English Football League after winning the Southern League in 1962, and reached the top tier in the mid-1980s. In 1986, Oxford United won the League Cup, becoming the first club to win a major national trophy and then be relegated to the non-league system (the Football Conference). After several years of effort, the club successfully returned to the English Football League One via the playoffs in the 2009/10 season.
The club was promoted to the English Football League system after winning the Southern League championship in 1962, and in the mid-1980s, it briefly reached the top league. In 1986, Oxford United won the League Cup, becoming the first club in history to be relegated from the professional league system (the English Football League) after winning a major national trophy. After several years of effort, the club successfully returned to the English Football League One through the playoffs in the 2009/10 season.