Paul Moody. Matt Elliott. Phil Gilchrist. Joey Beauchamp.
Des Buckingham reels off some of his all-time Oxford United greats with an unwavering sense of pride, like a child showing off their prized football sticker collection.
"Proper Oxford players" is how Buckingham describes them. In reality, to the man who now holds the mantle of Oxford United head coach, they are so much more that that.
Now 39, Buckingham first frequented The Manor Ground almost 25 years ago after being introduced to the U's by his late grandmother. Neither time nor distance has managed to dilute that bond since that fateful day back in 1990.
While his family have continued to bask in the sea of yellow which washes over the Kassam on a bi-weekly basis, Buckingham has spent the last decade worshipping from afar after embarking on a pilgrimage to hone his coaching skills in 2015.
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"You feel a little bit removed," Buckingham admits while discussing the harsh reality of supporting from a different continent. "You don't feel quite the same but there's still that connection."
Buckingham has had success in Australia, New Zealand and India in a variety of roles since cutting his teeth at Oxford as a youngster. He was shepherded into the City Football Group stable after catching the eye in the New Zealand set-up and, whilst there, he broke records in the Indian Super League with Mumbai City, who he guided to the league title last year.
Buckingham knew nobody when he was unveiled as the head coach of Mumbai. In contrast, he estimates that 50 per cent of the people who welcomed him back to Oxford in November were in the building when he left all those years ago.
"I know a lot of places want to be that family-type club, but it's more than just words here," Buckingham muses. "There are people like Peter Rhoades-Brown who's just celebrated 40 years at Oxford: he was a player, then a coach and is now head of community. He does so much for this club.
Buckingham has found his feet at Oxford after a challenging start (Jason Dawson/JASONPIX)"But so many people have similar stories. You can't put a value on associations like that. That for me is what makes this place so special."
Buckingham is in his element when reminiscing about Messrs Beauchamp, Elliott and Moody. The enthusiasm in his voice goes into overdrive as recalls tales from his youth: last minute goals against Chelsea in the FA Cup, trips to Stamford Bridge and Highbury and countless visits to The Manor Ground.
There are romantic undertones behind Buckingham's return to Oxford. There were previous opportunities for Buckingham to return to England after he elevated Mumbai to new heights with a modern, dynamic brand of football. Others in the division made attempts to prise him away. When Oxford came calling, he simply couldn't say no.
It's not all been straightforward since he unwrapped that golden ticket, though. Buckingham's honeymoon period was fleeting: a qualified pilot, he quickly encountered turbulence largely due to factors beyond his control.
Oxford will face Peterborough for a place in the League One play-off final (Jason Dawson/JASONPIX)While Oxford were in the top two when Liam Manning was poached by Bristol City, their form was on the slide before said transaction closed. Buckingham then had to wrestle with the reality of working with a depleted squad (at one point Oxford were without 12 first-team players). That, coupled with the growing pains of trying to impart a new identity onto both players and staff (Buckingham initially arrived on his own) translated into a fairly modest run of results.
Things got worse before they got better. A lugubrious run of two wins in 12 matches from mid-January onwards saw Oxford's automatic promotion hopes wilt.
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"The way I coach and the way I want our teams to play is very different to what Liam [Manning] had previously," Buckingham adds.
"When you're trying to oversee a transition and you don't have the majority of your first-team players available, it's tough. Coming in by yourself rather than with two or three people who know you really well and how you work just makes it that little bit more difficult to get your ideas across [too]. You're building new relationships everywhere. That takes time."
Buckingham puts his previous accomplishments down to perseverance and his principles. The non-negotiables. Staying true to himself and his values has always been of paramount importance. His faith did not waver.
"I learnt who I was as a person and as a coach when I was overseas. That's already played such an important part [at Oxford]. I've been really clear on who I am and what that looks like. I've trusted that and I've backed [what we do] because it's come good in my last three roles.
"We adapted the work we did at CFG for League One demands. I think we're now the most aggressive team in the league in terms of pressing and getting goals or shots off [on goal].
"We're now in a space where I can set us up how I want us to play and the players aren't just aware of it, they're part of it. They've demonstrated that they're more than capable of doing it really well."
Buckingham put his players at ease ahead of their final fixture against Exeter City by likening the match to an exam. The U's needed a positive result to be sure of their fate. But Buckingham knew his side had done the necessary "revision" to make the grade.
"I was told by somebody the other day that I've had a bit of a pokerface since I've come in here. That's because when things go wrong, as the head coach, you front up. When things are going well, you step back.
"This time last year the club were celebrating staying up in the last game of the season. This year we're celebrating getting into the play-offs and putting ourselves in a position to go up. It's been a massive 12-month swing - not so much for me, but for the club."
Peterborough are the immediate obstacle standing between Oxford and their mission to end a 25-year exile from the second-tier of English football. One of Barnsley or Bolton will also be waiting in the wings if Oxford can successfully negotiate a two-legged affair against League One's great entertainers.
Whatever division Oxford are in next season, Buckingham and the club are aligned when it comes to the future. The long-term vision? Speaking from his office which overlooks the club's training facility, he references the proposed new stadium for 2027, which is currently awaiting planning permission. The aim is not just to be a sustainable Championship club in the future, but to establish Oxford as one of the top 30 in the country.
He summarises: "The club have made a big commitment to me. But I've made a commitment too by leaving the best football organisation in the world in CFG.
"It was about coming here to try and develop a style of play that was exciting for fans to come and watch. Some of the players I mentioned to you earlier, I used to love growing up watching them; the football was so exciting. I'd like to think we've started to show signs of that, even if there is still a lot more to do."
Being back amongst family provides Buckingham with respite when he needs to switch off. Renovation work after buying his first house - "a home within my home" - has kept him busy alongside his father, Roger, who had not long retired before being roped into odd-jobs by his son.
Buckingham coached all across the world before returning to Oxford in November (Stephen Pond/FIFA)Family has been an integral part of his Oxford United journey. His late grandmother and his mentor, Micky Lewis, will be feature prominently in his thoughts when he graces the hallowed turf of the Kassam Stadium for the final time this season on Saturday night.
Lewis was the catalyst behind Buckingham's decision to move into coaching. He's previously cited Lewis as "the most influential person on my personal and coaching life". He still meets with Lewis' wife and his son, both of whom are Oxford regulars.
"If we can do as much as we can not just to make him proud, but to make the people of Oxfordshire proud of their club, then that's enough for me. This football club is the face of the county; it's much, much bigger than any of us. We want to make our people proud on Saturday but also well beyond that."
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