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From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterFootball history is littered with controversial ideas that never came to fruition, from the Premier League's '39th game' to the European Super League.In a parallel world where the sport's governing bodies went through with these plans, English clubs would be jetting off around the world once a season for an extra match, and the Premier League's 'big six' would be facing the likes of AC Milan and Barcelona every week instead of Aston Villa and Bournemouth.But there is also a world in which two EFL clubs in the south of England would not exist today, thanks to a bonkers idea that was announced exactly 43 years ago. You may like 'I was drinking an awful lot. One crazy night my pal said, "Have you seen there's a football club on Rightmove?"' Inside story behind Macclesfield FC owner's incredible FA Cup run and the two games funding the club for a year Expanding the Championship play-offs may not achieve what Premier League hopefuls think Why over 300,000 people watched a fictional football match held at Sheffield FC on Easter Sunday The bonkers idea that almost killed two EFL clubsIn April 1983, Oxford United and Reading were both in the third tier of English football. The U's were owned by millionaire publisher Robert Maxwell and about to embark on the most successful period in their history, winning the Third Division, Second Division and the League Cup in consecutive seasons.But the future looked very different on April 16, 1983, when Maxwell announced he was close to taking a controlling interest in Reading, with a view to merging the two clubs into one team called the Thames Valley Royals which would play at a stadium to be built between Oxford and Reading.@dillbucklefooty original sound - DillBuckleMaxwell had come up with the plan - which was revisited by TikTok creator dillbucklefooty - to "secure league football in the area", with the two clubs struggling financially.There had already been detailed discussions with the Football League in the months leading up to the announcement, with proposals in place for the team to alternate home games between Reading's Elm Park and Oxford's Manor Ground until the new ground was built.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Meanwhile, U's boss Jim Smith would manage the side - despite finding out about the plan only when the news broke - and Maurice Evans, who was then in charge of the Berkshire outfit and went on to lead Oxford to League Cup glory, would be his assistant.Unsurprisingly, it was met with fierce opposition by fans of both clubs. Oxford supporters called it a "crazy and unworkable idea", while their Reading counterparts branded it a "crackpot scheme".In the weeks that followed, 2,000 U's fans staged a sit-in protest on the pitch before a home game against Wigan Athletic, while Reading supporters carried a coffin with their side's colours through the town centre ahead of a fixture with Millwall. What to read next JULES BREACH: Macclesfield's FA Cup win over Crystal Palace was a magic moment that reignited why we love football Tear Italian football down, cancel Serie A and start again Three EFL fairy tales set to be written this month - and none of them involve Wrexham Maxwell was undeterred, saying: "If they want to become supporters of someone else, they're entirely welcome. If the deal does not go through, both Reading and Oxford will be dead before the beginning of next season."Nothing short of the end of the earth will prevent this from going through."While the opposition among supporters remained strong, the idea collapsed due to an admin error spotted by former Reading player, Roger Smee.Smee had tried to buy Reading the previous year and noticed that chairman Frank Waller, who had agreed the merger with Maxwell, did not actually own a controlling interest in the club, so did not have the power to make the decision.The U's owner made a bid to the remaining shareholders at Reading to push the deal through, but they refused and news came through on Friday, May 13 that the merger was officially off.The season ended with Reading relegated to the fourth tier and Oxford narrowly missing out on promotion, but fans of both clubs were united by a feeling of relief that their clubs had been saved.TOPICSReadingOxford UnitedJames RobertsFreelance writerJames Roberts is a freelance sports journalist working for FourFourTwo and other titles. He started his career at the Oxford Mail, where he covered Oxford United home and away, before becoming a sports sub-editor for various national newspapers.
