McCormick among three deadline day deals for Oxford United

6:09pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in Football Photograph of the Author By David Pritchard, Chief Sports Reporter covering Oxford United. Follow us on twitter: @oxfordmailoufc. Call me on 01865 425458

CONTROVERSIAL goalkeeper Luke McCormick has signed for Oxford United until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old was one of three deals agreed just before the transfer window closed, with Justin Richards signing on for the rest of the campaign and Tyrone Marsh going out on loan to Staines Town.

McCormick was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after admitting to killing two children in a car crash in 2008.

The former Plymouth stopper, who was more than twice over the drink-drive limit when it happened, was released last summer after serving three and a half years.

He trained with Swindon Town but was not offered a contract and instead joined Truro City on non-contract terms in November.

United chairman Ian Lenagan said in a club statement: "The tragic events in Luke's past will never go away and that is something he will have to bear for the rest of his days.

"He made the biggest mistake of his life and no amount of apologies will ever change what happened.

"He served his sentence and knows what he did was wrong.

"As a club we have thought long and hard about whether to employ a player with his background but his clear repentance and the opportunity to allow him to rehabilitate whilst meeting our unique goalkeeping situation within the salary cap - which we might otherwise not have been able to do - resulted in our decision to sign him."

Richards was already on loan with United and agreed a settlement to his contract with Burton Albion to sign a new deal with Chris Wilder's men for the rest of the season.

Marsh, 19, has joined up with Staines in the Blue Square Bet South to gain some regular first-team football.

Comments(55)

Cirenyellows says...
6:43pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Great, a striker and goalkeeper for us would be ideal to push on

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Megastar07 says...
8:13pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Hope it's not alfie going as rumored

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BigAlBiker says...
8:58pm Thu 31 Jan 13

David James, watch this space.

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grove red says...
9:10pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Truro City have announced that goalkeeper Luke McCormick, once on trial at Town, is joining Oxford United.

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KojaktheWarg says...
9:10pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Luke McCormick from Truro City??

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KojaktheWarg says...
9:11pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Snap!

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BigAlBiker says...
9:34pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Don't want him, trouble all round.

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spectacles testicals wallet watch says...
9:38pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Bloody Hell, the amount of stick you gave us when he was training with us with the view to a potential contract.
A fascist as a manager and a child killer in goal you were like kids in a sweet shop. I trust that your view hasnt changed on him, or is he all of a sudden allowed a stay of execution as his sentence is served?
Remarkable how you can forgive and forget when he is one of your own.
Dirty yellow hypocrites!!!

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northampton yellow says...
9:39pm Thu 31 Jan 13

i have heard its craddock of to league 1

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happyharryhardon says...
9:55pm Thu 31 Jan 13

I really hope we don't sign that dirty child killing scum, i will never cheer a player that does what he did. Lenagan and Wilder should hold there heads in shame if this turns out to be true.
It makes me sick at the thought of my football team signing that sort of disgusting creature.

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WindsorYellow says...
9:59pm Thu 31 Jan 13

You think the attendance's are bad now!! Wait til you sign him . take a look at Truro city website !!! Says it all fans spoke with there feet

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SG85 says...
10:08pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Wikipedia already say's that he's an Oxford United player!

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BigAlBiker says...
10:12pm Thu 31 Jan 13

For the first time I agree with the Swindon guys, don't want him one bit, stick with our young Max.

He should be left to rot.

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the wizard says...
10:17pm Thu 31 Jan 13

The bloke should be doing community work and showing people the perils of drink/driving etc. I don't think there is a place for him in the game given what happened. The time didn't fit the crime either. You are welcome to him, but he will suffer crowd backlash everywhere he goes.

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louiscassius says...
10:22pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Im a STFC supporter.

m not here to say nasty things to you.

Please do not let your Club have this.

I've given you sh1t in the past, but this is different.

I respect your Club.....you do not need this in your Club.

Please petition your Chairman to cancel this contract.......

Louis :-(((

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Whitstablexile says...
10:24pm Thu 31 Jan 13

I don't want him at our club. Crazy decision by the management.

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grove red says...
10:27pm Thu 31 Jan 13

happyharryhardon wrote:
I really hope we don't sign that dirty child killing scum, i will never cheer a player that does what he did. Lenagan and Wilder should hold there heads in shame if this turns out to be true.
It makes me sick at the thought of my football team signing that sort of disgusting creature.
Get rid of this scum he does not deserve any chances after what he did.

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louiscassius says...
10:28pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Oxford United have signed goalkeeper Luke McCormick from Blue Square Bet South side Truro City.

The 29-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Plymouth Argyle, moves to the U's until the end of the season.

In October 2008, he was jailed for causing the death of two children by dangerous driving , and served half of his four-year-and-seven-
month sentence.

His last Football League game was Argyle's Championship clash against Wolves in May 2008.

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wantage_stfc says...
10:28pm Thu 31 Jan 13

I personally find this Hilarious and what you deserve for the Rubbish you lot spouted when he was on Trial at Town muahahahahahahahahah
a

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SLADOX says...
10:31pm Thu 31 Jan 13

http://www.trurocity
fc.co.uk/index.php/n
ews/284-mccormick-de
parts

Official on Truro website :-/

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northampton yellow says...
10:40pm Thu 31 Jan 13

yep been on truro web site and luke mccormick is an oxford player

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northampton yellow says...
10:42pm Thu 31 Jan 13

ive just heard we have signed richards aswell "oh dear"

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SLADOX says...
10:45pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Burton Albion have this evening agreed to cancel, by mutual consent, the contract of striker Justin Richards.

Justin joined Albion in the summer of 2011 and scored 13 goals in 52 appearances for the Brewers although only one of those goals came this season, in Albion's opening victory of the season against AFC Wimbledon in August.

Justin has spent the last month on loan at Albion's league 2 rivals Oxford United and at the end of his loan spell has returned to the club and agreed to cancel his contract making his a free agent.

Burton Albion would like to place on record their thanks to Justin for his efforts whilst at the club and wish him all the best for the future.

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northampton yellow says...
10:59pm Thu 31 Jan 13

why do we always get the crap thought the club wanted to go 4ward not backwards how can acc stanley get a goalkeeper from leeds with their gate and all we get is one from blue square this club is getting a joke where will this stop and a striker who cant hit a barn door with a bango what a farce this is

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northampton yellow says...
11:06pm Thu 31 Jan 13

tryrone marsh has joined staines town on loan till end of season

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Merekat1 says...
11:06pm Thu 31 Jan 13

I really cannot believe it.

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Merekat1 says...
11:08pm Thu 31 Jan 13

The GK signing that is.

Hope Marsh does well at Staines and gains the necessary experience to further his career.

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Cirenyellows says...
11:08pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Done deals on the BBC sport website both players as mentioned above, Marsh out on loan to Staines

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Stratton Red says...
11:13pm Thu 31 Jan 13

It was a dark day for STFC when we learned the disgraceful and disgusting news we had LM simply training. To sign him permanently hightlights a new low. Anyone with an ounce of decency will be boycotting your club, but from what I witnessed at my last two visits decency isn't something I would associate with the vast amount of your fans...

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Doctor69 says...
11:37pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Disgusted by this signing. I really cannot support this decision by the club.

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Brenda Jackson says...
11:38pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Too many examples of pond life players throughout Football, LM being one of them.
Well done Mr Wilder and Mr Lenegan, if your team's frustrating and tedious 'Football' wasn't enough to give people a reason to stay away- this latest, desperate, signing of LM completes the job.
Can't see CW being at Oxford next season, that's if IL is true to his word, and as we have imo no chance of going up- take it as read.

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davecuddoufc says...
11:45pm Thu 31 Jan 13

Over the last 30 years, we've had:
A chairman who robbed a pension fund, a manager who bonked a 15 year old, a player sacked for doing something disgusting to a younger player (allegedly), a player jailed after killing a man after he hit him whilst texting and driving and now, apparantly, we've signed a goalie who was jailed for killing someone after being caught driving a car and being over twice the drink-drive limit.
Er, do you see a pattern forming here?

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Manor Born says...
11:53pm Thu 31 Jan 13

A new low. The club have plunged to even greater depths with this signing. This 'player' should not be allowed to bring dishonour to the shirt.

Well done Lenagan & Wilder, you have bought shame on this club.

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Roarkat says...
1:23am Fri 1 Feb 13

Let's all calm down. While admittedly distastful, any number of us probably work unknowingly will people who have been in prison. Once they have served their punishment, they should be allowed to return to society, however high profile a position. The new keeper is obviously a short term option as Clarke will be back next season and if Max can learn from him, then we should support Wilder's decision to bring him in.

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Roarkat says...
1:23am Fri 1 Feb 13

Let's all calm down. While admittedly distastful, any number of us probably work unknowingly will people who have been in prison. Once they have served their punishment, they should be allowed to return to society, however high profile a position. The new keeper is obviously a short term option as Clarke will be back next season and if Max can learn from him, then we should support Wilder's decision to bring him in.

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darkskies says...
2:38am Fri 1 Feb 13

After all the sterling work that Rosie has done to promote us as a family club I cant believe there aren't any other keepers available. I feel ashamed for the club and feel sorrow for the family who lost their children. They dont need this to be brought back to front page news. RIP little ones. Sad day for OUFC :((

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goonergunner says...
6:44am Fri 1 Feb 13

I'm ashamed to be an Oxford fan it is bad enough with 1 killer playing for us but now a child killer who was more than twice the drink drive limit I won't be watching Oxford anymore

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Megastar07 says...
7:27am Fri 1 Feb 13

Sad as it is
This is a football club and football decision

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BartSimpson_ox says...
7:45am Fri 1 Feb 13

Even less crowds now, thought this was supposed to be family club. Hope they get relegated now and stay in the lower leagues for ever.

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BigAlBiker says...
8:07am Fri 1 Feb 13

McCormick in WRONG
Marsh out WRONG
Wilder out RIGHT

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london_yellow says...
8:10am Fri 1 Feb 13

Seriously? This is people's reaction. I don't for one minute think this is a good move for Oxford or condone his or Chapman's (now people want to drag him into this) actions. Far from it. However, neither deliberately went out and performed these acts through intent and malice. They were hugely negligent and irresponsible and horrific circumstances came from this. People are talking with the same venom as if we'd signed Harold Shipman or Fred West. Let's have some perspective. Actually 'think' about this instead of getting on a bandwagon that will only lead to a huge disruption at the club and de-rail any slim hope of promotion we have.

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Megastar07 says...
8:26am Fri 1 Feb 13

london_yellow
Great post I agree

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AylesburyOx says...
8:31am Fri 1 Feb 13

Firstly you cannot put McCormick and Chapman in the same category - Chapman made a very serious but naive error in judgement, McCormick got into a car twice over the drink drive limit and knew exactly what he was doing. There is no comparison between the two.

I do not want Luke McCormick at my club.

This also shows the absolute lack of a progressive attitude the management has - drop a young but confident keeper and ship out a young and talented striker.

Attendances won't just drop because of McCormick, they will drop because we are generally awful.

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Manor Born says...
8:53am Fri 1 Feb 13

london_yellow wrote:
Seriously? This is people's reaction. I don't for one minute think this is a good move for Oxford or condone his or Chapman's (now people want to drag him into this) actions. Far from it. However, neither deliberately went out and performed these acts through intent and malice. They were hugely negligent and irresponsible and horrific circumstances came from this. People are talking with the same venom as if we'd signed Harold Shipman or Fred West. Let's have some perspective. Actually 'think' about this instead of getting on a bandwagon that will only lead to a huge disruption at the club and de-rail any slim hope of promotion we have.
8,620 road accidents in 2008 happened when a driver was over the legal limit for alcohol. 2,020 people were killed or seriously injured as a result.

At his case, McCormick was more concerned about his career and the damage his actions had caused than the fact he had killed two small children, put the father in a wheelchair and destroyed a family,

He was two times over the drink-drive limit. He got into his car knowing he was over the limit and knowing he was unsafe to drive. He thought "it'll be ok, what harm can it do". He willfully and knowingly put lives at risk with his actions. It wasn't a question of if he had an accident but when.

This is the difference for me, as soon as McCormick stepped into his car and got behind the wheel, he was committing a criminal act.

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ChrisWantageRed says...
8:57am Fri 1 Feb 13

louiscassius wrote:
Im a STFC supporter. m not here to say nasty things to you. Please do not let your Club have this. I've given you sh1t in the past, but this is different. I respect your Club.....you do not need this in your Club. Please petition your Chairman to cancel this contract....... Louis :-(((
Spot on. Come together OUFC fans and tell your Chairman you won't stand for it!

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Bigmanmo says...
9:31am Fri 1 Feb 13

The McCormick signing was bound to attract negative comments and to some extent rightly. We should maintain some perspective but everyone is entitled to express their opinion on the matter. The club appear to be trying to balance footballing needs with financial restrictions and very sensitive issues like rehabilitation. In my book as a lifelong supporter they have failed. The ins and outs don't reflect any level of ambition or increased desire to escape this league or do anything to address the serious decrease in home attendances which speak volume for the football we have been playing. I sometimes wonder whether Mr Wilder and indeed Mr Lenegan at times watch a different match and different team to me. The signing of Luke McCormick whilst some would say charitable was bound to cause a negative feeling among supporters, will impact further upon attendances I'm sure and therefore a very poor move in footballing and business terms in my book. There is no need to slate the guy himself as it serves no purpose. It would be far more constructive to increase the volume of criticism of the footballing decisions though I know Mr Wilder finds it hard to take such criticism even though justified. Injuries are no excuse for those players who come in simply not performing to the standard they are capable of. The team lack motivation and I feel off the field are allowed by the manager to accept standards that are too low too easily.

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jontyg says...
9:35am Fri 1 Feb 13

Roarkat wrote:
Let's all calm down. While admittedly distastful, any number of us probably work unknowingly will people who have been in prison. Once they have served their punishment, they should be allowed to return to society, however high profile a position. The new keeper is obviously a short term option as Clarke will be back next season and if Max can learn from him, then we should support Wilder's decision to bring him in.
Don't believe you'd be thinking along those lines if someone had ran down your siblings whilst drunk.

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Open your eyes says...
9:41am Fri 1 Feb 13

Agree with Jontyg - kids are involved it always puts a different slant on things. It is a deplorable footballing decision by the club, don't care how much he is paid or if he is playing for free - I will not support him one single bit.

As for the Swindon fans on this thread, most have gone up significantly in my opinion. I agree with most of them too.

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bigchet says...
10:12am Fri 1 Feb 13

major misjudgment by the club and cw to sign this keeper as it will alienate a lot of fans and will reduce attendances even more. if we are that strapped for cash i would have prefered to stick with what we had or try to get billy turley back for the rest of the season. whether stfc did not sign mccormick for purely football reasons or the fact that their fans did not want him i dont know but the fact that we have signed him leaves a bitter taste that will be there until the end of the season regardless of results.

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Doctor69 says...
2:46pm Fri 1 Feb 13

Will people boo him / abuse him when he plays?

I certainly won't support him even if he is a great keeper. Just goes against the grain.

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learned says...
5:11pm Fri 1 Feb 13

The signing of McCormick is sickening. What were Wilder and Lenaghan thinking about ?
He deserves all the abuse he is likely to get...

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Grunden Skip says...
5:54am Sat 2 Feb 13

I note that nearly all the comments above are by TROLLS who have created a username to comment on this story, your comments are noted and put in the bin. Our new gaolie put his hands up and did his time. He has shown real remorse. The KILLERS of Ross Doyle did not, they still do not, and they show no remorse. Many people on Blackbird Leys know who KILLED him but say nothing. They could be sitting next to you at The Kassam. Look not who is on the field of play, but who is next to you, or who is your "friend" before judging. RIP ROSS.

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A Scroat says...
10:20am Sat 2 Feb 13

Open your eyes wrote:
Agree with Jontyg - kids are involved it always puts a different slant on things. It is a deplorable footballing decision by the club, don't care how much he is paid or if he is playing for free - I will not support him one single bit.

As for the Swindon fans on this thread, most have gone up significantly in my opinion. I agree with most of them too.
I totally agree with you about the Swindon fans' comments. It's nice to see there is a genuine bunch of people out there who have some principles. Nice to see Le Knob avoided any comments on here and carried on eating crayons and licking windows. Awful signing decision.

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BenkiuGuasu says...
4:51pm Sat 2 Feb 13

AylesburyOx wrote:
Firstly you cannot put McCormick and Chapman in the same category - Chapman made a very serious but naive error in judgement, McCormick got into a car twice over the drink drive limit and knew exactly what he was doing. There is no comparison between the two.

I do not want Luke McCormick at my club.

This also shows the absolute lack of a progressive attitude the management has - drop a young but confident keeper and ship out a young and talented striker.

Attendances won't just drop because of McCormick, they will drop because we are generally awful.
"McCormick got into a car twice over the drink drive limit and knew exactly what he was doing."

Surely the fact that Chappers was sober means he knew more what he was doing more than McCormick.

Cars should be made so that they are incapable of going over the speed limit. The fact that they aren't is the real outrage.

Report this post »

Grunden Skip says...
7:45pm Sun 3 Feb 13

BenkiuGuasu wrote:
AylesburyOx wrote:
Firstly you cannot put McCormick and Chapman in the same category - Chapman made a very serious but naive error in judgement, McCormick got into a car twice over the drink drive limit and knew exactly what he was doing. There is no comparison between the two.

I do not want Luke McCormick at my club.

This also shows the absolute lack of a progressive attitude the management has - drop a young but confident keeper and ship out a young and talented striker.

Attendances won't just drop because of McCormick, they will drop because we are generally awful.
"McCormick got into a car twice over the drink drive limit and knew exactly what he was doing."

Surely the fact that Chappers was sober means he knew more what he was doing more than McCormick.

Cars should be made so that they are incapable of going over the speed limit. The fact that they aren't is the real outrage.
Bekky, think again, if he was twice the drink drive limit, then he did NOT know what he was doing as he was drunk and his perception of right and wrong was impaired. I would be more worried about Drink Drivers just over the limit, as their judgement is NOT impaired, and they know exactly what they are doing, but take the chance. Think about it.

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