Cassius Newton, the son of former Oxford United footballer Eddie Newton, has been found dead in the United Arab Emirates. The 34-year-old from Poole and his friend Aran Martinson, 33, from Essex, were discovered by rescuers in the mountainous Wadi Naqab region on July 18 after start a hike where temperatures likely exceeded 40C.
This tragic news comes as the current Oxford United squad prepares for their next League One fixture, sitting 15th in the table with four points from three games. The team faces Reading at home on September 8, looking to improve on a record of five goals scored and six conceded so far this season. You can follow their progress via our fixtures and standings pages.
Who was Eddie Newton?
Eddie Newton, the father of Cassius, is a former professional footballer who had a seven-game spell with Oxford United as a defensive midfielder late in his career. He is best known for his nine-year tenure at Chelsea between 1990 and 1999. A recurring knee injury forced his retirement in 2001, after which he moved into management. Newton served as an assistant manager at Chelsea and later managed Turkish side Trabzonspor, forging a significant career in the game.
What happened in the UAE?
Cassius Newton and Aran Martinson were both living in the United Arab Emirates when they decided to hike through a desert valley. Their bodies were found by rescue teams last month. Inquests into their deaths opened in Chelmsford last month, where the provisional medical cause for both men was recorded as cardiac and respiratory arrest. According to a report by This Is Oxfordshire, Martinson's wife has since shared a link on his LinkedIn profile to the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, which she said was 'dear' to her husband.
How have those close to them responded?
Aran Martinson's wife paid a moving tribute to her husband's character. "For those of you who worked with Aran, I hope you’ll remember him not only for what he did, but for the person he was, funny, kind, loyal, determined and someone who could make people laugh wherever he went," she said. The community's focus now turns to supporting the families affected by this sudden loss.
Where does Oxford United stand now?
As the club community processes this off-field tragedy, the first-team's on-pitch campaign continues. Oxford United are currently six points behind League One leaders Huddersfield Town. Their next match against 14th-placed Reading represents a key opportunity to climb the table. Manager Des Buckingham will be rallying his squad, which fans can view on our squad page, as they look to build momentum after an opening run of one win, one draw, and one loss. The fixture at the Kassam Stadium kicks off on September 8.
