They could only manage a tenth-place finish in 1969–70, but found success in the cup competitions; Oakes featured 49 times in English domestic competitions. He played in the League Cup final at Wembley, which ended in a 2–1 victory over West Bromwich Albion. He also played in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, which ended in 2–1 victory over Górnik Zabrze at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna.