unsworth blue

I am desperately trying to drum up the enthusiasm to get my arse in gear and get back to BP to watch Mo Lemsagam's charges take to the field as an Oldham side. I am 50 years a supporter (emphasise the word supporter rather than fan) but I genuinely can't get this current ownership/ business model and the trail of destruction they are leaving behind off-the-field as well as on. This club appears to be a million miles away from the one I fell in love with 50 years ago. They were skint then, had just been relegated to the bottom Division but you know what, they actually chose a charismatic Scotsman to lead us out of the abyss and back to an even keel. I know the game has changed beyond recognition and a Frizzell is not around at the moment but Mo Lemsagam as a Sporting Director recruiting the players? I think not. I cannot attend Forest Green next week due to prior commitments but am hoping to do the 2 home games & Bastard Rovers away but I am in desperate need of some cheer on an Oldham front. A few beers with Binman and others may be just the cheer I need, I am far from certain it will come from onfield.

He could as well - I was thinking self-same thing lol. Wonder what Keith Hicks is doing these days?

Very worrying look to that central defence - desperately need a leader who can bring on Stott/ Hamer/ Sefil etc. Some hairy-arsed, no nonsense madcap centre half - bit like Peter Clarke.....in fact why did we ever let him go - oh I know, he fell out with Lemsagam Unbelievable how we come to this, week before season starts and no obvious leader - piss poor that.

Just reading that Micah Richards is retiring from football aged 31. This man could just have made a massive difference to OAFC years ago had he signed for Real Madrid or some other Billy Big Bollock club for big money when he had the opportunity years ago. I think our cut was 25% - could have been £5-6 million!!!! Anyway, just wondering if we get a cut of his pension fund? Might be able to buy out AL and/or the FLG …………………..dreaming now...…………..

RIP Dave - I am sure i must have known you by sight if not by name but either way, another Chaddy Ender in the Blue Heaven above - always sad to lose our brethren, just wish that things "down here" were more to the liking of those dearly departed who loved Latics like we all do

Heard that its £2 a pint in the O2 mate, looks a bit like a price war might be on the cards? Pathetic really that either party (AL's "team" or the FLG) trying to outdo the others

Easy for you to say this mate (lol) but what is the solution? Seriously though, the two / possibly three groups at the helm are seriously disconnected and any opportunity for the club to be reconfigured as one has got to be the way forward. I would like to see the end of Blitz's involvement at the club & Corney & t'other lad who were TTAs so their tenure can be put to an end. I would love one entity to control the lot - still far from convinced about AL and don't know who FLG are at present but would accept what PW advised you on the evening of the Northampton game. Just want the club to move forward as one and all this bloody infighting and shenanigans to end so we can get back to trying to reclaim a spot higher in the league standings

'I am Unsworth Latic's dad as you rightly assume. I feel terrible but I just haven't got the buzz that I usually have for the team at this stage of the season. I just can't seem to relate to the way the owner appears to operate and don't much fancy the idea of ML/BO buying players and Banide just being there to coach them.....just doesn't have OAFC stamped over it for me. I do hope it works - just can't relate to it at moment. I am sure I will attend a fair few but not got a season ticket despite the fact that the deadline was extended and extended. I know so many old timers who feel the same, just doesn't seem like Latics anymore

I can't make it this year but in truth, Forest Green as an awayday is not up there with the best. Awful away paddock, vegan food & beer - just not that appealing. Think a turnout of 350 would be decent with all the distrust and uncertainty about the current regime. I possibly would have gone if hadn't had a prior engagement, just goes to show how disenchanted I have become allowing engagements to get in way of an awayday

Had the pleasure of attending a Cup Final game they played in - they are a lovely bunch of girls, stuck together well when things were not going well in that particular game and showed spirit and character in abundance against a much slicker, faster team. I am sure with a good pre-season behind them , they will improve at a rate of knots and will embrace the new season in a different but more competitive league. Definitely go down again this season at some stage

Me too BP1960 - two little lads stood at the front of the terrace into which Latics equalised

Great days pal - just wish we could have their like again. You are right about the evening matches - the atmosphere was great at the Texaco Cup games v Hearts & Southampton, the home win v Bolton and the York home match the season before

It is me indeed Steve - I have been trying to rekindle my enthusiasm for all things OAFC and I thought that the best way was to review some old programmes that I was given by Disjointed (thanks Alan) and record my memories from these games. Funny I can hardly recall much from the 2000s but I remember early 70s like the back of my hand. I think the 1974 team was perhaps my favourite of all teams although obviously the 1989/90 side takes some beating. I have always fancied putting my memories to print but not sure if there would be enough interest from anyone else about the rantings of a manc-sounding Latics fan lol. Great days nonetheless - you & Jimmy were always amongst the Chosen Few

Been out with my son tonight (he was born in 1994) and we talked long and hard about Latics and its value to us as fans. I meant to mention in the 1974/5 season a recollection that a Sheffield Wednesday fan couldn't live with the fact that they had been relegated to the old Division 3 and so decided to take his own life. I am surprised I can't recall the lad's name but emotions in football are raw and it was never meant to be that football was as important to fans as that. I have always loved Latics and always will but its important to keep it all in perspective.

thanks Disjointed & Longtime Blue - think I am harbouring after my past, my comfort zone... I recall these games like they were yesterday...possibly says more about me than OAFC

1974 had been a tremendous year for Latics - a wonderful 10 match winning sequence in January - March 1975, a wonderfully productive Easter, catching runaway leaders Bristol Rovers and lifting the Third Division Championship in May. Starting in the second tier of English football for the first time in 20 years, winning our first 4 home games before a bad run but culminating in beating our illustrious neighbours Man United in December 1974. So what of 1975? Would it be a quick return to the third division for Jimmy Frizzell's doughty fighters or would they survive a wretched away record and stay afloat in the bigger league for more than one season for the first time since 1930? Latics first fixture in 1975 was a home FA Cup tie against high flying Aston Villa who had already won at the home of British football in October. They won that game with a last minute winner but Latics were no match for them in the cup and lost 0-3, a quick return to cup walks after the glamour of 1973/74 cup run. Our poor away form continued with a 1-2 defeat at Bristol Rovers before West Brom racked up at Boundary Park and left with a goalless scoreline. Latics went back to the Dell, in the league this time, but come away with a 0-1 defeat. One win in 15 since October had left Latics in jeopardy but two home wins on the spin, against Nottingham Forest 2-0 and our hated neighbours Bolton 1-0 gave Latics some hope of avoiding the drop. Draws against Millwall away and Southampton at home were satisfactory outcomes but two away defeats at Norwich (0-1) and Bristol City (1-3) left OAFC in peril once more. Portsmouth were the next visitors to Boundary Park in a real 4-pointer but proved no match for Latics (Robins and Groves). A great away point at high flying Fulham was wasted by dropping a home point in a 1-1 draw with Oxford United (Ray Treacy scoring his only goal for Latics with a diving header). A tough looking Tuesday night away fixture at Sunderland followed and expectation was low as the Rokerites were vying for promotion. But Latics put up a wonderfully spirited fight and returned home after sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw (George McVitie scoring both). In typical Latics fashion, we followed up with a 0-1 reversal to unfancied Hull City and the relegation trapdoor was opening again. Easter Monday featured a trip to Old Trafford to face runaway leaders Man United. I am not sure how many Latics fans made the trip as in those days, anyone wearing the other team's colours were targets for the hooligans and United had a vast number of those in their ranks. I sat in the Scoreboard Stand seats with my cousin, Uncle and his mate - could have done with Mr Mellor (1973/74 hero v Burnley lol)….where was he? Anyway Latics gave a grea account of themselves on the pitch, United scored first, Latics replied and it wasn't until 20 minutes from the end that Steve Coppell (United signing from Tranmere) appeared to make it safe at 3-1 after Macari had punched in a second in a goalmouth scramble. The referee (as often happens at the bigger clubs) chose to turn a blind eye and the goal stood. Even at 3-1, Latics had the tenacity to grab a second and should have had a penalty when Ian Robins lobbed the keeper and was following it in until Sammy McIlroy barged him from behind and his momentum took him off the pitch at the Scoreboard End. The linesman and referee saw it that Robins must have fouled McIroy from in front of him and instead of a penalty, awarded a free kick to United. I can't recall feeling overly threatened in the seats and did celebrate wildly when we scored but outside was different. We were parked at White City about 5 minutes from OT and there were hordes of Northern Soul- type tartan scarf clad wankers looking for away fans. I recall seeing two fellas in sheepskin coats (must have been in their 30s?) with one having a massive gash in his eye with blood bellowing out. One said to the other "Good job we didn't fucking win isn't it?". Memory stays with me forever. We were still not safe, we had to host Cardiff City in a must-win 4-pointer and on the day, Latics were unstoppable. They were 3-0 up in no time, aided and abetted by Cardiff goalkeeper Bill Irwin who had terrible day spilling easy shots into his net. I shouted at him from the Chaddy End and was amazed when he turned to me and smiled and held his back mimicking his having a bad back after keep picking the ball out of the net. There was a large army of Welsh on the Chaddy and I was aware that there was some crowd trouble but amazingly it didn't seem to register with me (seemed to be every week lol). The week after, I went to Aston Villa on Barlows (my first trip on Barlows - soon to become a regular part of awaydays). Me (a 13 year old) and Coop (12 year old) going into a 35,000 stadium full of mad Brummies with crap accents. We stopped at the services and I recall about 7 latics coaches of lads (one had a flag "One of Oldham's chosen few) - I thought that's me - I am one of them, for better for worse, for crap and poorer... I was to visit a tatooist several years later to have this on my arm but couldn't afford the cost and never had it done. We got to Villa Park, Latics fans were like peas on a drum, Villa were everywhere. We made the error of paying in and finding out we were at the Holte End - like the bloody Stretford End but bigger!!! Discretion being the better part of valour, we took our leave and paid in to the Blue Seat Paddock (55p all told I think - a princely sum) but at least we were relatively safe. On the pitch, Latics got a mauling, Brian Little got a hat-trick and we lost 5-0, our only spot of cheer was when Chris Ogden saved a Little penalty. Safety arrived at home to Orient the following Saturday when a John Jackson masterclass stopped the O's from a right battering but Millwall and Cardiff failed to win and so Latics survived. The last game of the season was at Bootham Crescent against our old friends York City and thousands of Latics fans made the pilgrimage. The behaviour of fans in those days was awful and everywhere you went you saw hordes of Latics fans urinating in the streets and generally being a nuisance. Another draw left Latics winless away from home all season but their 8 draws along with 10 home wins and 7 draws was sufficient for Latics to keep their heads above water and survive. The team were challenging all season and only had one real mauling (Villa away) but a lack of goals kept us in jeopardy and you'd say it was a rock solid defence and a quality home record that kept us up. in 42 games we only scored 40 but only conceded 48. Robins was our top scorer with 9 goals. The crowds were generally 10,000+ (18 of 21 games) and often were 14,000+. The levels of away support were massive in comparison to what we had seen before but as I stated, we were now amongst the big boys and learning how to compete against teams with much better players, much bigger budgets and massive grounds. The best player - well all of them deserve a mention - the defence was immense, Ogden was an ever-present in goal, Graham Bell looked like a star in the making in midfield (England manager Revie came to see him against Bolton in his third game such was his influence in the games). Hicks was a revalation at centre half although no one seemed to rate him. Alan Young arrived this season, Grovesey was a great talent and did well against some top defences and Blair, Robins and Jones were regulars. If a Latics side of the last 10 seasons had shown the same level of desire and application, no one would ever moan. Those days are gone now but this team were giants of men to young lads of my age who were committed to the cause. Loved them then, love them today - 45 years later.

The Scottish fans were the bigger hooligans in those days Wiseowl, they turned up in massive numbers at Wembley and you could hardly see any England fans there. Also Rangers caused trouble in Barcelona in the 1973 Cup Winners Cup Final and had turned Newcastle over in 1969 Fairs Cup. England became the bigger exponents of trouble in the mid- to-late 70s. You are right though, they are no harder than anybody else, never were.

sold it off through the years Alan - got a load of programmes given to me from a fella in Middleton and it started me off. At one stage I was about 6 programmes short of all home and aways for Latics since 1960 but as time went by and life took several different turns, became apparent I had to finance other things and sadly the time came when I had to sell up. I recall Jimmy Kirton saying you will regret it one day, I always did but life goes on. I couldn't bear the idea of someone throwing Latics programmes out Alan, hence I contacted you when yours were up for grabs (cheers mate)

Pete I think our record attendance was 1929/30. I seem to recall that we might have played Wednesday again in the FA Cup around the same time? Would love to have my old programme collection again - so many memories from a much happier time supporting the club

I no longer collect them Singe but in my heyday 30 years or so ago, the oldest I had was one from Chelsea v Oldham in 1913/14 or 1914/15. The earliest home game I had was 1922/23 - our last spell in League 1 before our return 68 years later. I still have a few....added to by acquiring a number from Disjointed that inspired my waffling 1973/74 and 1974/75 memories...….. suspect the earliest I have got now is about 1969.

Was definitely different in the day Johnny.... 1974/75 was a real learning curve for me, hadn't really seen much trouble at Boundary Park before other than Bolton (everytime they came) and Blackburn and Burnley the year before. Also Latics more or less ruled the roost (or so it appeared) in the third season in Division 3 and were taking massive away followings to the likes of York and Southport. Now we were up against big City established clubs with much bigger followings than we had - Sheffield Wednesday, Forest, Sunderland, Villa, West Brom, Man United and also established Lancashire rivals Bolton and Blackpool. Was only when we played York, Orient and Notts County (although from a big City) that we had more "lads" than they did. I became quite streetwise by the end of the season, knew always to have my wits about me and its deserved me quite well throughout the next 20 years or so - no need these days as am far too old lol

You are a bad 'un Phil White. I would normally be moderately interested in going to support the Blues at a faraway place but can't justify that sort of money for a pre-season game in Morocco. I have never been to Morocco, cannot say I have ever felt the inclination. Have a great time whatever fellas

1974/75 season saw me get my first season ticket in my own right at Latics - a junior season ticket in my beloved Chaddy End. I had previously held a season ticket in the Main Stand for part of the 1972/73 season, donated by George McVitie to my grandad at Oldham Greyhound track (no idea why) anyway this was my own. The pre-season warrants a mention too as Latics played in the Texaco Cup against Sheffield United (Home) and Blackpool and Man City (both away), little old Oldham up against 3 teams who had all been in Division 1 since 1970 whilst we had been scratching round in Division 4. We hammered the Blades 4-0 at home with Ronnie Blair scoring twice and there were some off-the-field shenanigans in the Chaddy as some drunken Yorkies came in singing "Tony, Tony Currie" and were met with a welcoming committee of Latics herberts. In that competition, teams got an extra point for scoring 3 or more goals in any game so we set off with 3 points to Bloomfield Road on Tuesday night. Latics come away with a 2-1 win and rounded off the pre-season with a 1-2 defeat at Maine Road against Man City, Grovesey put Latics in front but we succumbed to an 89th minute winner. 5 points from 3 difficult games was sufficient for the mighty Blues to progress to the Quarter final stage where we drawn against Heart of Midlothian in a two-legged tie commencing in September. To the league and Latics were strongly fancied for an automatic return to Division 3 as there were some monster clubs in our league who had fallen on hard times, not least our big City neighbours Manchester United. We started at home to Sheffield Wednesday and I turned up on the day with season ticket in hand and was faced with loads of herberts sitting on top of the Chaddy End wall peering threateningly at new arrivals. To my horror I realised they were bloody Yorkshiremen, hordes of piggin Wednesdayites in the Chaddy, lots of them skinheads. I have no idea what time they had arrived in the ground but they had taken the Chaddy and Latics never managed to stage a recovery all day. On to the game, it started badly on the pitch as well, Wednesday won a penalty and Scottish midfielder Tommy Craig stuck it away for a 1-0 lead. The unwashed were resplendent in chanting "Now you're going to believe us, we are going to win the league" (they couldn't be more wrong, they finished bottom lol). Latics fought back and Garwood & McNeil scored goals to send home fans home happy. I remember some Latics fans taking up position in the Chaddy and singing "Sheffield Tuesday" but they were met with fists and feet and their recovery was shortlived. An opening away day defeat followed at Meadow Lane and then Bristol City turned up at Latics but were duly despatched 2-0. Their keeper was a lad called Ray Cashley who had a wonderful Mexican style moustache, not a bad keeper but a hairy faced one. Latics then made it 2 defeats from 2 on their travels with a 1-0 setback at the Manor Ground before we beat our Lancashire neighbours Blackpool at home 1-0. After this the Jambos (Hearts) turned up for the Texaco Cup Quarter final and there was an almighty rumpus on the Chaddy that night. There were hordes of drunken Scots there (any opportunity for a time out of Scotland) and it was pandemonium. "Action Man" George Jones fired home the winner for Latics and we maintained an aggregate lead with a creditable draw at Tynecastle in the second leg. Two away draws at Hull City (George Jones last minute leveller) and Portsmouth (Alan Young first goal for the boys) left us midtable and then we hosted Fulham and were treated to a riproaring spectacle which was settled by a great own-goal by the finest player ever to notch an OG at Oldham - none other than Bobby Moore (England's World Cup winning captain from 1966) What a start - 4 home wins on the spin (not seen that for many a year in the modern era). Our first home defeat was a last minute winner by Ray Graydon for Villa (1-2) and this set off a slump in results which determined that this would be a season of struggle rather than the early results promised. We beat Notts County 1-0 at home but then followed a reversal to our friends York City (2-3) and home draws with Millwall and Norwich. The away form struggled to get any momentum and reverses followed at Cardiff, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and West Brom (the latter 3 all been established in League 1 as lately as 1970. Latics had by this stage exited the Texaco Cup 5-2 on aggregate to Southampton (1-3 at home and 1-2 at the Dell) which put paid to a potential Cup on the sideboard at the Home of British football. December started with a shock home defeat to Bristol Rovers (3-4) which left the faithful concerned for our future as now both teams who came up with us left the virtually impregnable Boundary Park with the points. As our away form was desperate, things were looking bleak and maybe the bookies expectations of a season of struggle were going to be proved right. A decent point at Hillsborough was gained and then mighty Sunderland racked up at Boundary Park the week before Christmas with a massive travelling army of knobheads. It was a bit like the Sheffield Wednesday debacle on the opening day of the season - I have no idea what time they turned up but the Chaddy was a sea of Red and White. The Latics fans were stationed at the bottom of the Chaddy and at some stage in the first half (might have been half time), the stewards opened the gates to allow Latics fans to access safer areas of the Ford Stand Paddock. This resulted in the Wearsiders surging forward and Latics fans scurrying to safety. An act of spite and totally uncalled for, those at the gates were either younger children or non-aggressive adults who posed no threat to the simpletons who wanted to attack them. Boxing Day defeat followed at Blackpool (1-0) and then the game that all at the club were waiting for, Manchester United visited their lovely little neighbours on Saturday 28 December 1974. A crowd of 26,384 swelled the Boundary Park coffers and I expect at least half were supporting the Red shite. The Chaddy End was full of bloody Reds, Latics seemed to have both sides. The game itself - Ronnie Blair headed home after 10 minutes, the ball hit the stanchion and rebounded to safety, Alex Stepney United goalie watched on as the referee and linesman ruled play on, neither had seen the ball behind the goal line. Its hard enough beating top of the league without the Reds having the assistance of the officials! Stuart Pearson who was United's talisman striker rounded Chris Ogden and then hit the post - an escape..... Latics were awarded a 68th minute penalty and Maurice Whittle powered home the spotkick and Latics were amazingly 1-0 up!!! This bloody shower had been Champions of Europe in 1968, were past their best but were sadly on the return. They had the biggest crowds in the country, the hated Red Army ran amok everywhere they went and little old Oldham were beating them 1-0!!! I can't recall whether United put us under siege after the goal but I expect they couldn't have been too much on top as I am sure I would have remembered it. Latics saw it out - we had beaten the bloody Reds and registered a first win since October 15th in a bid to survive our first season in the big league since 1954. Part 2 to follow ……………..

We played on the opening day of the season (0-0 draw) and then again in December when we won 1-0 in the FA Cup 2nd round

Cheers Sparkleking - I remember Carl Spiers first committing his memories to print, epics - not always factually correct about the games, lots of the stuff about off-the-field activities I recall happened but slightly different version of events..... always fancied writing my memories about the boys