th2003

Its true. Link coming.

Thanks for the feedback so far. To answer: 1. Yarddog - I am sure that we will always be walking down sheepfoot lane, metaphorically at least. Perhaps the chant will go "Sprinting through Newton Heath...to outrun the North Manc Chav Scum!" 2. Andy_b_100 - I have no idea yet where this is going. When I have gone through the motions, so to speak, I might look at expansion. 3. Marcoasis - Sorry about the name. I'd love to say it came out of a flash of inspiration (as I am sure yours did), I was just looking for something that wasn't Boundary related so as not to tread on the toes of the legendary BTB and seem to have jumped on yours and Frankly's plates of meat with my size 10 boots on. I am not claiming copyright! Peace and Love...and 3 points on Saturday

My father in law asked me on holiday why we don't have a fanzine anymore. The seed on an idea was planted...and I have just published the first couple of things that threw themselves up. Link Some pieces will be weekly, some will be monthly, some are to come and others might never see the light of day again. Feedback and subscribers welcome

I would have thought Werneth was closer.

There was a season when Les Pogliacomi was the best thing since sliced bread...and then a season when he was as popular as a marmite sandwich. Confidence is a massive thing as a goalie (I should know as I have worn the gauntlets for many a year) and any keeper, no matter what his ability is, can have a bad run. Goram, Rhodes, Hallworth, Gerrard, Kelly (repeat ad infinitum) have had bad spells...but we simply have to give the guy a chance and he will hopefully come through. Rome was not built in a day (I went there recently and some of the older bits are falling down), and in the same way we cannot expect instant success. Goalies also feed off the confidence of their defence and, to be fair, Gregan and Hazell have been as good a double act as Abbott and Costello or Laurel and Hardy recently. The boy is wearing the Athletic badge on his chest at the end of the day. I didn't agree with people booing Richard Butcher and I don't agree with booing someone who has made mistakes, but not been given the opportunity to fully prove himself.

There was a season when Les Pogliacomi was the best thing since sliced bread...and then a season when he was as popular as a marmite sandwich. Confidence is a massive thing as a goalie (I should know as I have worn the gauntlets for many a year) and any keeper, no matter what his ability is, can have a bad run. Goram, Rhodes, Hallworth, Gerrard, Kelly (repeat ad infinitum) have had bad spells...but we simply have to give the guy a chance and he will hopefully come through. Rome was not built in a day (I went there recently and some of the older bits are falling down), and in the same way we cannot expect instant success. Goalies also feed off the confidence of their defence and, to be fair, Gregan and Hazell have been as good a double act as Abbott and Costello or Laurel and Hardy recently. The boy is wearing the Athletic badge on his chest at the end of the day. I didn't agree with people booing Richard Butcher and I don't agree with booing someone who has made mistakes, but not been given the opportunity to fully prove himself.

Athletic versus Arsenal. League Cup 1989. 2-0 up and we win a free kick about 35 yards out. Denis Irwin places the ball on the plastic and takes a few steps back whilst Arsenals 2 man wall get into place. Irwin strikes the ball clean and true only for it to halted 10 yards away as the rocket hits Kevin Richardson square in the nuts. Richardson doubles up in a messy heap on the floor and over 10000 men wince in unison. Still brings a tear to my eye now. Priceless, but probably very painful.

For those of you who remember Spitting Image, and that South Africa used to suffer under minority white rule:

Jordan Rhodes, born in Oldham, and son of Athletic legend Andy Rhodes.

In my day as a ball boy we had to stand up!! And woe betide if you stood in front of an advertising hoarding - Alan Hardy would be at top of the tunnel waiting to tell you off.

Paint Pot. Just out of curiosity, can the holders (Luton) defend their title this year as they have dropped out of League 2?

Winston Dubose Ian Ironside Jeff Wealands Martin Hodge Andy Gorton Brian Parkin Peter McDonnell (who looked a bit like Peter Sutcliffe, but was a European Cup Winner with Liverpool and not a lorry driving, prostitute murdering Yorkshireman) John Platt Lance Key Chris Taylor (OK, not over 35 but played in goal once) John 'Lucky' Keeley Mark Grew I think that just about covers the 80's

Marlon Broomes - to sweep up at the back

The Pub? The Dogs? Probably not the Chippy!

What was the funniest thing you saw on the pitch at BP last season? The Hereford right midfielder being substituted because his red boots had split and he didn't have a spare pair springs to mind.

Agreed. The home one (blue) would be like the traditional Latics shirt worn by the likes of Jimmy Frizzell etc. If we had white with a central red stripe as an away kit we would look like Ajax. Excellent!!

Andy Barlow? John Ryan?

Doesn't that also make today the 19th anniversary of our 3-3 draw with Man U in the semi of the FA Cup?

In a bid to avoid relegation Newcastle United appear set to appoint Alan Shearer as their manager until the end of the season. If you thought the feel good factor around Oldham was a buzz when Joe came home, imagine what the mood in Geordieland will be like tonight and tomorrow!! And before anyone says anything...it was reported on BBC Radio Five Live at 11.15pm, a full 45 minutes before April 1st. That said, the timing is priceless!!

littlealan@oldhamathletic.co.uk

Scott Golbourne is 25/1 to score first according to William Hill.

I had to make do with a Twix and it wasn't even half time!! Royle out...Pies in!

Neville Southall?

Come the summer, Big Joe extends contract and brings in Paul Scholes as his player/coach/apprentice. Royle can do anything...he got City promoted and won Everton an FA Cup!!

Just received the following from a coach company contact of mine: The Fraser Eagle group of companies has lodged a legal notice, filing for Administration, with the High Court’s Manchester District Registry in attempt to deal with the cash-flow issues it is currently facing. The form 2.8b is a notice of intent by the directors of the three Fraser Eagle companies involved to appoint an Administrator. At this stage, however, the firm is not in Administration, nor is it in receivership. Administration orders, introduced by the Insolvency Act 1986, are a mechanism for protecting companies from their creditors while a restructuring plan is completed. The notice was filed with the court on Tuesday afternoon (3 March) and the appointment process could take up to 10 days. However, speaking to routeONE Live News this afternoon (Thursday), a Fraser Eagle spokesman said that an Administrator appointment is expected to be made in the next few days. In the meantime, Fraser Eagle continues to trade, and its UK staff of 109 in Padiham, Lancashire, plus 15 at Fraser Eagle London, remain at work, although 50 were laid off last week as previously reported. Fraser Eagle says it believes its underlying business remains strong, and it could still emerge from Administration as a going concern, but its current cash-flow difficulties have forced this move. The cash-flow situation has not been helped by intense speculation and continued rumours of the firm’s alleged demise. In total three group companies have filed for protection: Fraser Eagle Ltd (the former Fraser Eagle Management Services business), Fraser Eagle London (the new Capital-based coaching operation started last year) and Fraser Eagle Property Holding Co. (which owns the Padiham HQ premises) have filed for, what in effect, is a type of bankruptcy protection similar to the US ‘Chapter 11’. In the meantime, Fraser Eagle is continuing to trade, and had a number of coaches at last night’s Stoke v Bolton football match, and further work planned for this weekend will go ahead, says the firm. Added the Fraser Eagle spokesman: “We are grateful for the support during this period. Our customers remain very loyal and many of our suppliers are also very loyal. This is not necessarily the end of Fraser Eagle, but we do not know any more at this stage.”