ThaiLatic

I have been in Japan for around 2 years now and while I have missed the Latics, not having a team to support out here has got me into groundhopping, especially in the lower leagues. Here is an article I wrote about my local team out here in Japan called Nara Club. It has been picked up by a UK football website.

 

Football out here in Japan is still developing so it gives an interesting insight into the development of a professional club. There is a real appetite for football out here, but there professional divisions are still in the process of expanding. I can imagine its similar to England about 100 years ago.

 

Anyway I thought I'd post it here in case anyone is interested in reading about football around the world.

 

http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2016/2/8/drum

Good article. If you're not already aware of it, my mate Alan runs a website and edits a magazine - JSoccer. I'm sure he'd be happy to hear from you if you'd like o write more.

http://jsoccer.com/

Ray Wilson.

He won the World Cup!

On the side as well. A great weekend in york made sweeter by United getting relegated the same day. Sent down by city and Denis Law. The beer flowed that day

 

Rictic will remember the weekend well.

Yep. Great day. And the roar from both sets of fans at full time when the Utd score was read out, will stay with me forever. :-)

It might surprise lots on here but he was a bit of a boo-boy for our fans when he first came into the team

Ha, ha! My dad once spent the entire ninety minutes slagging him off, only to be told at the final whistle, that Ian's mum was sitting in front of him!

That was 72/3

We lost

That's the one.

I went and I knew we lost. Just couldn't remember the year. Thanks.

Wot! no Jim Beardall?

He could well have been playing.

I certainly watched Latics before then, but that's the first XI I can actually remember.

In those days you knew the team week in week out, now they are here today gone tomorrow. With it a lot of club identity has been lost.

And can still recall it nearly fifty years later!

RIP Tommy. Fondly remembered as one of my first heroes.

 

I do miss those days. Days when football was just well, football. I remember vividly my dad taking me to Southport just after Christmas. It was freezing and we won 4-1. I was 10 and that was the year I started to want to go to every Latics game and played up when I wasn't allowed to go to Bournemouth. Dad went with my uncle and said we were lucky to get nil. I just wanted to see Ted Macdougal. One of my most cherished pieces of football memorabilia came to Australia with me. My first edition 1970-71 Rothmans Football Yearbook which I got for my 11th birthday. It is dog-eared and tattered from religiously memorising every football ground and club nickname of all 92 league clubs. It is the best birthday present I have ever had and was truly the greatest road map of this 11 year old's universe.

 

Also have the Park Drive equivalent with George Best on the front cover. I spent weeks trudging the streets picking up all the park drive cigarette packets and collecting the inserts in order to get it!

Was that Bournemouth match the one we went on the League Liner? Or am I getting them mixed up?

Let's not forget then that we had these idols even when playing in division four!

The first Latics team I can remember would've been something like this:

1. Barry Gordine

2. Ian Wood

3. Ray Wilson

4. Alan McNeil

5. Jim Bowie

6. Bill Cranston

7. Don Heath

8. David Shaw

9. Jim Fryatt

10. Tommy Brycleland

11. John Colquhoun

All heroes!

One of my favourites, when I was young.

RIP Tommy.

He was one of those Hungarians from MTK Budapest we had on loan through the link Corney had set up.From memory only the striker Fischer? made an appearance for the first team.

Thanks.

Apparently he was on loan at Oldham in 2009. His name didn't ring any bells with me. And it's one you would expect to remember.

Does anyone remember him?

He's just signed for Sisaket in the Thai Premier League.

It will always be Mouldy Old Dough for me.

Alternatively make a weekend of it, its a Bank Holiday afterall

I'd certainly recommend this - if possible. Burton is one of the most accommodating towns in England. You'll have a great time.

Friday's a bank holiday, so it's no different to a Saturday kick-off. The day isn't as much the issue (unless you've booked trains and hotels in advance), but the early kick-off means that it will be very early getting the train and there won't be time to visit the pubs (Burton is obviously known for its beer, hence 'Brewers nickname) pre-match.

Thanks. I didn't realise that the Friday is a Bank Holiday. Easter?

I guess it's a pain for those fans who've already made plans.

I know why Burton is famous. I grew up there. :-) The Blue Posts, The Dog, The Bridge, The Roebuck, The Coopers (next to the dole office!), The Sump etc. No doubt Diego will pitch in with a few more :-)

I`ve tried quoting the "I`ve been waiting for this for 41 years post" but the quote thing doesn't seem to work? We played Burton a few years ago in the cup from memory - was a great day/night out - their supporter's club in/near the ground was a little belter

I know. But that was a cup tie. When I moved to the Burton area in 1975, the thought of Oldham playing the Albion in a league game seemed ridiculous. It's just a shame that this fixture won't be at Eton Park.

In addition, the fact that I'll be watching my "local" team hosting my hometown team in a fixture while I'm watching on TV 6,000 miles away, seems quite romantic.

This is a genuine question, so please don't get angry. Why is a 12:30pm Saturday kick off at a ground less than two hours drive away such a problem? I would've thought that this was preferable to playing on a Friday.

Thanks.

FFS. I was looking forward to this game possibly more than any other this season.

I've been waiting for this match for 41 years!

Well, now you can all have a Friday AND Saturday night in Burton. That has to be a result.

Good news for me.

Happy Christmas everyone!

I remember watching an early '80s (Channel 4?) documentary about the Shaw Road Estate and the demolition of the old terraced houses. It was the inspiration for Everything But The Girl's 'Anytown' - which includes the line: "Summer in the driving rain and I can hear the Oldham train".

In the late 60's we lost to South Shields at home after a replay.

I went to this match with my grandad. It was a choice between the Latics or staying at home and watching Harry Worth on the TV. Worst decision I ever made!

I didn't go to the Scarborough tie (it was midweek) but I remember listening in horror to the coverage on Radio Two - as it was then.

My uncle got us there late so we went in the RRE with the Villa fans and got pissed wet through. Mind you Villa were very good that day

I think future Latics legend Andy Lochhead got a hat trick.