LaticsPete

20 minutes ago, GKing521 said:

Anything other than a convincing victory today and he should be relieved of his duties. 

Marshall tore us apart at valley Parade a few years ago. Hope he’s slowed a bit!

Great cross for our second goal at Fulham. Always respected for that. 

Outrageous. Update of B team match

https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2023/february/16022023-b-team-1-1-fleetwood-xi/

Windass fills the kit !

League Cup and Latics
The Carabao Cup Final is nearly with us, the most recent incarnation of what has previously been the Milk, Rumbelows, Coca-Cola, Worthington, Carling, Littlewoods, Capital One, and of course Football League Cup. Officially it is now the EFL Cup, and the trophy is the one first used in the original season of 1960/61.
Oldham’s first foray into the competition had resulted in a 2-1 home win against Hartlepools but next up was an away game at Norwich on 28th October 1960. The programme’s “Club Notes” welcomed everyone to Carrow Road’s first ever League Cup contest and it was noted that it was Latics’ introduction to playing there. The bright canary yellow cover had an aerial photo of the venue, match details in green, and was priced at 4d for 16pp.  No pen pictures but a page about the visitors the same as allocated to “Personality Parade”, showcasing the chartered accountant and Norwich Director Henry Robinson. (Delia was just about starting her cookery career as a restaurant dishwasher in Paddington). Fixtures, appearances, and the League Table (Division Two) all featured, and the teams were laid out on the centre pages. Shorts were still described as knickers and local adverts included Norwich Surgical Stores for “jock straps and appliances”, vacancies in the Norfolk Yeomanry, and “the best travel agency in Norwich”, George Wortley. A very comfortable 6-2 win for the Canaries, Bert Lister bagging both Oldham goals with a crowd of 13080.  Norwich went on to the 4th Round and a defeat by Shrewsbury.
It had become the Littlewoods Cup when Darlington hosted Oldham, again in the 2nd Round, on 27th September 1988. The Quakers, propping up Div 4, had knocked out Doncaster in the two-legged previous round whilst Latics had received a bye courtesy of their Div 2 status. A glossy 16pp programme was fronted by the club nickname dominating a background goal net, with match details easily visible, all in black, white and yellow. A full three pages were devoted to the visitors, including two matches from the past. Whilst the teams were squeezed onto the bottom half of the back cover, the centre pages covered fixtures, appearances, upcoming games and a note of the day’s Quaker Mascot. Is Scott Ripley, then aged six, still a supporter? Or have his other hobbies of fishing and Tae Kwondo taken over? He would have been a happy boy that night, his Quakers winning 2-0 before 1665 spectators. Unfortunately, this was another two-legged affair and Oldham had a comfortable 4-0 victory at Boundary Park, Frank Bunn and Andy Ritchie, of whom more later, amongst the scorers.  It was a season that ended with Latics 16th in Div 2, but Darlington were relegated from Div 4. 

Our next programme is of a match that was probably the most celebrated defeat in Oldham’s history. Losing 0-3 at West Ham sent Latics fans into ecstasy as it meant that the club had reached Wembley for the first time, in the final of the (still) Littlewoods Cup. On 14th Feb 1990 Oldham had, in what even this programme called “the St Valentine’s Day Massacre”, thrashed the Hammers 6-0 at Boundary Park in the semi-final first leg. Now, three weeks later, West Ham tried and failed to overcome that. It must have been tough for the programme editor to create an upbeat feel to the publication and realism prevailed with “the burning embers of our Wembley dreams still lay smouldering in the debris of that humiliation”. However, the 40pp programme was filled with reports of all the Hammers’ victories in earlier rounds, content from several players, two pages on player connections between the clubs, only five had turned out for both it seems, and historical content about earlier clashes. Teams were listed 1-11 on the back page and another six-year-old mascot, Jonathan Short, is featured. 
Despite the state of the tie, the programme cover had the trophy in centre stage, flanked by photos of the two captains, Mike Milligan and Julian Dicks. There’s no match date (it was 7th March 1990) and the price was £1.00 in the ground and £1.25 “off stadium”.  The 6-0 first leg victory wasn’t Oldham’s biggest in the competition that season, a 7-0 win over Scarborough in October witnessing Frank Bunn’s record six goals in a League Cup match.

Finally, another game that saw the goals flow, in the Rumbelow’s Cup as it was called in 1991/2. Top-flight Oldham, as they were by then, had the 2nd Round First Leg at home to Torquay on 24th September. The club’s programme had adopted a reproduction of the “Oldham Athletic Gazette” heading that had graced the very first issues and for many years after. The rest of the cover had certainly moved on, however, a full colour action photo in the middle superimposed on a crowd background. 40pp for £1.20, four of which were focused on Torquay including spotlights on the manager (John Imney), star player (Wayne Dobbins), and former star (Robin Stubbs).  
Historical content is included with nine games played on the same date in earlier years, and there are features on Scottish football, other local clubs, and the next home game. The teams are lined up on the back cover, Oldham’s including Andy Ritchie who bagged four goals in the 7-1 win. Probably the biggest cheer for a goal from the 7250 spectators that night came, however, for the one from Graeme Sharp. Signed in close season from Everton, he’d not got a goal in his first nine games, but this unlocked the door, and he ended the season with 15. A 9-1 victory on aggregate, a victory over Derby in the third round, but Latics cup run ended at Old Trafford, losing 2-0 to Manchester United in December.

6 minutes ago, Dave_Og said:

I see Sean Dyche has recruited a number of Everton legends to mingle with current players to boost morale.  Big Joe being one of them.

And Graeme Sharp .... shame he didn't do that for us

The u-18 fixture list is  there. Quite clearly.

https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/matches/academy-fixtures/

1 hour ago, Worcester Owl said:

I'm with @BP1960 on this. The Youth team wear the shirt, just like the full time professionals, and deserve to be reported on.

You miss the point. Nobody is saying don’t report on them , just that it might not be practicable to do so at the click of one person’s fingers. 

McAleny picks up award

https://salfordcityfc.co.uk/mcaleny-wins-jan23-player-of-the-month-100223/

2 hours ago, Wardie said:

It's not just OAFC who can sometimes mis-manage potential.

As well exemplified by City and Leeds in the 80s, much to our benefit!

17 minutes ago, BP1960 said:

A very good win, but not worthy it seems of reporting on official oafc media as far as I can see. Didn't even know there was a game on.

 

 

Give em a break for goodness’ sake. Or put in an official……

Harry Bunn signs for Ashton Utd. 

13 hours ago, Shrek said:

 

Wild is ambitious? Not sure what he's actually achieved really. Seems a decent manager from a far but ambitious?

 

Halifax, still here. Barrow, league two mid table. He's hardly unique. 

 

Ambitious for me would be a Cowley or someone with a similar trajectory. 

 

All pie in the sky at this point.

Crowley trajectory has , to say the least, stalled. 

Cocker Hoop

Robert Endeacott & Dave Cocker

Pitch Publishing 2022

Hardback 256 pp £19.99

There used to be a relatively small man sat on the bench with Alf Ramsey and Don Revie. Generally known as the trainer although probably not many people really understood what his role was. Les Cocker, as the book’s subtitle says, was their “key man”, an ex-lower league footballer, one of the first to achieve FA coaching credentials, and probably a greater influence over the careers of many top players than at first sight.

Cocker, from Stockport, had played for his hometown club and Accrington Stanley as a combative forward for over 300games until 1958 when he moved into coaching at Luton. A couple of years later he moved to Leeds United before also becoming a squad trainer for Walter Winterbottom’s England. It’s the twin track of loyalty to both of these set-ups, whichforms the bulk of this story. Written by a Leeds supporter and Les’ son, it may at times to be a subjective memoir, but it still opens up a window on to the game in the 60s and 70s, told with some illuminating testimonials to the input Cocker had. 

Regarded by seemingly all the players he came into contact with as a man who pushed them physically to the limits, he was also viewed as an excellent man-manager and an unselfish colleague who worked to improve their game. Johnny Giles is fulsome in his praise saying that his contribution to the “cause of Leeds United and England should never be overlooked” and is one of several top playersthat talk of how Cocker spent time with them on specific developments I their play. The respect is self-evident and was obviously shred by both Ramsey and Revie to whom he became one of the most loyal of lieutenants. It was Sir Alf that talked him out of resigning when he got the sack as England manger, and Cocker stood by Revie through all the traumas of Leeds, England and Dubai, when allegations of cheating and greed were rampant. A constant was Cocker’s disgust at some of the allegedly self-serving, high-handed actions of the FA hierarchy and the Leeds Board of Directors. 

The book is written pretty much in a chronological manner, starting with Cocker’s early days and ending with the posthumous awarding of a 1966 World Cup Winner’s medal in 2009, thirty years after his death. There are aspects of his career that could have been explored further, such as relationship with Harold Shepherdson, Ramsey’s assistant, but it’s an easy read about football at the time and how undervalued many of the key components of it have been undervalued. Talking of which, the pension his widow received from the FA, after Les’16 years of service was, in 2019, a princely £2.79 per week.

I genuinely can’t remember him and yet he was here this season! 

3 hours ago, oafc1955 said:

I think it might have been Glen Keeley

Indeed it was 

41 minutes ago, oafc1955 said:

Am I right in saying Paul Jones and Andy Ritchie made their debuts in the same game at West Brom?

Ritchie made his debut th n but Jones’ was a couple of years earlier, in 1985 v Bradford City. 

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/23274360.york-city-second-best-disappointing-defeat-oldham/

The Games That Made Us

Daniel Hurley

Pitch Publishing 2022

Hardback 350pp £18.99

The importance of any game can be attached to it in two ways: either that assessed at the time, or that’s arrived at with hindsight. The “six pointer” that actually turned out to be irrelevant, or that apparently meaningless fixture upon which a season ultimately pivoted. So, when the author decided to write of West Ham United’s 50 most important matches of the last 30 years, he was able to include both, most of which he attended and some from later research, friends, and family. The result is an entertaining span of players, managers, teams, and places that , whilst of most interest to a Hammer, was also a refreshing reminder of the Premier League era outside the very elite. Not a “what’s happened to football” saga, but the story of how a yo-yo club , sometimes on the edges of achievement, sometimes near circling down, dealt with the new environment.

The years from 1992 fall nicely into nicely into Daniel Hurley’s own life, a primary school kid at first, and when going to his first football game, through student years, and now at the stage of being a father, setting his own boy on the West Ham supporting track. It allows him to talk of matches that probably had more importance to him than to the club and even then he admits that his recall of games he attended early on isn’t too robust but his descriptions are put into the context of what else was happening. So, in November 1993, the home clash with Manchester City was West Ham’s first ever live game on Sky. Significant as the starting point to the almost wall-to-wall coverage that it and every Premier League club now gets and, at the time, tremendously exciting.

As the period unfolds the author seamlessly addresses managerial changes, the finale of the Boleyn Ground, the glamour of Europe (losing in consecutive years to Astra Giurgia of Romania) ,  the great, the bad, and the downright abysmal players that have turned out, all in an affectionate, but not overly partisan fashion. Yes, the ecstasy and agony of beating or losing to Tottenham Hotspur is evident, but there’s a writing style that is self-deprecating and mirrors the inbuilt acceptance of disappointment that many supporters of lots of clubs have. There’s no sense of a divine right of winning things and that makes his descriptions of success, whether in one match or over a longer period, enjoyable even to someone with no East London affiliation. I started the book fearing that it would be narrative of West Ham glory days, but it turned out to be an affectionate warts-and-all set of memories and reports that would appeal to supporters of all sorts (though maybe not those of Tottenham.

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/23271069.webb-calls-city-fans-support-tricky-oldham/

A distinctly mid table disciplinary performance so far 

https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/football/the-dirtiest-teams-in-the-national-league-and-how-fc-halifax-town-compare-to-wrexham-notts-county-chesterfield-southend-united-and-the-rest-of-the-league-3992732?fbclid=IwAR05YG6Q8RWrr-qoUYlTcvL-h5BQFLtqFcmCQ_ssB6QATa10Br1u6zFuHJA

On 1/18/2023 at 9:58 AM, BP1960 said:

I'm keeping tabs on a Championship clubs u21 attacking midfielder.

Not been on loan yet,  but has played in the first team.

 

Not an harassing nor hostile question but what does that mean? Have you seen him play, are you planning on seeing him, or what? 

Nearest And Dearest

Located in what is probably the highest concentration of professional clubs in the country, Oldham have a multiplicity of local derby options. Within fifteen miles of Boundary Park there are two Premier League and four EFL clubs, recent years have also seen Halifax, Stockport and Bury in competitive action against Latics and that’s all before the farther reaches of Lancashire in the form of Preston, Wigan, Blackburn, and Burnley are included. The ups and downs of league status have always provided opportunities for the spice that derbies provide although Rochdale and Bury were consistenly the games that provoked some of the most frequent clashes in recent  years.

The “Flat Cap Classico” against Rochdale only started in 1935 when both clubs were in Div Three North but the three miles separating the two grounds has meant that it has been eagerly anticipated ever since. In 1958 both clubs found themselves in that same division but with the threat of demotion to the new Division Four that was being created the following season. The match on April 26^th saw Oldham on 44 points and Rochdale on 45. The latter were, however, just above the mid-point of the table which would mean continued Division Three presence whilst Oldham were just below, giving the game a “four pointer” feel. The eight page programme, priced at 3d, was eight pages in the rather awkward size of ….. printed throughout in blue. The Editorial congratulated the “playing staff on the grand fight they had put up in recent weeks” with three wins from the last five games. Rochdale were given a page of pen pictures, note being made of seven Scots in the 12 man squad.  Entertainment was provided by the St John Pipe Band and after the match you could call for both bleached and unbleached tripe at Heginbottom & Sons. The second highest attendance of the season, 10919, saw a 0-0 draw, not enough for Oldham who finished fifteenth and into Divisiin 4.

It was at that level that the clubs met at Spotland on March 3^rd 1962. Both teams were regarded as having an outside chance of promotion and a “cracker” was anticipated in the Supporters’ Club Notes. A small, pocket size, programme favoured at times by Crystal Palace, Swindon, Walsall, and Oldham themselves, was the order of the day, 12 pages on gloss paper for 4d. At the time Rochdale played in black and white and the programme printed likewise, a very clear front cover dominated by match details. Oldham were rebuilding their side with star being Bobby Johnstone, one of Hibs’ “famousFive” forwards and an FA Cup winner with Manchester City, but the home side were “hoping to prove Rochdale’s superiority”.  Home of the Co-operative movement, founded in Toad Lane, Rochdale, the local Co-op was advertising “Stanley Matthews” football boots which were lightwight, streamlined and special , all for less than 37 shillings ( £1.85). Blackburn brewers, Duttons, claimed “today’s most popular beers” , and Blacburn got another mention when Dlae’s League Cup Semi-Final against Rovers  was given a reminder, a game that saw Rochdale into their only major trophy final, losing to Norwich. Against Oldham the home team were comfortable 3-1 winners, despite a Johnstone goal, completing a double over Latics.

Promotion was achieved by Oldham the following season and on Septembrr 5th 1967 thry travelled the seven miles to play Bury. An A5 programme, price 6d and including a copy of Football League Review, made great play on both the cover and inside, of the introduction of radio commentaries of Shakers’ matches to hospital patients. Only one survivor in the Oldham team from the Rochdale match five years earlier , Jimmy Frizzell, who went on to manage the club for 12 years. The headine of “First Victory Awated” greeted readers as Bury had lost their first three games and a “vigorous search is being made to add to the playing staff”. Oldham had recently returned from a victorious tour of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Malawi but had also had a tough start, just one point fom three games. Along with player manager Jimmy McIlroy a further 20 pen pictures appeared of the visitors although the line-up that was printed was unchanged at kick off. Lots of adverts from local companies with an exhortation to support these businesses. The ferilizers for the Ggg Lane pitch were supplied by Rigby Taylor who are still in existence, as is the White Lion Hotel, although it no longer has “Harry Whitworth ex Bury AFC” as its proprietor. A few celebratory pints may have been pulled as Bury won 3-1 to please the majority of an 8208 crowd.

Finally we move more than 40 years on and into the era of glossy    , high-spec, match programmes. It’s still the third rung, now called League One but now £3 for the full colour 64page magazine that Oldham produced on 5 November 2011 to welcome Bury. Six pages of information on the visitors, two of which look at former players including Neville Southall, Colin Bell and Lee Dixon. Oldham also look at the past with a review of season starts from 1968 onwards. Scottish defender Zander Diamond explores the idea of independence for his country, is sympathetic to it but hasn’t definitely decided. Lots of stats are crammed in as well as articles by manager Paul Dickov, captain Dean Furman, and local and national journalists. No adverts for tripe butchers this time but Latics fans can get discounts with Thomas Cook. Another win for Bury however, a 2-0 success and only 5149 watching. It was Latics’ 15^th consecutive season in the division eventually finishing 16^th whilst Bury ended 14^th.

13 hours ago, frizzell54 said:

I remember many years ago we had a player called Carl Valentine for some reason he spent time at Vancouver Whitecaps about 1978/9 I think.  He was there when Alan Ball was playing for them.  When he came back at the end of their season first match he was transformed, dare I say Grovesesque.   Beating players down to the bye line and crossing or cutting in along the line.  After about a month all that had gone, knocked out of him by the Oldham coaches.  Back to stop at the penalty area play square or back.

 

I think he went back to the Whitecaps.

Indeed. Vancouver signed him, and then loaned him back to us before he went over , and took out Canadian citizenship. He actually played for Canada in the three group matches they had in the 1986 World Cup Finals 

Ten Big Ears

Aly Mir

Pitch Publishing 2022

Hardback 318pp  £16.99

This isn’t a book about a 5-a-side team’s hearing but rather an account of FC Barcelona’s five European Cup/Champions League successes, drawing on the distinctive design of the trophy itself. Whilst there are other narratives about the club and its European matches this is probably unusual in that the author occupies a space in the football supporters’ world that isn’t that common. Every so often he writes of his support for Leeds United but has chronicled his obvious love for Barca in such a comprehensive manner that one is left wondering when there was time (or money) to offer such support.

For 39 years he has watched the Catalans to such an extent that he is a leading light in the “Penya Blaugrana London” (Blue and Red Supporters Club London) and with other penyas worldwide. The story he tells is a detailed one, many matches in most campaigns recalled almost as match reports as well as how he got his ticket, how much he paid, what colours the team wore, and where in the stadium he was positioned.  For non-Barca supporters this could pall after a few chapters but, along the way, it illustrates the changes in players, coaches and fortunes of the club. Certainly, the period covered saw it almost come full circle, with a beginning and end each associated with severe financial problems and a ban by UEFA. So, against this background, five times as champions of Europe is an exceptionally praiseworthy achievement and Aly Mir partially sets it in the cultural and historical environment of Catalan identity and tension between it and the rest of Spain.

It is this thread in the book that will appeal more to the wider football supporter: it’s a necessary counterbalance to the personal match by match stories. The chapters towards the end that talk about the development of penyas, the history behind the evolution of the club badge, or why the club colours are blue and red and who has made the kits, are ones that, for me, perked up my interest anew. Without spoiling the story, the first badge unique to the club was designed in 1910, “blaugrana” was selected in 1899, although there are multiple versions of why, Meyba was the first company contracted to produce Barca kits, and the first penya was formed in1944 and there are now 1273 of them, 151 outside Spain. Have they aligned themselves with a club that is now the dominant force in Spain? Will Barcelona still be a premier port of all for some of the world’s top players? Without Middle Eastern money is it able to spend competitively? The story is still unfolding the period since the early 80s may or may not be an indicator of the future. The book is, however, an honest if personal account of what it has meant to one fan.