LaticsPete

Have you seen him play in the flesh?

But aren’t we also having talks? Or have they been jettisoned? Could be he’s deciding between the two. Doubtful but maybe

Defender Joseph VARNEY signs . In squad for today. Former Chesterfield

Sutton returns to Latics already

It's Christmas time Christmas is here and it’s an open goal to look at programmes that have some relationship with it . What could be a link?. Programmes with players dressed up as Santa Claus on the cover? The words “Happy Christmas” emblazoned across the front? No. It’s Robins. Surely there’s no creature that appears on more Christmas cards than a robin. So, it’s Latics versus four clubs that have “Robins” as their nickname. A tenuous theme but here we go. First up is a very recent issue from Altrincham, replete with “Robins Review” across the front. Oldham’s first visit to Moss Lane in the National League was on 25th October this year and a very readable programme was produced by the Cheshire club. A good, sharp, photo of two celebrating players filled most of the cover, match details at the bottom (dates but no opponents which seemed strange). Inside there’s no mistaking that it was Oldham who were the visitors, five pages devoted solely to them, whilst three other features linked to the Lancastrians in one way or another. The last time the teams had met was in a Friendly in 1968 and there’s a two-page spread on that, tying in with what else what has happening (the Beatles were at No 1). There’s also a similar-size piece by Neil Tague who had spent his youth being a fan of both clubs, and both articles are all illustrated with contemporary and archive illustrations. The same applies to “Football Focus” by Alty’s Director of Football whose wife and family hail from Oldham. As with the whole programme, there is a clear piece of text on perfectly white paper, creating a simple, yet strong, design that’s easy to read and looks clean and easily as good as some EFL clubs. The editorials are boosted by some wider football content but written by Altrincham connections. Director Scott Burton writes about Canadian soccer, national and local, and Programme Editor Ed Martin links that to his piece on former Everton and Alty defender Roger Kenyon. All very readable and overall, a cracking programme with good coverage of the community side of the club. It was, however, a far from cracking performance by Latics, losing 1-0 in front of their hosts’ biggest attendance of the season, 3553. Just, almost exactly, nine years earlier, the Robins of Swindon were at Boundary Park for a League 1 game on 26th October 2013. Again, two players took up most of the cover, although only half of each, apparently split in twain down the head and torso. This issue had Matteo Lanzini and Anton Rodgers (Brendan’s boy) divided by match details and club crest for the front of the 68pp programme. There’s a strong emphasis on Latics’ players throughout with features of varying angles on Adam Rooney (ex-Inverness , “when Inverness came in for me I wasn’t even sure where it was”), Arsenal fan Charlie MacDonald on Oldham being his 13th club, young Rodgers on how the Seven Deadly Sins affect him ( greed – “I once bought a Louis Vuitton rucksack for a small fortune” ) , and ‘keeper Paul Rachubka with what happened on the day he was born , 21st May 1981. Lee Johnson “The Gaffer” in his “Welcome to the Robins”, says he’s interested in how they have linked to Tottenham Hotspur and taken young players on loan and wonders if the idea spreads to other clubs. Johnson matched up against another young manager in Mark Cooper and he, along with skipper Darren Ward are profiled after “Factual Robins” that has details of previous clashes. The Robins’ “Star Man” is identified as Nile Ranger. Surely one of a handful of players who has a section headed “Legal History” in his Wikipedia entry. A little more wholesome are articles on Oldham’s Community Trust, and the junior Boundary Blues where Match Mascot Daniel English predicts a 2-1 home win. Football historian Leigh Edwards looked at ten key matches and events that shaped Swindon’s post-war history and there are other “external” pieces on Financial Fair Play in the EFL, and whether teams that have made a good start of the season finish well. Travel to the next away game is under “Starship Latics – boldly going where no-one has ventured before” but not really a claim that could be made for the trip to Bristol City! “Earth Transportation (road) “is given as 187 miles to Ashton Gate. But if you had suffered a loss or accident on the way, you could get a free season ticket from a local firm of solicitors. The youngster’s prediction of a 2-1 home win was spot on, Swindon’s goal courtesy of James Tarkowski putting in his own net. A crowd of 3837 was present on a cold autumn afternoon. The “big match companion for (Bristol) city supporters “ was “Robin”. For 30p the Ashton Gate attendee got 16pp with a chirpy looking redbreast popping out of the front cover title, above action from the Bristol derby earlier in the season. Match details - 29th November 1980, Div. 2 - nice and clear at the bottom. As, unfortunately, were both clubs, occupying two of the three spots at the foot of the table. Manager Bob Houghton is pictured on p3 with an expression that could be described as a cross between belligerent and baffled but takes heart from players returning from injury and vows that no more top players will leave the club after Gerry Gow’s move to Manchester City. Houghton had been successful as a manager in Sweden, as had his new assistant, a certain Roy Hodgson. Whilst the latter went on to manage England, Bob left Bristol in 1982 with his career taking him to Canada, China, India and Uzbekistan amongst other places. Ironically there’s an editorial page that focuses on loyalty amongst managers to clubs, and vice-versa, and a page on Oldham, pen pictures in the form of an article. Roger Palmer had signed from Manchester City the previous week for £70000, not a bad fee for someone who went on to become the club’s record goalscorer. “Meet the Board” profiled Norman Jones, club vice chairman, and members of the coaching and scouting staff were also given introduction, as was the “poly-gym”. This was a piece of machinery that allowed several players to work on different muscle groups at the same time and was regarded as a big boost for the Robins’ levels of fitness. Local journalist Colin Price bemoans hard times in some press facilities though not at Ashton Gate – “first class”. Interestingly there’s only one advertisement in the whole programme so the 8037 who witnessed the 1-1 draw weren’t enticed to rush off and spend their money elsewhere. Bristol pulled off a double that season with both City and Rovers relegated from the Division whilst Oldham struggled to a 15th place. The final Robin related team, yet another from the west country, is Cheltenham Town and Oldham were there on another October afternoon, the 6th of the month in 2007. What is it with that part of the country that teams with red shirts got that nickname whilst it is relatively rare elsewhere? Anyway, along with sponsors’ logos at the bottom of the front cover is one proclaiming that it was “League One Programme of the Year 06/07”. Something to live up to for Programme Editor James Brown and his cover uses an action shot of Damian Spencer trailing an interview with the striker inside. Brown’s own column expresses shock at Manager John Ward leaving the club in midweek, as does the club Chairman, lamenting the loss of “our most successful manager ever”. Caretaker Boss Keith Downing has a similar theme but welcomes Oldham Manager John Sheridan (one of his five spells in that job) and there’s generous six pages on the visitors. Leigh Edwards this time writes about ten leading Oldham managers over the previous 100 plus years, and the Star Player is identified as Michael Ricketts although he left the club just a few weeks later. There’s plenty of content throughout whether it’s from the local BBC reporter, the club physio, a guest fan, the club mascot Whaddney, or about the Ladies’ Team, the Junior Robins, away travel, commercial activities, football in Luxembourg, or the Women’s World Cup. There’s nothing sensational about the design but it’s well laid out and was value for the £2.50 cover price. At the time, the Robins were one off the bottom, with Latics three places above them but both clubs rose after this 1-1 draw watched by 3621. Oldham finished a healthy eighth, whilst the Robins moved up to 20th. Whether you are watching Robins or not this Christmas (and for me it’s the Magpies of Nottingham Latics are facing), I hope you have a happy one.

Killian Mbappe is first player to score a World Cup Final hat trick whose father wasn’t on Latics’ books. (Charlie Hurst played for us during the Second World War)

Team Photos One shared feature amongst several clubs was the use of a squad photo on their programme cover and I'll be looking at some as used in games against Oldham. Serried ranks of players, often accompanied by Manager, backroom staff, arms folded or on knees, would look out, match after match. As the season wore on the photos naturally became less and less accurate, transfers in and out, managerial changes (although not as frequent as nowadays), encouraging a bingo game response of blacking out those who had left. I’m not sure if any clubs maintain this design feature but, given the revolving doors of loans, the cover’s relevance must become less and less. Some clubs continued the squad photo season-after-season even if the rest of the design altered, whilst others totally eschewed its presence. Sitting somewhere in between was Oldham. For sixty years, since the first Latics programme was produced, until 2nd December 1967, there was, as far as I’m aware, no cover team picture. When one did appear, it was a strictly one-off. The large format “Boundary Bulletin” was well into its second season and, as it said, “by popular demand” its “first Latic’s team picture” was on the front page. Slightly spoilt by the inaccurate placing of the possessive apostrophe (it should have been Latics’ rather than what was printed), it was, nevertheless, bang up to date, taken just the previous Monday. A senior squad of 16 would be light by today’s standards and, by the end of the season, 26 players had turned out, new signings and youngsters getting blooded, boosting the numbers. The photo was on sale in the club shop or by post at 3/6 (18p), “an ideal gift this Christmas”. The 12 page “Bulletin” very much had a magazine feel to it, lots of features on playing, operational, and backroom matters, led off by Physio Jimmy McGregor opining that it was a disgrace that water being used for the “magic sponge” was warm in some clubs’ buckets. It was the coldness that reduced inflammation and numbs damage he said. Chairman Ken Bates, never short of an opinion, wants “ruthless referees”, ones prepared to act firmly on dissent and dirty play, whilst Manager Jimmy McIlroy expressed his disappointment with some of the youth players and, in a warning, “the next month or two could be called stocktaking time”. There’s a page of newspaper reports on recent matches, another of letters from supporters, facts, figures and fixtures for the season are comprehensive, and the visitors, Swindon Town, are introduced “through the eyes of manager Danny Williams”. Actual pen pictures appear on the back page along with the teams in the 2-3-5 style. The Robins were handily placed in Div. 3, despite not having won away from home, and had Don Rogers, “the most sought-after player outside the First Division”. Needless to say, he scored, and Swindon notched an away victory 2-0, with 6968 watching Latics lose at home for the fifth time. Just one week previously, on 25th November 1967, Oldham had travelled to Shrewsbury for a match against the Town. This time 27 faces greeted the reader, although ‘keeper Alan Boswell had obviously seen something more interesting than the photographer, looking to one side rather than straight ahead. It’s a neat, tidy cover, club name and crest above the photo, match details below, a 3.15 kick off which was, I think, the traditional time for the Salopians along with just a handful of other clubs. The eight pages carry fairly basic content, the inclusion of “Football League Review” provides most of the reading. However, Manager Arthur Rowley identifies the Shrews’ poor away record as being concerning but, in a nice touch, congratulates Shrewsbury Schoolboys on beating Flintshire as they progress in the English Schools Shield. I wonder if any that side went on to play for the club. There’s a “Personality Spot” with 86-year-old Sydney Yates in the limelight. A former director and president of the Supporters Club, he once played cricket at Gay Meadow, before the football club moved there. Another aged supporter, 76 yr. old Jack Watkin is held up as an example to others for his selling of the club’s Pools tickets to a regular 148 people. Just a column on the visitors, with a little more given to the club Secretary talking about FA Cup tickets and a new matchday bus service. In those days most clubs had a supply of Cup Final tickets to share out and Shrewsbury included a form to apply. Tucked away, in response to requests, are the names of the players on the front. Teams on the back page, 1-12, with the unusual proviso that they “are set out by numbers for identification only, not necessarily for positional reference”. So don’t take umbrage if the no 9 doesn’t turn out as the main striker! It was a home win, 4-2, and the 4772 spectators were on the brink of the Shrews moving up the table to finish an eventual third, with Oldham ending 16th. The next ten years saw widespread adoption of full colour printing for programmes and the red and white of Sheffield United’s shirts showcased 30 players who, along with six staff members, overwhelmingly smiled for the camera. As a result, a photograph took up much of the cover of the 20p programme for the Div. 2 clash with Oldham on 21st October 1978 watched by 14514. Inside it was, however, mainly black and white with a spot colour of red or blue in a fairly random fashion. It was against a background of the latter that Manager Harry Haslam (recently returned from the Argentine) wrote about how bad weather could affect pitches and that Oldham “are a difficult club to meet”. Presumably on the pitch rather than in a social setting. Haslam did play, twice, for Oldham in his league career of nine games although is better known for being boss at Luton Town as well as Bramall Lane, very nearly signing Maradona. Awaiting a flight at the airport to England to complete the transfer, the fee was increased, and the deal called off. He never got to use his hand of God as a Blade. Local journalists often used to get a column and here it was Tony Pritchett of the Sheffield Star. Like Haslam, he had just been to South America, reporting on the Blades’ news. He railed against the treatment handed out by United supporters to ex-favourite Tony Currie who had returned to play for Leeds United in the last home match. “I would like to think that those are a bit shame-faced about it on reflection”. I doubt it, Tony. There was a large list of items on sale at the Club Shop including, strangely, 1979 Official Annuals for a range of other clubs (although not Leeds). Supporter behaviour is also behind a piece that claims that the first referee was a Sheffield policeman. Before an early Sheffield FC game, trouble broke out and a PC strode on to the field, calmed things down and remained on – in his black uniform and blowing a whistle. Tall tale? On to 1978 and Latics are given a full-page team photo and a page of notes, mentioning that it had been an up-and-down season so far. They sat four places below the Blades at the time and were soundly beaten 4-2. By the end of the season, however, tables had been turned, Sheffield were relegated whilst Latics ended 14th. The relegation- destined squad on the cover are probably not held in the highest regard by the Sheffield faithful and it may have been galling to see them smiling as they edged ever nearer to the drop. It was a bright black and amber team photo that adorned the cover of Cambridge United’s programme just a few weeks later on 9th December again for a Div 2 clash and all 24 player and staff are in black footwear (Adidas to a man), not something that would be seen today. It’s a landscape format, 20p again, and Vol 4 No 11, although the U’s had been in the League for longer than four seasons, and worked well, apart from the fixtures page where the programme had to be turned 90 degrees. It showed that United had been beaten 5-0 the week before at Upton Park, “well and truly Hammered” according to boss John Docherty. Two pages once more on Oldham, some history and pen pictures with a small team photo. There’s a further page “Looking Back” that reviews some earlier encounters between the teams – not that many as they first met in 1970. It's a programme that is well-balanced: news about Div. 2, plenty on the youth teams (the “Young U’s” had notched a 3-2 victory over West Ham on the same day that the seniors crashed), the Ball boys for the day were from Pin Green Juniors, and Referee R Daniels from Brentwood. An ex-Military Policeman, he likes coarse fishing and ballroom dancing. Sponsors are featured, including Pye Ltd who had donated a colour tv for the players’ lounge, and every game has a match ball sponsor. The ads are primarily local; Christopher Biggins will appear in Mother Goose at the Arts Theatre, United midfielder Willie Watson is a “Tip Top Performer” along with Toyota cars from Hallens Garage, and you could adopt the 1970s manager fashion style with a sheepskin coat from The Tannery Shop. For something more sporting, the club shop was offering a full United kit for £5.65, about £25 in today’s value. Although Oldham achieved a 3-3 draw, it was part of a 12-game run without a victory, scoring no goals in the next four matches. For the U’s fans in the 4663 crowd, it would have been a familiar result, the sixth draw at home in 11 games but a respectable 12th spot was achieved in the end.

Don’t you call that a selfie?

So not an unknown undiscovered gem , rather someone who is sought by others and on the radar of clubs?

It’s always possible that players change their minds.

Incoming?

1 Shilling The Football Programme Design Revolution of 1965-85 Matthew Caldwell & Alan Dein 1 Shilling Publications 2022 Hardback £30 224pp Why do programmes look like they do? Where do the designs come from? Looking at a club’s programmes, what has caused a new format to be produced after years of static presentation? Here’s a book that sheds light on some of the answers and introduces some of the people behind programmes from the mid-60s for the next 20 years. It’s not comprehensive, focusing predominantly on the work of a small number of designers, so don’t expect the rationale of programme evolution for more than a limited number of clubs. Consequently, there are some observations that, in the context of clubs the reader might know well, are open to debate. However, and it’s a big but, the book exemplifies and explains how many programmes developed in the period looked at. Importantly the authors present the importance of programmes to football and supporters and reflected the wider local community Bernard Gallagher was responsible for Aberdeen’s programme design from 1980 for eight years, a happy time partly stimulated by Alex Ferguson being part of his interview panel for the job. “To him it (the programme) was an integral part of every club”. Elsewhere there were determined attempts by others in the club to bring about change. At WBA their programme “Albion News” was amongst the lowest ranked in the League and it was their Promotions Manager who instigated revamp with the appointment of 29-year-old graphic designer John Elvin. The career of Elvin won him Top Programme of season 1969/70 but shortly after he revolutionised the programme of Coventry City and Chelsea. He, and others profiled in the book, were of a new generation, and used new typefaces, formats, and illustrations, reflecting trends in advertising, publishing and of a new commercialism in football. And all before the age of the AppleMac so done by hand. From the supporter the welcome, whilst generally positive, was sometimes muted, especially when designers “indulged” themselves and produced something that was more about form than function, something that might be said about parts of the book. If supporters reacted badly to black print on a green background in a small font size, then so could readers. The book certainly replicates some of the style of programmes of the era, and credit for that, but be prepared to reach for the reading glasses at times. There’s relevant discussion about programmes today, especially compared with those of 40/50 years ago when a look inside nearly all of them would have shone a light on the economy and society of local communities. The advertising would be a mash of small businesses, shops, employment opportunities, and bingo halls, with most of them using their own design, ancient and modern. Now there is a plethora of national advertisers, lessening the local identity. Local club news had a very different feel to it when it was basically the programme, local radio and newspaper that had any whilst 24-hour social media has put paid to that. The authors make a plea that the link between club and community should be re-established by programmes, that they should reduce in cost, and that they should be exciting and memorable. We’d all agree with those I believe, although it might take more than “inviting the best designers”. But, as the book ends, there’s a statement that, again, we’d sign up to: “We all want to hear the cries of Get Yer Programmes

York have “parted company” with Manager John Askey.

Heraldic Devices ! Club badges and logos seem to be amended and tweaked with a frequency that seems to prosper graphic designers rather than respond to a need from supporters. There are some notable exceptions, but clubs appear to welcome the opportunity to sell their merchandise on the basis of an altered visual representation. Usually, they are stripped down to a handful of components, yet programmes show that heraldry was once a major part of a club’s identity and association with the town where they played. Although some modern badges use amended elements from town arms, it was probably pre-1970s when civic pride was most obviously shown on programmes. Northampton Town emblazoned their crest on their programmes in 1967-8. Heavily based on the town’s coat of arms, the local castle is the centrepiece along with a shoe to mark the local industry, and a Tudor Rose. The maroon and white cover carried no match details, they are on page 8 along with team line-ups, for the 16th March 1968 match against Oldham in Div. 3. That same colour was used extensively inside too although “Club Notes” and Des Talking”, with comedian Des O’Connor reverted to black print. O’Connor had been evacuated to Northampton in the war and was a talented footballer playing for the Cobblers’ Reserves and, later, for the “Show Biz XI”. Bolstered by the inclusion of “Football League Review”, the programme was a mix of local and national football news and comment. The former said Town’s win against Walsall was” one of the best performances of the season”, whilst the latter noted that “Birmingham City have opened a full-time shop on their ground” and claimed it was “especially popular with the schoolboys”. No mention of the Latics squad, struggling towards the bottom, but a 2-1 win was part of a late-season revival that saw them finish 16th, a place above their hosts. Was Des there amongst the 7558 spectators or was he checking to see if any of his records were in stock at “the Midlands Leading Record Store”, John Lever on Gold Street? “May Shrewsbury Flourish” (Floreat Salopia) was an integral part of the coat of arms of Shrewsbury which were adopted by the local football club in 1907 and used without amendment until 1970. Centrally placed on the cover of the programme it proudly displays three Loggerheads (leopards), a possible link to the arms of Edward I, who based his army there to conquer Wales. It was a Lancashire force that had to be overcome on Feb 21st, 1959, however, in the first season of Div. 4, as Oldham were the visitors. They were “having one of those lean spells” (how often could that be written?!) but did boast one former FA Cup winner in Bill Spurdle, ex-Manchester City and one of the few Channel Islanders to play in the top flight. A slim, 8pp, programme led on its front page with a letter of thanks to the “Splendid Supporters’ Club” who had raised significant money for the Shrews, and there was a good deal of club news inside. A photo of Ken Tucker accompanied a small feature on the player, “a likeable little fellow” and winger who had been with Shrewsbury for a year. Team line ups were on the back page and there was considerable doubt as to who would line up at no.8 for the home team: Ambler or Russell or B. Jones were all printed as possibilities – it was the first of these who turned out. Shrewsbury didn’t flourish in this match, but neither did Oldham, a 0-0 stalemate for the 6172 to watch. It was Latics’ solitary point from ten consecutive matches and the Salopians couldn’t match the claim of a local restaurant. Apparently. two certainties were “Sidoli’s for a good meal, Shrewsbury Town for the Third Division”. I hope the food was good. The Tranmere Rovers programme of 29th March 1968 possibly can’t be surpassed for heraldic impact. A large, three colour, coat of arms dominates the front page, derived from those of the town of Birkenhead, with “TRFC” entwined in the middle, and a football replacing a helmet at the top. The borough’s motto, Where There is faith there is light in strength, runs in Latin at the bottom. Adopted in 1962, this was used until 1972. Birkenhead as a strong presence on the cover, Birkenhead Ales advertising strongly at the bottom. In between are the match details for the visit of Oldham on 29th March 1968., just two games after the tip to Northampton. Some decent pen pictures this time, Ian Wood forecast as having “a great future”. Wood went on to play 525 games for the club, a record so that was a decent prediction, whilst it was noted that Tranmere winger Roy Sinclair had just completed 100 games for Rovers. It was a programme with lots of “snippets” of club news: the former Chairman had just had an operation, and the club had requested personal hearings for two players booked at Shrewsbury. It was hoped “to produce some revealing photographic evidence”! Presumably about the match. As with many programmes from this era, they help tell the tale of the demise of local brewing; Birkenhead Beers eventually became part of Whitbreads, and Bents Bitter, “still supreme” on the centre pages also eventually were absorbed into, and eventually closed by, the same company. At least, in 1968, there was something local to sup, and to celebrate with after a 1-0 win, if you were a Rovers fan in the 7454 crowd. Another 1960s example comes from Vicarage Road and Watford. It was just seven years after it had adopted the Borough Council’s arms, adapting them to include “Watford F.C.”. In a prominent position on the programme cover when Oldham visited on 16th January 1968, the two harts for Hertfordshire and wavy lines representing the River Colne, are underscored by “Audentior” (With Greater Boldness) and continued to be used until 1972. Black and amber give an assertive look to this front page, confidently laid out with details of this match, the next one and the club’s name. Inside the content doesn’t quite match up to this authoritatave start, masses of advertisements intruding on match and club news. The latter is heavy on the previous week’s FA Cup win over Hereford, setting up a 3rd Round tie at home to Sheffield United. Ticket details for this are added on to the editorial (“Voice of Watford”), whilst those for the League Cup Final are just above Hodsons Furnishing Fabrics. The centre page line=ups have to fight for attention with Jackson the Jewellers, the Palace Theatre pantomime, and two local newspapers. Something different in that there are pen pictures of all three officials, all on the same page as those of the Oldham players. Watford seems to have been an abstemious community, just one ad for a brewery (Ind Coope) and none for pubs. Not much to drown their sorrows in for the bulk of the 12521 crowd, Latics edging it, 2-1.

Keep stirring

Over The Border Matches with Scottish clubs had been a rare occurrence for Oldham, only Clyde in 1953 having actually played at Boundary Park. The arrival of floodlights in 1961 opened up the possibility of enticing additional Caledonian visitors and consequently St Mirren travelled down from Paisley for a friendly on November 6th 1963. The Buddies had made a good start to the season, six victories in the first ten matches of the Scottish top flight, and the Oldham programme looked forward to a “galaxy of Scottish talent on show” from “some of the best performers in Scottish football”. Priced at 6d that season had probably my favourite cover of all Latics’ programmes with the illustration of a player in the distinct broad blue and white striped shirt, smiling as he confidently kicks the ball. Complete with club crest and match details (as well as a lucky number), it was a perfect pocket size although its 24 pages was dominated by advertising. The visitors had a page of pen pictures, there was a photo of their accomplished defender Cameron Murray, and a half page devoted to match referee Arthur Holland from Barnsley, a respected international whistler. A warm welcome was extended, it was noted that Oldham’s manager Les McDowell came from Paisley, and all was set fair. That is until the Oldham climate produced a thick fog that meant that, even with the newish floodlights, the game was called off even as supporters were waiting to be let in. Programmes were obviously sold but they were now for a cancelled match. Forward 11 years and the Texaco Cup brought Heart of Midlothian down on the much brighter evening of September 17th 1974. Oldham had qualified for this Quarter-Final match from an all-English group and, newly promoted into Division Two, were excited about their first foray into the competition. The programme was the usual issue for that season, its cover having full match details on it, but was inserted into a Texaco Cup wrap around that repeated them and was dominated by a photograph of the cup itself all in the oil company red and black. The programme editorial showed some excitement , a quarter final being the furthest in any competition that Latics had progressed for years, there was “something special about a two legged affair”, and a victory could mean a meeting with Rangers or Newcastle. Hearts were given a half page team photo, and the same for a brief look at some players and the club’s history. There is a good deal on home club matters, from the shop, supporters’ club, and pools office and a piece on new signing Andy Lochhead. Teams are listed 1-12 in the middle pages . Another noted referee, Gordon Hill, was in charge, and like many referees then and since, he was a schoolteacher. A good crowd of 11,465 saw Oldham win 1-0, enough to get them through to the semi-final after a 1-1 draw in the second leg. Alas, nor Rangers awaited them but Southampton, the Saints winning both legs. The competition had changed its name to the Anglo-Scottish Cup by 1978 but it was at the quarter-final stage again that the Lancashire club came up against over-the-border opponents. This time it was Greenock Morton of the Scottish Premier League, a team who had won their last three league and cup matches. Once more a two-legged affair , the first one at Cappielow Park on September 13th 1978, and a A5 16pp home programme price at 12p. Printed throughout in blue and black, a lot of it quite blurry, it had two pages on the visitors, news that one of the supporters’ coaches to Hearts had its windows smashed, and there’d be no more mud at the turnstiles as entrances had been resurfaced. The still part-time nature of the club was highlighted by the Player Profile of forward Ally Scott. His other job was working for a Building Society though he still found time for golf and fishing. The 91 supporters already booked for the return leg would be keenly looking forward to that match, the “Pride of the Clyde” winning this match 3-0. Just less than two weeks later , September 26th, Oldham manager Jimmy Frizzell wrote in his welcome notes of his boyhood in Greenock and the lack of proper footballs or grass pitches . Jimmy “Frizz” had been signed by Latics from Morton as a player in 1960, taking over as manager in 1970 for a tenure of 12 years. By comparison the last five years have seen 14 appointments to the job. The programme was the standard 16pp A5 style mainly in black but with blue and tangerine as spot colours. A “Face in the Crowd” photo and competition took up one page, and a quiz on Laws of the Game another. No mention of whether referee Keith Hackett (a sales manager from Sheffield as well as international ref) had taken it. A generous four pages were devoted to Morton although it was Jimmy Frizzell who points out that Joe Jordan used to play for them - and he had wanted to buy him for Oldham but the fee then quoted, £10,000, was seen as too much of a risk! Teams, numbered 1-13, were laid out in the centre pages, whilst a list of J.W.Lees’ 170 pubs filled, in small font, the back cover. For the buses of Morton supporters they could probably have done with a drink, their team losing 4-0. Oldham went on the Final of the competition before losing to local rivals Burnley.

Over the last two or three years I've been writing a column on old Latics programmes for "Programme Monthly and Football Collectible" magazine. Some also appeatred in last season's Oldham programme. There may be an interest in them amongst the OWTB readership too, so I'll start reproducing them here. They did appear with photographs but it's just going to be text here! If people spot errors then please let me know. Here's the first; Over the Sea to Oldham Often called “Ice Station Zebra”, Oldham’s Boundary Park ground is probably not on the “must play at” venues of most overseas clubs. So, the list of foreign visitors to this part of south Lancashire is not a long one and didn’t commence until after many other teams had played against international opposition. Ironically, Latics had been a pioneer in venturing abroad, with a series of matches in Vienna and Budapest in 1911 including a draw with Ferencvaros and victory over MTK. The lack of floodlights at Boundary Park was a prime reason for not hosting touring sides but, in 1961, that was finally rectified. In November, just a month after the lights were officially switched on, OFK Belgrade were welcomed. That season saw OFK win the Yugoslav Cup, providing them a path to the semi final of the European Cup Winners’ Cup the following year. The regular pocket-sized Oldham programme, priced 6d, was issued, with the match date on the cover but no opposition listed. A “rousing welcome” was encouraged in the anonymous editorial, very brief pen pictures of the Belgrade team were provided (surnames only) with most having represented the country at “A” or” B” team level. Teams were shown in the 2-3-5 formation, Oldham playing in change colours of tangerine shirts with the visitors in blue and white stripes. The Match Ball had been given by “The Manchester Greyhound Bookmakers’ Protection Association”, which has a sinister ring to it. Oldham ran out 3-1 winners in front of a crowd of 10,230. Five years later it was the turn of a Swiss side to visit. FC Thun , although part time, were top of the Swiss Second Division and supporters were urged to give them a “Thun-dering Big Welcome”. The programme in 1966/7 was a very distinct quarto sized 12-page affair, with a cover price of 1/- (5p) but which was given away free at the turnstiles. The Chairman (Ken Bates in his first venture into club ownership) hoped that more international matches would follow but repeated his disgust at recent away performances by his team. There are nearly two pages on the town of Thun, “the gateway to the Bernese Oberland” and the growing strength of Swiss football. A photo of the opposition team but no pen pictures other than a list of the other jobs that the players had. A stonemason, watchmaker (of course), precision mechanic, and bookbinder all lined up. No cotton spinners however, which was a shame as there were adverts from both the Elk Mill and Courtaulds with vacancies for those. It turned out to be an easy night for Latics, 9-2 winners before 5,577 spectators. A step up in status with the next match played in 1971. Oldham fans can brag that they have an unbeaten record against Borussia Dortmund as a result of the 0-0 draw on Oct 5th that year. Even way back then they were impressive opposition, winners of the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1966 and semi finalists in the European Cup. The programme editorial recognised that it was “a feather in the cap” to be recognised “worthy of meeting such high-class opposition”. A step down in the quality of the programme, however. The A5 16pp,has little written content and several pages of small local adverts: John Wood Chemist can supply all your patent medicines , Horsman Butchers suggest you get a meat pie or two from the snack bars, and the Grapes Hotel is a town centre pub with a country inn feel. Teams are lined up 1-11 in a list wit brief notes by each player, home and away. Branco Rasovic lines up at no 4 for Dortmund, with ten caps for Yugoslavia, and Jurgen Schutz is the star player, many caps for West Germany and spells with Torino and Roma. Just under 7,000 spectators witnessed the draw. Lastly, probably the biggest coup for Latics in terms of opposition, when on 25 February 1975, Internacional from Brazil arrived. In the year they won the Brazilian championship, they arrived at Boundary Park with seven of the Brazilian World Cup squad of the previous year. The programme is the standard “Boundary News” of the season, a cover proudly displaying the Div. Three Championship Trophy won the season before and action pictures spelling out he word “Latics”. Match details are clearly displayed, and the cover price is 10p. There is a feature on Brazilian football, another on Pele, and pictures of some of the Internacional stars including Paulo Cezar and Lula. Fixtures and appearances for the home club are well laid out, a pen picture of the referee, Ted Jolly, says he is an insurance agent and has two children. Lees Lager has a full-page advert on the back cover and job opportunities are this time available at Ferranti, the engineering company.A decent crowd of 9495 saw the Brazilians win 1-0.

Another pseudonym for you BP60 ?

Well, here’s a temporary signing

Deleted

worrying ? No. Just a recognition that it's not easy getting quality to sign for a non-league club. We certainly don't want signings for the sake of it.

His Mum will give him a lift in the car.

Precisely. And saying that so and so has been watched by a club Iis no indication that he will make it any further than where he is now.

Maybe they have already. Not having a pop at you but this “being watched” means very little. I was sat by a Preston scout in the Main Stand a few years ago - he had come to watch Fage. That didn’t come to much! And some of us recall Andy Holt being “watched” by Celtic (when they were a big club) . Nada.

There’s a good piece in the Sunday Times today re Thomas Tuchel . Talking of his early success at Chelsea it goes “when a head coach wins so soon after his arrival, he would do well to remember that the squad was assembled by his predecessor “. The same applies to lack of success. The squad that Shez left was seriously inadequate- and I’m not making a big criticism of John. The environment, resources, rumours of change, will all have made it difficult. However Unsworth inherited a set of players who, in the main, aren’t good enough. Recruitment has to happen, and he knows that.I’m going to be patient with him and the owners , and hope they get the right recruits. (And that doesn’t necessarily mean random names thrown out on here). Oh, and btw, the term “fitness” is being used confusingly. There’s fitness insofar as not being injured, and fitness as in conditioning.