Growing up in Blackley in the 70s i can honestly say at our school (Plant Hill) Latics weren't on the radar even though they were the nearest ground at only 7mls. away, i can only remember one latics fan in the whole of our year and we all thought he was a bit weird!
I fell into the blue camp as my old fella was a red.
Converted to latics in the early 80s when i was old enough to make my own mind up re where i watched footie - reason, started drinking in Miggie and got in with an Oldham crowd.
For the past 20 years I have lived in Glossop and unfortunately i cannot say i have seen much change in peoples perception of our club.
It riles me to say this but we are an unfashionable, unglamourous, averge third division side and that is not going to change in the short term.
Reading some of the above comments it is obvious that most parents have enough trouble getting there own offspring to support Latics never mind kids from red and blue households.
We have to widen our net re. school advertising, lets get into the schools in some of Manchesters nearer suburbs Blackley, Moston, Crumpsall, etc. put together some family packages where 1 adult and 2 children can gain admission for the price of 1 adult and 1 child or variations on the theme. target the kids / families who do not currently watch live footie, make them welcome, put aside family areas where they can come buy refreshments easily, see the game without having the aggro of asking people in front to sit down. and not be subject to or in the vicinity of swearing louts.
BP is big enough to accomodate a lively banter filled area (RRE) and find places for the more reserved public.