Football grounds weren't all tubular steel and aluminium in them days, lad. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

In 1904-05 the Latics advanced into the Lancashire Combination, winning the B Division at the first time of asking and gaining promotion. The J.W. Lees Brewery leased them another site and Boundary Park was born, with 2006 the Hundredth Anniversary. They made their first application to join the Football League in 1906 but missed out by one vote to Clapton Orient. They failed again to get elected in 1907, as Lancashire Combination Champions, but fate played into their hands when Burslem Port Vale went bankrupt. Oldham Athletic were given their place in Division Two and have been in the Football League ever since.

After two very creditable campaigns they were promoted to Division One as runners-up to Manchester City in the 1909-10 campaign. Apart from one poor season, where they just escaped relegation by a single point, they were a strong presence in the top flight and in the last campaign before the Great War brought football to an end missed out on the title by one point to Everton.

However when the leagues restarted in 1919 Oldham were a struggling side, and three campaigns where they only just kept themselves up were followed by a fourth in 1922-23 where they finished bottom and were relegated back to Division Two. There they remained, mostly a solid mid-table side, until 1934-35 saw them relegated to the Division Three North. They were a good Division Three side, but not quite good enough, usually in the hunt for promotion but not quite making it.

After the Second World War they struggled for a couple of seasons but then began to improve, and won the title in 1952-53. However it was a false dawn and they were immediately relegated, coming bottom of Division Two by some margin. Their record through the remainder of the Fifties in Division Three North was not good, and so when the League was restructured in 1958 they found themselves placed in Division Four.

These were grim times, with the Latics having to apply for re-election in 1959 and 1960. They recovered a little to get out of the basement with a promotion as runners-up to Brentford in 1962-63, but found Division Three a struggle and it was no surprise when they went back down again in 1969. In response they appointed Jimmy Frizzell as manager in 1970 and this was a turning point in Oldham's fortunes. He was twelve years in charge and took them up to Division Three in 1971 and then as Champions into Division Two in 1974. After a dodgy first couple of seasons they became a firmly established side at that level.

The Main Stand at Boundary Park. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

In 1982 Joe Royle took over. He would become the second manager in succession to achieve a dozen years at the club. In 1989-90 they got to the Semi-Finals of the F.A. Cup for the first time since 1913, and the League Cup Final, where they lost to Nottingham Forest, but better was to come for in 1990-91 Royle brought them the title and a return to the First Division after 68 years. They were still there when Division One turned into the Premier League but only lasted until 1993-94 when relegation caught up with them, though they got to a third F.A. Cup Semi-Final where Mark Hughes famously denied them with an equaliser at the death, Manchester United then comfortably winning the replay. Joe Royle departed for pastures new.

After twenty-four years of stability and success Oldham have entered a period of decline, frequent changes of manager, and some financial stringency since then. The 1996-67 season saw them relegated again, and they've been flirting with a further fall into the basement. That excuse of a manager Brian Talbot looked like he'd achieve it for them until they sensibly disposed of him after less than a year in charge. Ronnie Moore, who had defied gravity at Rotherham United for a number of seasons but was sacked as they plummeted towards relegation, was brought in and eventually kept them up in 19th place. However it was never a happy marriage, and he soon departed, going to Tranmere Rovers.

In came John Sheridan, in June 2006, but who had previously had two short, presumably caretaker, spells, with the club. In his first season he managed to take them into the play-offs - something of a slight disappointment given that mid-way through the season they had been league leaders. As often happens with the team that drifts downwards as the season progresses, they were knocked out in the semi-finals. The next season they decided to do it the opposite way - starting slowly but working their way upwards as the campaign unfolded. However at the death they just fell short of the play-offs, finishing 8th.

Oldham demolished the Broadway Stand ahead of the 2008-09 season and have been operating with a three-sided ground since. For those who have visited the ground before, this is the stand situated to your right as you look out from the Rochdale Road Away End. That side of the ground is now cleared, and construction was supposed to be beginning on the replacement stand in early 2009, with the project expected to last 16 months and therefore be ready for the start of the 2010-11 season. The plans were for a 5,200 capacity replacement stand that would ultimately become Oldham's new Main Stand. Facilities built into the plans included a new club shop, dressing rooms, conferencing and banqueting facilities and lettable office space. As one might guess from the tone in which this article is drifting word soon leaked out of Boundary Park that all was not well and the money for their grandiose plans weren't there. This was compounded when all of their major sponsors went into administration one after another and withdrew their sponsorship.

The Broadway Stand - now demolished. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

Since then the club has completely changed tack several times. There was a floated idea to develop a ground-shared facility with Rochdale - that seemed to be complete news to the Rochdale chairman. And the latest is to sell Boundary Park for development - planning permission for housing has been applied for - and develop a new stadium of their own on the council owned Failsworth Sports Complex. As with all of these schemes football clubs have for new stadia one thing can be pretty much guaranteed: the Oldham board's optimistic pronoucements that they'll be in their new home for 2010-11 are total hogwash. If it ever comes to fruition it is going to take a lot longer than that.

The 2008-09 season ended in something of a shambles for the Latics. They started the campaign like a train, and although they couldn't maintain an automatic place they were in the top six for virtually the entire time until a fracas at Belle Vue dog track during a team social event in March triggered the departure of Sheridan. Former hero Joe Royle reappeared to huge fanfare and excitement, only to see the club not win another game until the final match of the season, by which time it was far too late and they had already blown any play-off spot. Royle mooched off back into semi-retirement and TV punditry, and in came Dave Penney.

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RECENT RESULTS

13/02/2010	Walsall	Home	CCL1	W	1-0	3968		Abbott 78
20/02/2010	Colchester United	Away	CCL1	L	0-1	5321
23/02/2010	Leeds United	Away	CCL1	L	0-2	17635
27/02/2010	Norwich City	Home	CCL1	L	0-1	5344
06/03/2010	Exeter City	Away	CCL1	D	1-1	4997		Gregan 81
09/03/2010	Leyton Orient	Home	CCL1	W	2-0	3126		Smalley 20, Stephens 49

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Pawel Abbott	9	0	0	0	0	9
Deane Smalley	2	0	0	0	0	2
Reuben Hazell	2	0	0	0	0	2
Keigan Parker	2	0	0	0	0	2
Danny Whitaker	1	0	0	1	0	2
Dale Stephens	1	0	0	0	0	1
Nick Blackman	1	0	0	0	0	1
Alan Sheehan	1	0	0	0	0	1
Kieran Lee	1	0	0	0	0	1
Chris Taylor	1	0	0	0	0	1
Ryan Brooke	1	0	0	0	0	1
Alex Marrow	1	0	0	0	0	1
Paul Heffernan	1	0	0	0	0	1
Joe Colbeck	1	0	0	0	0	1
Jason Price	1	0	0	0	0	1
Sean Gregan	1	0	0	0	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 8569, vs Huddersfield Town, 01/11/2009
Lowest League Attendance: 3126, vs Leyton Orient, 09/03/2010
Average League Attendance: 4912

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	0		Games Without A Home Win:	0
Games Without An Away Win:	4		Games Without Defeat:	2
Games Without A Home Defeat:	1		Games Without An Away Defeat:	1
Games Without A Draw:	1		Games Without A Score Draw:	1
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	9		Games Without Scoring:	0
Games Without Conceding:	1		Home Results Sequence:	WDLWLW
Away Results Sequence:	LWLLLD		Overall Results Sequence:	WLLLDW

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When you turn off Broadway into Hilbre Avenue some on-street parking can be found in the side roads, but you'll have to get there early as the police tend to close access off a long time ahead of kick-off.

Down the other end from the away fans you'll see the Chadderton Road Stand. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

By Rail

If you are training it from the South you will arrive at Manchester Piccadilly. You will need to get across to Manchester Victoria, which is a ten to fifteen minute walk or a short ride on the Metrolink away. If you have a through ticket it should be valid on the Metro. Choose the service with 'Bury' on the front.

There are three stations serving Oldham, all on the Oldham/Rochdale line out of Manchester Victoria. Having used this line for Rochdale in the past, it's a little two carriage effort from North West Trains that trundles slowly through industrial wasteland. Four trains an hour serve Oldham Mumps. Journey time is thirteen to twenty minutes depending on whether you get the er 'fast' service or not. However Mumps is the station for the town centre and therefore not convenient for the ground, being a good forty minutes walk, though there are usually taxis outside.

The closest station is Oldham Werneth, about a fifteen to twenty minute walk from Boundary Park. Half the number of trains stop here, those leaving Manchester Victoria at nine minutes and thirty-eight (there's one which is thirty-seven) minutes past the hour. Journey time is sixteen minutes. There are very unlikely to be any taxis outside this station so if you are going to want one make a note from the Taxi link below.
If walking: exit the station right onto Featherstall Road South. Keep on past one set of traffic lights and a Tesco until coming to a large roundabout and turn left onto Chadderton Way. Cross the dual carriageway by the underpass and continue for about 400 yards until reaching Boundary Park Lane. Turn right and you'll see the stadium.

N.B. Saturday 3rd October is that last day the 'Oldham Loop' line will run. It is being closed, along with all its stations, until 2012, during which time it will be converted into an extension of the Manchester Metrolink. It is expected that numbers of those interested in such things will descend to mark the passing, so some services, particularly later in the day, may be very busy or even sold out in advance.

The third station is Mills Hill. This is a different service, run by Northern Rail, out of Manchester Victoria, with trains leaving on and and at half past the hour. Journey time is ten minutes. For those Glovers coming by train from further North there are services that stop at Mills Hill from many towns and cities with a change either at Rochdale or Wigan (Wallgate). As with Oldham Mumps it's about a 40 minute walk to the ground.
If walking: leave the station towards the traffic lights and past the Rose Of Lancaster (or stop, the beer and food are cheap) and continue along Haigh Lane. When you reach Chadderton Comprehensive School and a set of traffic lights bear right and continue along Burnley Lane until you reach Chadderton Park Inn and a large roundabout. You'll now be in sight of the stadium. Use the subway in the direction of the ground and keep going. You'll eventually hit the ground at the away end.

Away fans get part of the Rochdale Road Stand. It's currently called the Leesfield Developments Stand. Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

By Bus

From Manchester Piccadilly Bus Station the 181 and 182 for Rochdale pass near Boundary Park and take half an hour or so. From Oldham town centre the 408 and 409 for Rochdale run closest to the stadium.

Taxis

A selection of Oldham taxi companies can be found here

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Club Bar :

Alcohol in the ground is only served in the Main Stand and the Lookers Stand - both home areas.

Local Pubs :

Best pub for quality beer (and cider) in town by a mile © Martin Baker Ashton Arms: Some distance (about a mile and half) from the ground, near the shopping centre and opposite the old Town Hall, but included as it's the only place in Oldham we know that serves traditional cider and is far and away the best pub in town. There are seven constantly changing guest ales, mostly from local and micro breweries, as well as a good range of authentic continental bottled beers. Lined glasses are used, and there's a designated smoking area on the premises at the back. Opening is 11.30 - 11.00 p.m. (11.30 p.m. Friday and Saturday). Food is lunchtimes only as far as we are aware. There was the unexpected bonus of a beer festival the last time we used the place. Ashton Arms, 28-30, Clegg Street, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL1 1PL. Tel: 0161 6309709. Map: Click Here.

Chadderton Park Inn: Across the terminal roundabout of the motorway standard section of the A627(M) and ten minutes or so walk from the away end. Chadderton Park Inn, Burnley Lane, Chadderton, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL1 2QS. Tel: 0161 6273883. Map: Click Here.

© Martin Baker Old Grey Mare: Well frequented by home fans but visiting supporters are welcome. Few minutes walk from the stadium and five from the away end. Conservatory and beer garden for the summer. It's claimed the beer is kept rather better than at most establishments in the area. Food served. Old Grey Mare, 331, Oldham Road, Royton, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL2 6AB. Tel: 0161 6242719. Map: Click Here.

Up Steps Inn: The J.D. Wetherspoon in Oldham, opened in 1998. As one would expect in the centre, so 1.5 miles from the stadium. Has child certificate - though in our experience whether Wetherspoon pubs have child certificates or not means little either way. Opening is 9.00 a.m. - 12.00 midnight Sunday to Thursday, 9.00 a.m. - 1.00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. No outside area so it's smoking in the street. The Wetherspoon chain beer festival runs from 30/10 to 16/11 so expect more choice than usual in most outlets. Up Steps Inn, 17–23, High Street, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL1 3AJ. Tel: 0161 6275001. Map: Click Here.

© Martin Baker White Hart: Reasonably large traditional style pub about 150 yards further from the ground than the Old Grey Mare (above). Under the Courage badge. Serves food. In its favour is the pub posting on the greenroom forum to emphasise its away fan friendly welcome. White Hart, 233, Oldham Road, Royton, Oldham, Greater Manchester, OL2 6BB. Tel: 0161 620 7772. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Too busy chuckling at 'Famous Sons' Cannon and Ball.

Top-Tip :

The second highest league ground in England. 3rd October: hope for an Indian Summer.

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[No responsibilty is taken for any inaccuracies. This page is entirely the product of bias and prejudice.]

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