Oldham Athletic Football Club (2004) Ltd is an English football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane, Oldham. They are currently playing in Coca-Cola League One. The club was founded as Pine Villa Football Club in 1895 before renaming in 1899.
The current limited company was formed after some months in administration (near-bankruptcy) during 2003–04; the club's immediate future was secured on 3 February 2004, when a group of American-based expatriate British businessmen bought the club, forming a new company Oldham Athletic (2004) Association Football Club Ltd.
Oldham have never won a major trophy, but they did reach the League Cup final in 1990 (losing 1–0 to Nottingham Forest), finished league runners-up in 1915, and were FA Cup semi-finalists in 1913 (losing to Aston Villa), 1990 and 1994 (losing both times to eventual winners Manchester United). Their most recent spell in the top flight lasted from 1991 until 1994, and on the final day of the inaugural Premier League season, they avoided relegation on goal difference after a remarkable 4–3 win over Southampton.
Significant former managers of Oldham Athletic include George Hardwick, Jimmy Frizzell, Joe Royle, Graeme Sharp, Andy Ritchie, Iain Dowie, and Brian Talbot. Royle was arguably the most successful manager in Oldham's history, taking charge of the club between 1982 and 1994. He lead the club to promotion into the top flight after a 68 year absence, as well as reaching one League Cup final and two FA Cup semi finals.
History
-
- See also: Oldham Athletic A.F.C. seasons
Early history
Pine Villa Football Club was formed in 1895, though the club would change it's appearance and name in 1899 to Oldham Athletic Football Club. The club immediately gained professional status and played in both the Lancashire Combination and Lancashire League. Unlike many clubs, Oldham gained quick success and gained acceptance into the Football League in 1907–08. After three years in the Second Division, the Latics gained promotion to the First Division.
Oldham would also gain some success in the FA Cup by reaching the semi-finals in 1912–13 campaign but would lose out due to a 0–1 scoreline versus Aston Villa. In the 1914–15, the Latics would reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup but would be knocked out once again after a 0–3 replay against Sheffield United.
The Latics early success would only be halted by the First World War.
Interwar struggles
Following the return of competitive football after the First World War, Oldham would struggle to find their early success before they would return to the Second Division in 1923–24. Many of the players from their former squads had either retired from football or had been killed in the war. Their highest success would come in the 1929–30 season as they finished in 3rd, missing out on promotion by finishing two points behind Chelsea. Several years later, the club would once again be relegated as they would finish in 21st place and falling to Division Three North. Oldham would find success in Division Three North, though would never gain promotion before the outbreak of the Second World War.
Postwar plight
Once more, the war would hit Oldham hard as the team began to struggle immediately following the return of competitive football. In the first five years after the war, the Latics would only finish inside of the top 10 once. It wasn't until the 1952–53 season that the club would find their old form, finish in 1st place and earning a spot back into the Second Division. The next season, however, Oldham would finish in last place and return to Third Division North. After their return, the club would return to mediocrity as they finished in 10th place. Between 1955 and 1960, Oldham would struggle as they finished out of the top 20 on three occasions. With a 15th place finish in 1958–59, Oldham would become a founding member of a newly formed Fourth Division.
Ken Bates would enter the picture at Oldham Athletic in the early 1960s, and along with the appointment of manager Jack Rowley, the club's fortunes would turn for the better. During the 1962–63 season, Oldham again gain promotion to the Second Division as Rowley would leave as manager. Over the next six seasons, Oldham would struggle with consistency in the league and at the manager position—with Les McDowall, Gordon Hurst, and Jimmy McIlroy all spending time at the managerial position.
In the 1968–69, Jack Rowley would once again return as manager. With their inconsistency, Rowley and Bates could not save the club from a last place finish and inevitable relegation. Midway through the 1969–70 season, Rowley and Bates would both leave the club as Jimmy Frizzell would become the Latics manager—a position he would hold for the next 13 seasons.
Frizzell and Royle eras
Jimmy Frizzell, a Scottish-born defender, would become Oldham's player-manager during the 1969–70 season. In the 1970–71 season, Oldham would see their best result since 1962–63 as they finished in third place, earning promotion back to the Third Division. After a midtable result in their first season, the Latics would miss out on promotion—finishing in 4th place, 12 points behind league champions Lincoln City. In the 1973–74 season, the Latics would finish in 1st place and return to the Second Division for the first time in 21 years. Oldham's trip back to the Second Division would be more successful than their previous appearance. During Frazzell's remaining time at the club, the Latics would remain in Division Two and little FA Cup and Football League Cup success.
During the mid-1980s, the club ushered in a new era under manager Joe Royle—who would become one of the most successful in Oldham's history. Royle's side would finish 7th in his first season in charge and would slip to finish 19th in his second. In the 1986–87 season, Oldham would narrowly avoid promotion to the First Division by finishing three points behind Portsmouth.
Royle's Latics would reach Wembley Stadium in the 1990 Football League Cup Final versus Nottingham Forest. After a Nigel Jemson goal, an exhausted Oldham squad fell to an honourable Nottingham squad 1–0. The next season, Oldham would not have the same cup success, but would find success by winning the Second Division and returning to First Division for the first time in 68 years. In their first season back in the top flight, the club finished in 17th and would become one of the founding members of the newly-formed Premier League. Though after two more seasons at the top level, Oldham would face relegation yet again and during the following season, the Joe Royle era at Oldham Athletic came to an end, as he left the club for Everton.
Recent history
After a three year stint under Graeme Sharp, Oldham turned to Neil Warnock—though his time would end as well after Oldham were relegated for the second time in four years, returning to Second Division. After little success under Andy Ritchie, Oldham would go into a period of new managers after each season.
In 2001, local businessman Chris Moore purchased Oldham promising Oldham would return to Premier League football within five years. During that season, Oldham would lose in a play-off match against Queens Park Rangers. Much to the anger of fans, Moore decided to end his interest with the club—leaving behind large debts and a weak squad.
In 2004–05, Simon Blitz and two other partners purchased Oldham, trying to rescue the club from possibly liquidation. While trying to repay debts, Oldham would struggle for several seasons—barely avoiding relegation once more in 2004–05. In the 2006–07, Oldham's fortune turned for the better once more as the club narrowly missed out on promotion—losing to Blackpool 5–2 on aggregate.
Rivalry
Boundary park is less than 9 miles (14 km) from the stadiums of Bury, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Rochdale.
As their more traditional rivals—Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Bury, and Manchester City—are no longer regular opponents, the Latics have found new rivals with West Yorkshire club such as Huddersfield Town, Leeds United, and near neighbours Stockport County.
Players
Current squad
- As of 23 July 2008.[1]
Past notable
Scottish international striker Graeme Sharp, signed from Everton in 1991, was Oldham's player-manager from 1994 to 1997. Other famous players to wear the Oldham shirt include Andy Ritchie (who was manager from 1998 to 2001), Earl Barrett, Denis Irwin, Gunnar Halle and Mike Milligan.
Club officials
- Board of Directors and Presidents[2]
Owners: Philip Long and Jon Newell
Vice-President: Chaim Beniaker
Chairman: Simon Blitz
Managing Director: Simon Corney
Director: Danny Gazal
Chief Executive & Director: Alan Hardy
Director: Ian Hill
Director: Barry Owen
- Coaching staff[2]
Manager: John Sheridan
Assistant Manager: Tommy Wright
Reserve Team Coach: Lee Duxbury
Goalkeeping Coach: Mark Crossley
Chief Scout: Graham Brown
Senior Physiotherapist: Marc Czuczman
Reserve & Youth Team Physiotherapist: Jon Guy
Notable former managers
-
The following managers have all won a title in the club's history.
Stadium
-
Main article: Boundary Park
After playing at Sheepfoot Lane from 1894 to 1905, Boundary Park was constructed in 1904. Oldham Athletic have played their home games at the ground ever since. The stadium is located in Royton, Oldham, and has a current capacity of 10,638. The stadium currently only has three stands, with one undergoing construction as the original was demolished in June 2008. Before the demolition of the fourth stand, the stadium had a capacity of 13,559.
The record capacity is 47,671 during an FA Cup tie between Oldham and Sheffield Wednesday in 1930—when the capacity was 50,000.
In February 2006, the club unveiled plans for reconstruction of the stadium. After initially being rejected by the Oldham Borough Council, the decision was overturned with permission for the entire ground to be redeveloped. When construction is completed, Boundary Park is expected to seat 16,000 while costing approximately £80 million.
Honours
League
- Football League Second Division
- Football League Third Division
- Football League Third Division North
- Ford Sporting League
Cup
- Lancashire Senior Cup
Club records
- Largest attendance: 47,671 people watched Oldham play Sheffield Wednesday on January 25, 1930 in the FA Cup Fourth Round.[3]
- Biggest league win: 11–0 against Southport on December 26, 1962 in Division 4.
- Biggest league loss: 4–13 against Tranmere Rovers on December 26, 1935 in Division 3 (North).
- Biggest FA Cup win: 10–1 against Lytham on November 28, 1925 in the FA Cup First Round.
- Biggest League Cup win: 7–0 against Scarborough on October 25, 1989
- Most League points (2 for a win): 61, Division 3, 1973–74
- Most League points (3 for a win): 88, Division 2, 1990–91
- Most League goals scored in a season: 95, Division 4, 1962–63
- Most capped player: Gunnar Halle, who played 64 times for Norway, scoring 5 goals.
- Most league appearances: Ian Wood played 525 league games for Oldham between 1966 and 1980.
- Most league goals: Roger Palmer scored 141 league goals for Oldham between 1980 and 1992.
- Most goals in a season: Tommy Davies scored 33 goals in the 1936/37 season in Division 2.
- Largest transfer fee received: Aston Villa paid £1,700,000 for England international defender Earl Barrett in February 1992.
- Largest transfer fee paid: Oldham paid £750,000 to Aston Villa for striker Ian Olney in June 1992.
- Longest winning run: 10 (January 12, 1974 – March 16, 1974)
- Longest losing run: 6 (February 5, 2005 – February 26, 2005)
- Longest unbeaten run: 17 (August 25, 1990 – November 10, 1990)
- Longest run without a win: 17 (September 9, 1920 – December 25, 1920)
Notes
External links
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| League competitions |
The FA |
Cup competitions |
| Premier League |
England (B) (C) |
FA Cup |
| The Football League (Champ, 1, 2) |
(U-21) (U-20) (U-19) |
Football League Cup |
| Football Conference (Nat, N, S) |
(U-18) (U-17) (U-16) |
FA Community Shield |
| Northern Premier (Prem, 1N, 1S) |
List of clubs |
Football League Trophy |
| Southern League (Prem, 1Mid, 1S&W) |
List of venues |
FA Trophy |
| Isthmian League (Prem, 1N, 1S) |
(by capacity) |
Conference League Cup |
| English football league system |
List of leagues |
FA Vase |
|
Records |
FA NLS Cup |
|
Foreign players |
|
|
