Oldham Athletic

Oldham AthleticEarly YearsUps and downs on the roa

A Football Report
Oldham Athletic

Oldham Athletic

Oldham Athletic have had a series of promotions and relegations over the course of their turbulent football history but are currently playing in League One (formerly known as the Second Division).

History


Early years

Oldham’s first football club was formed in 1895 under the name of Pine Villa FC, changing its name to Oldham Athetic in 1899. After playing in various Manchester leagues during their inaugural years as a football club, Oldham were promoted to the national Second Division in 1907.

Following their success in the Second Division, the team were promoted again two years later, this time to the First Division. They finished their initial First Division season in a respectable seventh place. However, after a disappointing season in 1911-12, the club narrowly avoided relegation and the following year they reached the semi-finals in the 1913 FA Cup and placed fourth on the league table. In 1914-15 with the outbreak of the war, Oldham played their best football to date, winning the majority of their matches and finishing runners up to Everton.

Following the First World War, Oldham lost many of their key players and, after the league was resumed at the end of the war, Oldham’s performance significantly declined. In 1923, after a fierce battle to stay in the First Division, Oldham were relegated remaining in the Second Division for the following twelve years. After losing the league to Chelsea in 1930, Oldham narrowly missed out on promotion and over the next five years their performance went from bad to worse. In 1935, just before the domestic league was cancelled at the outbreak of the Second World War, Oldham were relegated again, this time to the Third Division North.


Ups and downs on the road to the Premiership

Between 1946 and 1970, Oldham had a series of disappointing seasons until, in 1950, George Hardwick was made manager of the club. Over the next two years, Hardwick turned the club around and in 1952-53, after finishing top of the table, Oldham were promoted to the Second Division. Unfortunately, Oldham’s glory didn’t last for long and, after just one season, they were faced with relegation again. In 1958 the club’s fate worsened and, after finishing 15th place in the Third Division, they were relegated to the Fourth Division.

Following serious financial difficulties and the worst results in the club’s history, Jimmy Frizell took on management of the club. He promptly led his team to promotion in 1970-71 and, astonishingly, into the Second Division just two seasons later.

From 1974 until 1991, Oldham stayed safely in the Second Division, despite sacking Frizell in 1982 to the surprise of many of their fans. After two tense FA cup semi-finals in 1989 and again in 1990, in which Oldham were twice defeated by Manchester United, the Athletics emerged on top form the following season. During 1990-1991 Oldham never moved from the top two league positions and, after beating Ipswich Town 2-1, their promotion to the newly created Premier League (previously the First Division) was guaranteed.


Right up to the present

Oldham’s Premiership career lasted for three years before a series of losses saw them relegated back to the First Division (previously the Second Division) in 1994. Things got worse, as the team were relegated again just three years later and Oldham have played in the Second Division (now League One) ever since.

In 2003, after years of financial struggle, Oldham Athletic went into administration. The following year, three American businessmen saved the club and Oldham has entered the current season with one of the strongest teams it has had in years.


Honours

  • Lancashire Cup: 1907-08
  • Ford Sporting League: 1970-71
  • Football League Second Division: 1990-91
  • Football League Third Division North: 1952-53
  • Football League Third Division: 1973-74


Tickets

Home and away match day tickets and season tickets are available from the Oldham Athletic website at the following prices:

Horners Motorgroup Stand (Upper)

  • Adult: £18 (pre-ordered) £20 (match day) £328 (season ticket)
  • Junior: £9 (pre-ordered) £11 (match day) £159 (season ticket)
  • Senior Citizen: £9 (pre-ordered) £11 (match day) £159 (season ticket)

Horners Motorgroup Stand (Lower)

  • Adult: £17 (pre-ordered) £19 (match day) £303 (season ticket)
  • Junior: £9 (pre-ordered) £11 (match day) £159 (season ticket)
  • Senior Citizen: £9 (pre-ordered) £11 (match day) £159 (season ticket)

New Start Mortgages Stand (Upper)

  • Adult: £18 (pre-ordered) £20 (match day) £328 (season ticket)
  • Junior: £9 (pre-ordered) £11 (match day) £159 (season ticket)
  • Senior Citizen: £9 (pre-ordered) £11 (match day) £159 (season ticket)

New Start Mortgages Stand (Lower)

  • Adult: £14 (pre-ordered) £16 (match day) £242 (season ticket)
  • Junior: £8 (pre-ordered) £10 (match day) £126 (season ticket)
  • Senior Citizen: £8 (pre-ordered) £10 (match day) £126(season ticket)

Detect All Chaddy End

  • Adult: £18 (pre-ordered) £20 (match day) £328 (season ticket)
  • Junior (12-16): £9 (pre-ordered) £11 (match day) £159 (season ticket)
  • Junior (Under 12): £3 (pre-ordered) £3 (match day) £50 (season ticket)
  • Senior Citizen: £9 (pre-ordered) £11 (match day) £159 (season ticket)

Rochdale Road End

  • Adult: £18 (pre-ordered) £20 (match day)
  • Junior (12-16): £9 (pre-ordered) £11 (match day)
  • Junior (Under 12): £3 (pre-ordered) £3 (match day)
  • Senior Citizen: £9 (pre-ordered) £11 (match day)

All disabled season tickets: £120


Travel

Directions to Boundary Park are as follows:

By Car

Leave the M62 at Junction 20 and follow the A627 (M) towards Oldham. With PC World on the left-hand side, take the second junction onto the A627 and take the second exit at the roundabout (for official parking, take the first exit and parking is clearly visible on the right-hand side). After the Vauxhall dealership, turn left at the traffic lights and left again at the second mini roundabout, arriving at the main entrance to the ground.

By Train

Oldham has three train stations: Mumps, Mills Hill and Oldham Werneth. A 15-minute walk from Boundary Park, Oldham Werneth is the closest station to the stadium and is served by local and national rail services. For information about train times contact National Rail on 08457 484 950.

By Bus

Bus numbers 25, 181 and 182 travel from Manchester, stopping at Boundary Park. For more information contact the Greater Manchester Transport website


Contact

For information about matches or for general enquiries contact the Oldham Athletic office on:

Oldham Athletic Football Club
Boundary Park
Furtherwood Road
Oldham
OL1 2PA
Tel: 0871 226 2235
Fax: 0871 226 1715
Email: enquiries@oldhamathletic.co.uk