Behind the Goal Line 2025:A Ball Boy’s Mum’s View of Life with Oldham Athletic

Finally, A Boundary Park Performance! A cold, wet, grey day for the Oldham Athletic match versus Newport County. The visitors were bottom of the league so far, and their new manager had only been in post a few days. Would this mean they’d come to Boundary Park with nothing to lose and a point to make to their new manager? Or would this be the game that gets Boundary Park rocking? Because we desperately needed to improve our home form. Scrappy Start The first half was scrappy. The ref seemed to be giving them a free kick every time they fell to the floor. Frustrating to watch. A good punch away from Hudson kept the game at 0-0, but we weren’t creating much going forward. Half time couldn’t come quick enough. Let’s hope the team talk puts some fire underneath them for the second half. The Changes That Changed Everything Hannant and Garner were replaced at half time with Drummond and Fondop, and what a breath of fresh air they were! Fondop tussling with their defence, Drummond covering ev...

Hudson Heroics Keep Us in the Game What to say about today’s game? First things first – the Remembrance Day reflections and the laying of the wreaths was very touching. The cadets around the ground added to the poignant atmosphere. The ground looked outstanding. But then the football started. Early Warning Signs Eight minutes in and the chants of “Shit ref again, ole ole” were already ringing around Boundary Park. Crewe Alexandra were getting the flow of the game and seemingly getting every free kick decision. Not sure how they weren’t 4 or 5 nil up at half time. Genuinely. If it wasn’t for Matthew Hudson in net, the woodwork, and their poor finishing, they would have been out of sight. Hudson was absolutely immense. Time and time again he kept us in the game when we had no right to still be level. Second Half Fight Whatever Micky said to them at half time, they came out with more fight in them. Joe Garner made a great header that, but for their keeper, would have found the back of the...

Away Day Adventures in North Yorkshire Harrogate away this weekend, and boy did I know I’d arrived in Harrogate. Stopped at a tea room for a bite to eat before the match. Now, tell me you’re in a tea room in Harrogate without telling me: the person in front of me ordered “a decaf tea with soya milk and a vegan flapjack.” My order? Cup of tea and a bacon butty, please! 1,050 Strong 1,050 Oldham fans packed out the away end at the Wetherby Road stadium. Incredible support. Though I have to mention – 3 ladies toilets for the away fans. THREE. That’s all I’ll say about that. Remembrance Before kick off, both captains laid poppy wreaths to mark Remembrance Day. The Last Post rang out across a silenced ground, followed by a minute’s silence where not a peep was heard. Exquisite atmosphere. These moments matter. Positive Start No changes to the team from the FA Cup win, so we were expecting a strong start. And that’s what we got. We kicked off positively, on the front foot, looking comfortabl...

FA Cup First Round - A Day to Remember at Boundary Park FA Cup first round game day. As I arrived at Boundary Park this afternoon, there was a double rainbow arching over the ground. Is it a good sign? Well, it turns out it absolutely was. A Dream Start Three minutes in and Michael Mellon has scored an absolutely outstanding goal – a bicycle kick, overhead, into the back of the net. Boundary Park erupted. We’re bouncing! But we weren’t done. Straight from the next attack, Mellon has found the back of the net again, chipping it over the keeper with sublime composure. 2-0 up against Northampton within 4 minutes. Will we see a 5-minute hat trick? Because anything seemed possible today with the way the boys were playing. Boundary Park Bouncing 🎶 Michael Michael Michael Michael Michael Mellon, Micky Micky Micky Micky Micky Mellon 🎶 The chant was ringing out around Boundary Park. And we seemed to have found a formula that’s suiting us. Not sure what it is – sun shining? 3pm kick off? Don’t...