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

​ Sunny Days at Boundary Park Today’s game was against Crawley, back at Boundary Park, and it looks like the clouds are parting and the sun is coming out! In February! Didn’t think I’d need my shades 😎. Dominant First Half We dominated the first half, even though Crawley have – I think – the worst away record in the league. And the ref was on their side. I thought Dale Baines almost needed a police escort off the pitch at half time! We passed the ball with composure and looked like we only wanted to walk it into the back of the net. But then we broke forward, crossed to the back post where Stevens gets it and slots it home! 1-0. Great to see Stevens on top form. The weirdest throw-in from them – he kind of ran in the shape of a J. Bizarre, and for them, nowhere. Half Time Sunshine Half time and the sun comes out. We don’t need the floodlights on now, but guessing we can’t save the money and turn them off! Stevens Does It Again Looks like we’re starting the second half where we left of...

​ Cold Tuesday Night Magic at the Ice Station Zebra Tuesday night in the Ice Station Zebra for the Oldham game against Bristol Rovers. Is this the night that Quigley will show us what he’s capable of? We start the game with the team that actually finished the game on Saturday, which had a bit of fight to them – though going off the first half, it wasn’t hard. 35 Seconds! Well, 35 seconds in and a long ball from Hudson up to Fondop, who brings it down for Drummond just outside the box. And he smashes it into the back of the net! 1-0 and it’s not even a minute in! Wow. So he might miss from 3 yards out, but give him space outside the box and he’s found the back of the net. So, so pleased for him. He works so hard for it and has taken a lot of stick from us fans – all in the nature it’s intended. But it lifted the fans in the ground. Well, not the 380 travelling fans! Is this going to be the fastest goal in League 2 this season? 🎶 Drummond on fire, your defence is terrified! 🎶 rings out...

Back at Boundary Park today against Fleetwood Town. Pete Wild in the Oldham fan bar – going to be an interesting day. No Norwood on the team sheet, doesn’t look like he travelled with them. 🤔 We cannot continue this losing streak. We need a performance today. Cold but dry at Boundary Park – let’s get the place bouncing if only to keep us warm. Slow Start and Garner’s Injury Slow start to the game from Oldham. A couple of testers for Hudson at his near side, but nothing much to worry about. Almost 40 minutes in and we’re down to 10 men defending a corner as Joe Garner has gone off and up the tunnel with what reports are saying is a broken nose. And it’s a quick strip-off of his layers for Fondop – picture a 7-year-old stomping out of his trackie bottoms and you get the picture! Hope Joe is OK and can play again on Tuesday, as we missed him. Behind Again Fleetwood are breaking forward and Payne clips their forward just outside the box. Free kick given. Hudson lines up his wall with one ...

Early Kick Off, Same Old Story Oldham at Swindon away today – 12:31 kick off. The early starts don’t normally suit us, but let’s see. Two of the new signings are in the starting 11, with a start for Fondop. Let’s see what we can do. Can’t get there today, so watching on TV – and can hear the Oldham fans loud and clear! 👏 The Weather Gods Have a Laugh Sunshine and torrential rain, all in the same game at the same time. Going to be a wet one for sure. First Half Struggles They’re dominating the first half with possession, but we’re holding them off. Twenty-three minutes in and a goal for a debutant – but unfortunately it’s for Swindon, not us. Felt very much against the run of play, but they cut through us on the right between Caprice and Daniels. Feels like we’re missing Will Sutton in defence. Unsure why he was let go. We just can’t seem to get it through midfield, and I’m not sure about the 5-4-1 system. We go in at half time 1-0 down. Second Half Changes Second half starts with no c...