​96 Minutes of Sunshine


I’ll be honest with you. This has been the hardest week of my life. My dad lost his battle with cancer, and I won’t pretend I was my usual self in my usual seat yesterday.

But I had my blue goalkeeper top on. And we never lose when that’s on.

Sunglasses on — needed them to hide a tear or two, but also genuinely needed them all game because Boundary Park was absolutely bathed in sunshine. Sometimes the universe gets the details right.

And my boy was back with the ball crew. That helped too.

Milestones Before a Ball Was Kicked

What a week for the club, mind. Will Sutton’s 100th appearance for us — one of our own 🎶. Fondop reaching 50 goals, apparently the first player to do that since Andy Richie — GN9 doing what GN9 does. Matthew Hudson on 16 clean sheets, the most of any keeper in the EFL this season. And the news that Micky Mellon is staying until 2028. Chef’s kiss 😙

The reception when the lads came out was special. First chant of the day setting the tone perfectly:

🎶 Ten more years, Micky Mellon, playing football in the Oldham way 🎶

That one hit different yesterday.

First Half — A Bit of a Haze

The first half passed in something of a blur, if I’m honest. Whether it was the football or whether I just wasn’t quite present — probably a bit of both. It was meh at times but we kept it tight and went in 0-0. I got the closest I’ve ever been to the half time raffle too — only out by about 50 numbers rather than the usual 1000. Progress 😂.

Second Half — Micky Makes His Move

Three subs early in the second half — Garner, Leake and Payne on. Micky clearly decided we needed a different energy and he was right. I’d said to myself we needed Garner in there to battle with them as it was getting scrappy — though that’s a double edged sword, let’s be careful out there.

Stevens made way for Hawkes soon after, the changes coming early enough to actually make a difference.

The Goal

Just after the hour. Free kick. Woods sends it in, Fondop flicks it on, Monthe heads it across — and Leake arrives with a driving header to find the back of the net. 1-0. BOOM. 💙

Hudson then pulled out a couple of outstanding saves to protect the lead — his 17th clean sheet of the season. Seventeen. I love that my little boy gets to watch you from behind that net every week, Hudson. You’re inspiring the next generation, you really are.

Late on, Taylor came on for Woods to a big cheer from the fans — well deserved for his shift today.

A nervy Harrogate corner in the final minutes had us holding our breath, but we held on. Another 3 points. The final whistle brought brilliant scenes.

The Bigger Picture

11th place. Four points off the playoffs. At least a game in hand, possibly two, on the teams above us.

Is a trip to Wembley within reach? I genuinely don’t know. But I do know that right now, in this moment, I wouldn’t bet against this group.

Thank You

I don’t really have the words. But being at Boundary Park yesterday — singing, shouting, and yes, shedding a tear or two behind those sunglasses — lifted me when I needed it most.

Thank you to everyone who gave me a cuddle, checked in, and held me up. My family, and my footballing family. You all got me through yesterday.

For 96 minutes, the sun shone and the Blues won. Dad would’ve loved it. 💙

💙🔵⚪️ #OAFC

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