Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is a professional association football club in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. As of the 2025–26 season, the team competes in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system.
The history of Oldham Athletic began with the founding of Pine Villa F.C. in 1895, the team played in the Manchester and Lancashire leagues. When the local team Oldham County folded in 1899, Pine Villa moved into Boundary Park and changed their name to Oldham Athletic A.F.C.. They won the Lancashire Combination league title in 1906–07 and were elected into the Football League. They won promotion out of the Second Division in 1909–10 and went on to finish second in the First Division in 1914–15, before being relegated in 1923. Another relegation in 1935 left them in the Third Division North, which they won at the end of the 1952–53 campaign, only to be relegated back the following season. Placed in the Fourth Division, they secured promotion in 1962–63, and again in 1970–71 after another relegation in 1969.
One of their successful managers, Jimmy Frizzell was at the club from 1970 to 1982. During his tenure with the team, Oldham won the Third Division title in 1973–74. Frizzell was succeeded by another successful manager in Joe Royle, who was also in charge for 12 years. During his spell as manager, Oldham reached the League Cup final in 1990. They then won the Second Division title in 1990–91, which meant that Oldham played in the top flight for the first time in 68 years and became founder members of the newly created Premier League in 1992. They were relegated in 1994 and fell to the third tier by 1997, ending a 21-season stay within the top two tiers. Their time in the Second Division/League One encompassed numerous financial crises, eventually culminating in relegation to EFL League Two in 2018. At the end of the 2021–22 season, relegation from League Two was confirmed and the club fell into the National League, becoming the first former Premier League club to play non-League football. They returned to the Football League after winning the 2025 National League play-off final.
They play home matches at their stadium of Boundary Park. Known to fans as the "Latics", Oldham traditionally play in blue shirts. The club contest numerous local rivalries, most notably with Rochdale, Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town, the latter of which is known as the Roses derby.
In July 1895, licensee John Garland with his son formed a football club named Pine Villa Football Club with a group of friends inside the Featherstall & Junction Inn. The club was initially named after the Pine Mill whose shadow the club played in. The term "Villa" originated from Aston Villa's dominance of the football league at the time of formation. The club changed its appearance and name in 1899 to Oldham Athletic Football Club when nearby team, Oldham County folded. The club immediately gained professional status and played in both the Lancashire Combination and Lancashire League. Unlike many clubs, Oldham Athletic gained quick success and gained acceptance into the Football League in 1907–08. After three years in the Second Division, Latics gained promotion to the First Division.
Within a couple of seasons, Oldham had announced themselves serious contenders, finishing 4th in the league in 1912–13, and reaching the F.A. Cup semi-finals the same season, losing out 1–0 versus Aston Villa. In 1914–15, Latics reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup but were knocked out once again after a 0–3 replay against Sheffield United. In the league that season Latics almost won it all, losing by one point – as close as they have ever come to winning the league. Latics' early success was halted by the First World War.
Following the return of competitive football after the First World War, Oldham Athletic struggled to find their early success before they returned to the Second Division in 1923. It would be another 68 years before they played top division football again.
Many of the players from their former squads had either retired from football or been killed in the war. Their highest success came in the 1929–30 season as they finished in 3rd, missing out on promotion by finishing two points behind Chelsea. From then on they slowly but surely fell down the league table, until a final placing of 21st at the end of the 1934–35 season saw them relegated to the Third Division North. They found life in this new division much more to their liking, coming 7th in their first season and following this with three seasons in the top five. Promotion back to the Second Division looked like it might just be a possibility, but the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 brought an end to League Football. Players' contracts were terminated, and relying largely on guest players, the club was to play in the war-time Northern League until August 1946.
Hub AI
Oldham Athletic A.F.C. AI simulator
(@Oldham Athletic A.F.C._simulator)
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is a professional association football club in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. As of the 2025–26 season, the team competes in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system.
The history of Oldham Athletic began with the founding of Pine Villa F.C. in 1895, the team played in the Manchester and Lancashire leagues. When the local team Oldham County folded in 1899, Pine Villa moved into Boundary Park and changed their name to Oldham Athletic A.F.C.. They won the Lancashire Combination league title in 1906–07 and were elected into the Football League. They won promotion out of the Second Division in 1909–10 and went on to finish second in the First Division in 1914–15, before being relegated in 1923. Another relegation in 1935 left them in the Third Division North, which they won at the end of the 1952–53 campaign, only to be relegated back the following season. Placed in the Fourth Division, they secured promotion in 1962–63, and again in 1970–71 after another relegation in 1969.
One of their successful managers, Jimmy Frizzell was at the club from 1970 to 1982. During his tenure with the team, Oldham won the Third Division title in 1973–74. Frizzell was succeeded by another successful manager in Joe Royle, who was also in charge for 12 years. During his spell as manager, Oldham reached the League Cup final in 1990. They then won the Second Division title in 1990–91, which meant that Oldham played in the top flight for the first time in 68 years and became founder members of the newly created Premier League in 1992. They were relegated in 1994 and fell to the third tier by 1997, ending a 21-season stay within the top two tiers. Their time in the Second Division/League One encompassed numerous financial crises, eventually culminating in relegation to EFL League Two in 2018. At the end of the 2021–22 season, relegation from League Two was confirmed and the club fell into the National League, becoming the first former Premier League club to play non-League football. They returned to the Football League after winning the 2025 National League play-off final.
They play home matches at their stadium of Boundary Park. Known to fans as the "Latics", Oldham traditionally play in blue shirts. The club contest numerous local rivalries, most notably with Rochdale, Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town, the latter of which is known as the Roses derby.
In July 1895, licensee John Garland with his son formed a football club named Pine Villa Football Club with a group of friends inside the Featherstall & Junction Inn. The club was initially named after the Pine Mill whose shadow the club played in. The term "Villa" originated from Aston Villa's dominance of the football league at the time of formation. The club changed its appearance and name in 1899 to Oldham Athletic Football Club when nearby team, Oldham County folded. The club immediately gained professional status and played in both the Lancashire Combination and Lancashire League. Unlike many clubs, Oldham Athletic gained quick success and gained acceptance into the Football League in 1907–08. After three years in the Second Division, Latics gained promotion to the First Division.
Within a couple of seasons, Oldham had announced themselves serious contenders, finishing 4th in the league in 1912–13, and reaching the F.A. Cup semi-finals the same season, losing out 1–0 versus Aston Villa. In 1914–15, Latics reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup but were knocked out once again after a 0–3 replay against Sheffield United. In the league that season Latics almost won it all, losing by one point – as close as they have ever come to winning the league. Latics' early success was halted by the First World War.
Following the return of competitive football after the First World War, Oldham Athletic struggled to find their early success before they returned to the Second Division in 1923. It would be another 68 years before they played top division football again.
Many of the players from their former squads had either retired from football or been killed in the war. Their highest success came in the 1929–30 season as they finished in 3rd, missing out on promotion by finishing two points behind Chelsea. From then on they slowly but surely fell down the league table, until a final placing of 21st at the end of the 1934–35 season saw them relegated to the Third Division North. They found life in this new division much more to their liking, coming 7th in their first season and following this with three seasons in the top five. Promotion back to the Second Division looked like it might just be a possibility, but the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 brought an end to League Football. Players' contracts were terminated, and relying largely on guest players, the club was to play in the war-time Northern League until August 1946.