The anticipation had been building all week; friends were checking on each other to make sure they were either going or had a good excuse. Ticket sales were carefully monitored and celebrated across various social media platforms. We’d been allocated 2000 seats, and everyone was intent on making sure the team would be backed by more travelling Shaymen for a league fixture than in recent history.
Shortly after 5.00pm, we picked up the Greetland Shayman and set off on our 24-mile journey; he quickly reported that he’d already been propositioned by four carloads of Town fans as they passed by. It was perhaps a little like the old days of Wakes Week, everyone had downed tools and were heading to Boundary Park, gateway to the posh end of Manchester…
After locating a decent chippy, we headed off on the final four miles to the ground. The car park was already full of Oldham fans queuing and waiting for the turnstiles to open as we arrived. Tesco Pete’s Town top was instantly recognised, generating a few good luck messages and one or two directions. Having parked up, we made our way round to the home end, walking past an impressive Latic’s crocodile winding its way up from the bottom of the ground towards the stadium. Everyone was singing songs and waving flags and scarves ahead of the big game along with tabarded leaders front and rear.
Our team were welcomed with a wall of noise from the 1893 travelling Shaymen as they broke up their pre-match huddle. From then until kick off, the entire stadium was a cacophony of noise. The usually sparsely populated seats in the impressive Joe Royal stand were packed with home fans, and the usually conservative few who occupy those seats closest to the away end were swamped with eager youthful fellows’ intent on wishing us all the best. At the far end, pieces of tin foil and coloured paper were being held up to create a mosaic to greet the home players as they entered the pitch.
Shortly after kick-off and it was all over; three goals down after 12 minutes and the Latics had created other chances too. Every ball into our box was met by an Oldham player, they seemed bigger, stronger and more aggressive than our team. We were realistic in our expectations travelling to the game, we’d been beaten twice already this season at Boundary Park. Oldham on their day are a match for anyone, but they’d also had a string of catastrophic results on home soil this season too. We were hoping for one of their off days, but fair play to them, as a team, and with 9000 home fans behind them, they were well worth their lead.
Oldham never looked in trouble during the rest of the game, Town created a few glimmers of hope, but they were soon snuffed out by the home side. Oldham added a fourth as some of the travelling Shaymen started to drift away early.
Perhaps around half of the travelling fans stayed behind at the end to applaud the management and squad at full time. It was in recognition of their achievement at reaching the play-offs and providing numerous exciting away days throughout the season. Town had come up against a much better team and were well beaten on the night.
Over the season we’ve probably eaten too many dodgy burgers, but we’ve been rewarded with some excellent wins too. We’ve had the usual ups and downs; football is like that. Next season we’ll do it all again, along with four other teams who are still in this year’s playoffs. It’s a sudden end to the season, but we’ll be back. C’mon Shaymen!
Miles on the road: 7652. Goals on the road: 33. Points on the road: 38.
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