Vol4-2

Volume 4 Number 2 - 16th. October 1998

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CHAIRMAN'S EDITORIAL

Dear Fellow Supporters,

I did say there were going to be changes this season but I never thought they would be so dramatic. Who would have thought that we would be sitting in new surroundings reading this? After four or five years of business, and a very conservative estimate of $50,000 worth of trade, the Sheraton Hotel decided that they would withdraw sponsorship of the LSC. The story was that they would “work with us” but the Chairman decided that our business was not appreciated - so here we are. I hope you all agree that our new sponsor has lots to offer and our numbers seem to indicate that the move was right as our lowest attendance has been 30 and seems to be on the increase.

Things on the field have gone worse and the petition to oust JWL is on the way to various ‘interested’ parties (see later). It’s time to start thinking about Christmas again and our annual draw. If you want to be included please give your name, gift and time of draw, between 3:30pm and 7:00pm. to me ASAP and I’ll start the list going. For the benefit of new members we have a draw about every 5-10 mins., depending on prizes, and you need to be there at the time of the draw to win. One prize per. member.

The Chairman

A-Z OF LATICS

H is for HONOURS

Although spending a lot of time in the shadows of their illustrious Manchester neighbours, Oldham have picked up a number of honours during their history including the Second Division championship in 1990-91, Third Division North championship in 1952-53, and the Third Division championship in 1973-74. They have also reached Wembley in 1990, losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in the League Cup final.

H is for HALOM

Vic Halom will always be remembered as a great, bustling, aggressive goalscorer who always caused havoc to opposing defences. He completed a century of league goals in his first season at Boundary Park. His 19 goals for Oldham made him leading scorer.The winner of an FA Cup medal for Sunderland, he will fondly be remembered as “King of all Geordies” to all Latics fans honoured enough to see himplay in the 70’s

COMPETITION TIME

The answer to the last question in the last competition time:
Which side was the last to win the FA Cup at Wembley and not play
in the competition since? - was Arsenal. The prize was unclaimed.

This weeks competition is related to the recent wedding of Mr. & Mrs. Buhl. How many LSC members have been married whilst on the seniority list? Answers as usual to The Chairman who will provide a free unit to the lucky winner.

FROM CHAIRMAN TO CHAIRMAN

The following letter was sent to The Chairman of The Board of Directors at JWL Brewery, with cc. to The Chairman of the Latics, the Board of Directors of the Latics and the Oldham Evening Chronicle. Thanks to those supporters who signed their name to the cause:

Dear Sir,

I have been a supporter of Oldham Athletic since the 1959-60 season and, with the exception of the 1987-88 season (when I was working in Canada), the home matches missed until 1990 could be counted on one hand. I have also seen Oldham play at 75 different league grounds along with several non-league grounds. I emigrated to Canada in 1990 and due to visa regulations had to be a resident by mid-April that year. There were reports in the Oldham Chronicle and a front page picture special in the Ashton Reporter about my return to see the Latics play at Wembley. A Granada TV special was also recorded but cancelled due to Oldham rugby losing their semi-final match. I hope you appreciate that I am a long time supporter of Oldham and not just a ‘jump on the bandwaggon’ supporter. I am also the Chairman of the Latics Supporters Club, Canada and hope to keep spreading the word about Oldham on this side of the Atlantic, and also world-wide by means of the Internet.

I am very disappointed that the fortunes of Oldham have nose dived since their relegation from the Premier League in 1994, mainly due to a lack of investment in the team. It is distressing that our current major shareholders have shown scant regard for the future of our club and the feelings of our supporters. As a consequence I have become involved with the ‘Stop The Rot’ campaign and hope to help by putting pressure on J.W. Lees to act positively, either by investing in the club, or selling to somebody who will.

As a frustrated exile and not being in a position to help in a physical, positive way I felt compelled to set up a petition that would enable other exiled supporters a chance to air their emotions about the club. I wish to point out that there are not many Latics fans on the Net in case you just dismiss it out of hand as being a small number. I have had responses from sixteen different countries and a total of 143 signatures of support for the STR campaign.

I sent a petition from the LSC, Canada to the Company Secretary of JWL in early June but he did not even have the courtesy to respond to my letter. I hope you take the time to read the enclosed comments and pass them on to parties who might also have an interest in the well-being of OAFC. Please realise that this petition is being presented to help the current management team who are working with a squad that needs heavy investment. Andy Ritchie is trying to produce a fine piece of furniture but the tools he has been given are blunt. Only investment will bring any success, and you should know that you have to speculate to accumulate. I would hate to see the Latics relegated yet again this season, which is currently a great possibility, as that would put the club back forty years and I would have to start my childhood again. For the sake of all the long-suffering supporters please act responsibly and invest before it’s too late. Thank you for your time,

Yours faithfully,

The Chairman, LSC, Canada

A letter of encouragement and thanks was received from Carl Marsden of STR but it was accidentally erased from file. Basically it was commenting that some supporters in Oldham should be ashamed for doing nothing when people in far flung parts of the world are helping the cause.

EVERYBODY SAY “AHHHHHH”

You have to feel sorry for these poor, over-worked footballers, don't you? It seems that England's World Cup players are worried about burn-out this season with Spurs' Darren Anderton admitting: "I'm a bit tired. I'm trying to get used to waking up early in the mornings again." Bless him, eh? Getting up to be at training for 10am then knocking off at 12.30pm is, after all, a hell of a workload. And all for only Ł12,000 a week!

LSC EXCLUSIVE - MEDIA MOGUL IN OLDHAM TAKEOVER BID

Oldham Athletic have followed their neighbours Manchester United by becoming the target of a takeover bid by another media conglomerate - The Peace Arch News. The Oldham board have welcomed enquiries from the powerful group, which has a strong media presence in the northern half of White Rock, and are rumoured to be preparing a $623.40 bid. Their group of newspapers - which includes the flagship paper the Surrey Leader and its sister title the Now - have increased circulation enormously in recent weeks since one of their former editors, Iva Scoop, took over the running of one of their major outlets, Value Village, in Langley. Iva took over from veteran newswoman Eileen Dover, who recently passed away after a terrible cliff tragedy. Her expertise has taken sales in an upward direction and given the group a new focus.

Oldham’s Chairman, Ian Stott, is expected to comment on the deal later today, when he will announce details of revolutionary new catering organised by McDonalds, who hope to have the McLatic burger on sale by the end of the month.

THE FAT SIDE
or THE CHAIRMAN EATS

NEW SPONSORS - NEW KIT

I think it is true to say that when the new shirt sponsors were announced, most people were dumbfounded. Certainly the editorial staff at the LSc were. All the hype and publicity tells us that this is the most lucrative deal yet and let us hope that is so, for to labour under the handicap of having the Slumberland logo emblazoned across the chest for a few seasons will give rise to all kinds of mickey-taking. Now far be it from us to get involved in that sort of thing, but we set out below what the team might look like for the forthcoming season, taking account of its new-found identity, based on the old formation of goalkeeper, two full backs, three half backs and five forwards.

In goal we have Rip Van Winkle, one of the foremost sleeper-keepers in the game. He has slept for Holland on numerous occasions and holds the world record for the highest number of dirty sheets. The two full backs, Weary Willie and Tired Tim have been around for many
years and have developed the siesta to an art form whilst playing together in Spain, they may look a little slow, but you may be certain they are sound - asleep!

The half back line of Winkin, Blinkin and Nod are also well experienced. They are masters in the skill of covering (with or without a duvet) and also are able to expertly drop off each other - and often drop off altogether. Just back from a spell out of the game with
Chipperfields Circus are two of the Magnificent Seven in Sleepy and Dopey and completing this diminutive trio is our old friend Noddy. He doesn't get too many goals in the air, as you can imagine, but when he does the little bell on top of his hat rings, which all adds to the excitement.

The rest of the line-up is completed by firstly, the greatest centre forward in the game. None other than Alan Snorer. He apparently contracted sleeping sickness on holiday in Africa and Newcastle have reluctantly decided to let him go. His current medical condition makes him ideal for our purposes. Last but not least we have Eborneezer Snooze, who is reputed to be too tight even to let any of his mates have a touch of the ball. However this trait has impressed Alan Hardy so much that he has been offered the Commercial Manager's job
when Alan moves onto greater things. Apparently Snooze comes into his own during the gruelling Christmas schedule when he is inclined to have delusions of promotion and no finer tribute could be paid to him than by the critic who said: "When the going gets tough - Snooze
gets kipping". Nighty - night!

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