Turbulence and turmoil

Athletic striker Dominic Poleon celebrating his two-goal feat against Sheffield United – arguably his best display for Athletic.

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ONE new stand, four managers, five home wins, two relegation zone scraps and the most controversial non-signing in the club’s history.

It has been quite a year in the history of Oldham Athletic.

An attempt to sign Ched Evans at the start of 2015 brought worldwide press attention. Even the New York Times covered the story. But the narrative that it destroyed the season doesn’t account for the terrific 2-1 defeat of eventual play-off finalists Swindon a month later.

Still, there was very little to cheer about from February onwards. Lee Johnson whisked away with Tommy Wright to Barnsley and Dean Holden was left with a ridiculous injury list and consequent wafer-thin squad to guide to safety.

The still-astonishing appointment of rookie Darren Kelly followed. He lasted all of six league games, after which Athletic promoted from within with David Dunn and the new boss is currently looking ahead longingly to a New Year with its possibilities for ins and outs.

Here’s to a less fraught 2016.


Villain of the year


There’s no getting away from this being Lee Johnson. He traded life at Athletic for Barnsley and it still sticks in the craw of many. A bigger club with better opportunities for progress, he felt, but Athletic fans have twice given him plenty of stick when he has returned to Athletic as the Tykes boss.

One fan even dressed up as him for the last-day trip to Walsall last season, complete with branded “100-day dossier”.


Quotes of the year

“I was supposed to go back for some family reasons and see Usain Bolt, but the gaffer said he needed me for this game, so I changed my flight, costing me a lot of money!” — Ricardo Fuller, before the FA Cup first-round tie at Mansfield.

“There was an element of sarcasm in the stuff they were coming out with which is a little bit disappointing. This is the start of a new beginning and we want to go on and create something that lasts” — David Dunn on Athletic’s fans during the 2-1 win at Chesterfield.

“I am ashamed to be British” — Barry Owen in a radio interview, responding to what he felt was “deplorable” abuse directed towards the club from those who opposed Ched Evans’ proposed move to Athletic.

Goals of the year

Athletic have scored 52 times in 2015. Here are my three favourites:

Carl Winchester v Scunthorpe (1-0 at Glanford Park, February 7): Going, going, gone. From a standing start and as smoothly as a supercar, the youngster from Belfast accelerated his way past a group of flat-footed defenders before slotting the ball in with his left foot.

This mark of class gave Athletic three points.


Rhys Turner v Rochdale (3-0 at SportsDirect.com Park, March 24): Things haven’t gone as planned for Rhys this season, but he can look back on this two-goal derby show from last term with pleasure.

His second saw dancing feet and shimmying hips bamboozle defenders, who fell to the floor around him. “Shoot!” the crowd pleaded and, after an eternity, he did, clinically. Bizarre and brilliant.


Dominic Poleon v Sheffield United (2-2 at SportsDirect.com Park, April 11): When Poleon is charged up on confidence, he is a menace to defences and he was in his element here against the club he used to play for on loan. Having already scored once, his second was a 35-yard howitzer that Mark Howard did well to even land a glove on as it flew over him at the Chaddy End.


Assist of the year


Michael Higdon’s volleyed finish at Gillingham was superb, but so was the ball to him. There was space to run into for Dominic Poleon, but instead he saw the chance to whip in a quite brilliant cross to the far post to help Athletic to a 3-3 draw.


Hero of the year

Idols out on the field are one thing, but having a real-life hero in the stand saved the life of

one Athletic supporter at Chesterfield. Latics superfan and ambulance worker Kenny Hopwood put his training to best use in helping to revive a man in his 50s whose heart had stopped beating.
There’s no topping that.