Young guns in trophy line-up

THE average member of the Athletic line-up which finished the game against Shrewsbury this week would be able to buy a beer in America — but only just.

Added together and then divided by 11, the typical age in Paul Dickov’s side at the end of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy first round tie was only a little over 21.

With captain Reuben Hazell off the field injured, Dickov fielded two 18-year-olds in centre-back Rod McDonald and striker Djeny Bembo-Leta.

And the fresh-faced nature of the line-up is emphasised when examining the fact that the oldest members of the team were the 24-year-old pair of goalkeeper Dean Brill and substitute right winger Rodrigue Dikaba — the latter making his first-team debut in English football.

Athletic by age v Shrewsbury: Brill 24; Lee 22, Hazell 31 (McDonald 18), Mvoto 21, Black 20; Smalley 21 (Dikaba 24), Stephens 22, Furman 22, Taylor 23; Kelly 24 (Tounkara 20), Bembo-Leta 18.



BBC Radio Five Live will present their sports programme from Boundary Park on Saturday.

With no Premier League or Championship action due to the round of international matches, the spotlight falls on the lower leagues.

And the BBC have confirmed that their afternoon six-hour show will be broadcast from the home of Athletic.


ATHLETIC supporters can set up standing orders for the Trust’s player-share scheme using the following details: Account: Latics Playershare; Bank: RBS (Oldham branch); Sort Code: 16-27-11; Account no: 10176108.