Farewell my friends, it’s been a pleasure

The Latics striker’s final column of the season for Chron Sport

THE curtain comes down on yet another season tomorrow - in our case a fiercely-competitively affair against Notts County, who need a point to guarantee survival.

We’ve had some memorable moments this season: when you think back to our opening encounter against Stevenage, many of us expected us to be in the top half of this division wth our brand of free-flowing, passing football that day.

But we went on to produce high-standard displays without getting results; wwe became known as the league’s brave losers. Two matches spring to mind: at Preston and Peterborough, where we dominated in all areas but failed to register a single point.

But we have also had some great experiences this year, with a good run in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and the trip to Anfield in the FA Cup.

I didn’t have the pleasure of rubbing shoulders with some of best players in the country due to injury, but if you ask any of the lads who played that day, the majority would say it was a career highlight.

Out of all the battles we have faced this rollercoaster season, the one that stands out has to be the Peterborough game at home.

I have never gone through as many emotions in 90 minutes as I did that day. Nobody in their right mind would have given us a chance after being 3-0 down at half-time, and dire.

But what followed was incredible. To win 5-4 goes down as one of my greatest achievements.

While I’m mentioning defining moments from the last nine months, it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t include our fantastic recent run of results. We have had some colossal showings and the whole squad has played its part in a nine-match unbeaten sequence.

As I write this final column, I am unsure of what my future holds with Latics.

I have had a frustrating campaign that has been interrupted with injuries and limited time on the pitch.

But I have enjoyed my time here. The lads are a great bunch and everyone has made me feel very welcome.

I hope to have my optional year taken up by the gaffer, as I still feel I have a part to play. But I’d like to end Charlie’s Chat by thanking everyone at the Chronicle for allowing me to have my own piece each week.

And thanks for reading: I hope you have all enjoyed it as much as I have!