Royle turned to local talent

Brian Marriott signs for Oldham Athletic, With manager Joe Royle.

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AMATEUR FOOTBALL: BRIAN MARRIOTT left Chadderton FC and Freehold in the spring of 1985 when, as a 22-year-old, he signed professional forms for Oldham Athletic under the watchful gaze of Athletic manager Joe Royle.

Although Marriott didn’t feature in a competitive match in his one-year stay at Boundary Park, his signing was proof of Royle’s recognition of the talent that abounded in local amateur football.


JOHN PEMBERTON (pictured in 1985) signed for Chadderton FC after being released by Manchester United, where he spent his junior career, in June 1983.

He went on to play for Rochdale, Crewe and Crystal Palace, for where he won promotion to the old first division in 1989. He also played for Palace in the 1990 FA Cup final.

Pemberton went on to feature for Sheffield United and Leeds United, where he became a cult figure, before ending his playing career back at Crewe.

Until recently, he had clocked 10 years as a member of Nottingham Forest’s backroom team.