The Boundary Parkas are back with new single to mark Latics' dream return to Wembley

Oldham musical favourites the Boundary Parkas are back and have released a brand new single to coincide with Latics' dream return to Wembley after more than three decades.

Now released, ‘Life a Blue’ is an anthem for Oldham Athletic and came out to push the club’s National League play-off campaign.

This is the first time a song has been written about Oldham, its history and future by a group of local lads who are lifelong fans of the club.

The club are now through to the grand final after beating York away.

The final takes place this coming Sunday at Wembley, when Latics will take on Southend United, when a place back in the English Football League is up for grabs.

As The Parkas sing in the new track “times been tough, we’re stronger now” there is a great feeling of possibility and hopefulness going into Sunday's clash down south.

The Boundary Parkas - aka Kieran McMahon, Harry Lavin, Luke O’Reilly and Charlie Whittaker - made a name for themselves in 2024 where they recorded and released a club song for Oldham RLFC with with comedy legend Tommy Cannon of Cannon and Ball.

The post summer hit helped propel Owdum Roughyeds to win the Betfred League One three games in hand and be awarded promotion into the Championship.

Oldham RLFC narrowly missed out on a trip to Wembley this year themselves where they battled against Featherstone Rovers at Boundary Park in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup.

‘Life a Blue’ kicks off with the story of a lad and his dad getting up early on a Saturday morning to “meet up with the match day crowd” - synonymous of ‘My Old Mans a Dustman’ by Lonnie Donnegan, a classic often heard at Oldham games.

The story spanned from real life as Kieran and Harry reminisce: “Our Dads used to take us to Boundary Park as kids and that experience always stays with you, the club is at the heart of the town.”

The folk style intro which has chiming banjo’s, mandolins and piano introduces an iconic pennywhistle part from the groups newest member Andy Mack.

Borrowed from his childhood friend Dan Kearns, none other than son of legendary Oldham musician Larry Kearns, an instantly memorable whistle melody produced by Andy on Larry Kearns instrument opens up proceedings.

Larry was for many years the whistle player and mandolinist for the world famous Oldham Tinkers.

Continuing with local history and traditional accolades the second part of the verse sings “built on Millstone, Lees’s stout”.

Millstone Brewery, who make Three Shires Bitter, is well known in the region as is J.W. Lees; a business rooted in the make-up of the town.

Former owners and loyal sponsors Lees brew a velvety stout that folk often say could be better than Guinness, making its way into the song. Both firm band favourites that feature on the show rider.

The sound and mixing engineer for the song was Jake Fletcher, a talented local musician who performs in Paul Weller's touring band.

Jake's dad Craig helped re-record Cannon and Ball's ‘Boys in Blue’ from the hit film (with words that were about football and not police drama) for Oldham’s Road to Wembley in 1990 were they unfortunately were beaten by Nottingham Forest in the Littlewoods Cup final.

Local celebrity and co-owner of Oldham Athletic Frank Rothwell provides comical guest vocals on the song which is sure to be a smash hit with the home fans in keeping with his larger than life persona.

Professional brass musicians James Atkins and Adam Stretton return once more to add the warmth of the Pennine hills into the piece with a powerful brass ensemble.

In a sense, the Boundary Parkas have gone full circle with this musical offering as the boys formed in January 2024 in the Joe Royle Stand for Oldham Rugby and 12 months later have ended up in the recording studio with Darren Royle.

Darren, who is current CEO of Latics, is the son of Joe Royle.

Once again The Boundary Parkas are “giving it all for Oldham” with this new hit.

The song is available to stream on all popular streaming services such as YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music.

The band are launching the new song on Saturday (May 31) at 6.30pm at local award 4xCAMRA award-winning pub, the Fox and Pine in the centre of Oldham.

Should Micky Mellon’s lads be triumphant at Wembley, Kieran from the band will be performing an Oldham Classics party set at Liquid and Envy around midnight at Liquid and Envy on Sunday where the festivities could well be continuing into the early hours of Monday morning.

Physical CDs will be available to purchase at the bargain price of £5 at these live performances to give fans a chance to take a home a piece of the history.

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