Market-man Tony has worked his socks off!

Tony O’Neill: 40 years' worth of socks

COME rain or shine stall holder Tony O’Neill has been a friendly face on Oldham’s markets for decades.

He is celebrating his 40th anniversary of trading on Tommyfield and Shaw markets — and shows no sign of retiring.

The 67 year old sells socks, underwear and thermals, and said: “I started when I was 10. I sold bootlaces and hankies with my uncle on Wigan market.”

After leaving school he worked as a window cleaner for three years with his dad, but said: “It wasn’t fun, it was too dangerous.”

Instead he bought a second hand car and started trading on markets around the country, originally selling jeans and shirts.

“In those days I used to travel to Edinburgh’s Ingilston market on a Sunday, 250 miles each way,” explained Tony

“I used to do Airdrie on a Tuesday. I would stay over on the Monday night if I wasn’t doing Oldham. Petrol was much cheaper then, you could manage it.

“I got tired of doing that after seven years and started going to Wales on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and back in Oldham on a Friday and Saturday.”

Tony is a keen runner and has completed 19 marathons in aid of Christie’s and Booth Hall Children’s Hospital.

He was also part of a six-strong team which completed a charity run from John O’Groats to Land’s End.

He met his wife, Linda — who he describes as a great lady — at the Belle Vue running club 15 years ago. They have been married for three years and he has a stepson, Gareth, and two grandchildren.

Tony no longer runs on the road, training instead in the gym.

He now stands on Tommyfield on Monday and Saturday and Shaw on a Thursday, and received a free day’s rent to mark his milestone.

Despite the competition from supermarkets, he has never considered doing anything else and said: “It has been kind to me over the years. I have had a fair living out of it but it is not just about the money.

“I get a lot out of it and that’s one of the reasons I still do it. You meet a lot of nice people.”