Having a ball

Photo: Pictures: CHRIS SUNDERLAND

HAT-TRICK hero: Latics boss Lee Johnson (front, right) leads out the Legends.

LATICS manager Lee Johnson scored a stunnng hat-trick as team favourites past and present took on a team of celebrities in aid of children’s charity Once Upon a Smile.

A packed line-up of soap stars and musicians locked horns with Boundary Park heroes including Neil Pointon, Mark Allott and Craig Dudley.

But it was Johnson who wowed the 1,248 crowd as the teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw after 90 minutes, with the Legends taking victory in the resulting penalty shootout.

“EastEnders” star Tony Discipline (Tyler Moon), boyband The Risk and Once Upon a Smile founders Danny Jillings and Danny Miller all turned out along with “Waterloo Road” actor Jack McMullen.

Jillings said after the match: “Oldham Athletic have been superb with us, both last year and this year. They’ve made it an easy process to raise some money.

“As Oldham is my home town, it’s good to be able to come back here and raise awareness of the charity. We were all really excited before the match, and because we lost 4-3 last year we really wanted to win!”

Former Emmerdale actor Danny Miller said: “This is always a great occasion, because the club does so much for us. It’s great to know that everyone at Latics shares our enthusiasm for the charity and its cause.”

Hat-trick hero Johnson added: “It was nice to see a packed stand because it’s a great family day out. It was nice for me to be able to relax and show off my football skills to the crowd, rather than being in my suit on the touchline.”

Some of the money raised also went to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice in Royton.