Derby day at last – and they’re gunning for us!

OLDHAM expect to take a massive following to Rochdale tomorrow and I have to say what a pleasure it will be to see all the red and white in the Sandy Lane end. There’s something not quite right about a sporting arena having only one area open, and although we know the reasons why – and indeed do the self-same thing at Boundary Park – it was very satisfying to see the Sheepfoot Lane side open for the visit of Keighley last week and it will be just as encouraging, well, nearly, to see Sandy Lane bouncing tomorrow.

I have it on good authority that some Oldham fans have actually swopped their main-stand tickets for tickets in Sandy Lane – nothing to do with price (they’re the same), but because they actually prefer to stand. So much for all-seat stadia – and I say that as an Oldham fan and in the full knowledge that our beloved BP will be our home for the next ten years at least.

Sitting down isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. It’s ok for us old-timers and especially for people like me who have never known anything else, but there are thousands who love nothing better than to stand. The fact that Sandy Lane is open only to Oldham fans is perhaps another reason why so many Oldhamers fancy it.

Talking of the Crown Oil Arena, let me stress that I am no traitor. Yes, I have lived in Littleborough all my life, yes, I used to watch regularly, the likes of my boyhood heroes, Norman Short and Teddy Cahill, yes, my nickname at big school was ‘Hornets’.

But as many know, I rubbed shoulders with Oldham players and officials for more than 40 years in my full-time job at the old Oldham Evening Chronicle and you don’t do that without leaving the old days behind.

My three sons, brought up on Oldham, are Roughyeds through and through. So am I – just ask the missus – so there’s only one team I want to prevail tomorrow and they do NOT play in red, white and blue.

Having said that, Hornets these days are not the Hornets of old. They are buzzing and they are out to get us. It WILL BE a great atmosphere, there WILL be many old faces we haven’t seen for years, the Sandy Lane end will be rocking, memories of ‘Sheddings and the Athletic Grounds will come flooding back, but if we play to our potential there will be only one winner – OLDHAM.

C’mon you Roughyeds.

To coin a phrase, a ‘must win’ game if only for bragging rights.