1895 Contingency Fund Factsheet

What is the 1895 Contingency Fund? 

The aim of the 1895 Fund is to raise a substantial sum of money to protect Oldham Athletic AFC long-term.  

This factsheet will explain how the 1895 Fund works and answer other common questions. If you have any other questions or comments, please contact us. 

What will the 1895 Contingency fund be used for? 

The contingency fund can only be used in one or more of these scenarios: 

• Investment in shares in the Oldham Athletic AFC up to a maximum 26% shareholding. 

• Investment in Boundary Park and projects making use of the surrounding land in exchange for shares in Oldham Athletic AFC. 

• Administration costs – In the event of the club entering administration, funding could be made available to stave off liquidation.  

• Associated costs directly related to the acquisition of or in preparation for all of the above. 

These uses were agreed as part of our 1895 Fund consultation in 2023. If we review what the Fund can be used for, we will do so via a public consultation with our members. Become a member of OASF to help us protect the long-term future of our club. 

How will OASF decide when to spend the 1895 Fund? 

If an opportunity or need arises, the OASF board will discuss using the 1895 Fund. If the board decides that the 1895 Fund should be used, it will call an extraordinary meeting of OASF members.  

At that meeting, the OASF board would explain the all the relevant context and call a vote of OASF members to decide whether the 1895 Fund should be used. A two-thirds majority of OASF members would be required to approve use of the Fund.  

How can I contribute to the 1895 Fund? 

The main revenue source for the 1895 Fund is OASF’s 1895 Lottery. You can join the 1895 Lottery on our website. Every week someone wins £10 and there is a growing jackpot that can be won. All profits from the Lottery add to the 1895 Fund. 

Each year at our Annual General Meeting, any amount over £6,000 (enough to cover our operating costs for a year) in the OASF current account will be paid into the 1895 Fund. Membership fees and donations are paid into OASF’s current account and contribute to our running costs, but surpluses would be paid into the 1895 Fund.  

Unless otherwise specified, proceeds from OASF merchandise will also be paid into our current account to contribute to our running costs. Although, as above, where we make a surplus, unspent funds may be paid into the 1895 Fund.  

How will we know how much is in the 1895 Contingency Fund?  

The amount of money in the 1895 Fund will be reported in the notes from OASF’s monthly board meetings which are published in news articles on our website. As of 17 October 2025, there was £85,985 in the 1895 Fund. 

Will the money be used to fund the Club?  

The 1895 Fund will not be used to fund the day-to-day running costs of the Club unless it enters administration. In those circumstances, an extraordinary meeting would be called as well as a full vote of OASF members, if time allows. If emergency funding is required to prevent liquidation, this will be decided by a majority vote of the OASF Board.  

Does OASF have any imminent plans to use the 1895 Contingency Fund?  

We’ve explored options for fan investment in Oldham Athletic AFC since the takeover, with a view to increasing fan shareholding. However, we haven’t been able to reach an agreement with the new ownership on a project or increased fan shareholding.  

We’re continuing to explore options to invest in the Club’s infrastructure as a means of increasing fan shareholding. We’ll engage with members and the wider fanbase on these projects as they emerge. Even if we can’t identify the right opportunity, we’ll continue to build the 1895 Fund as a contingency fund to guard against any unforeseen crisis. 

Become a member of OASF to help us protect the long-term future of our club.