2025: What a Time to Be Alive

As we prepare for another chorus of Auld Lang Syne, it’s time to look back and reflect on an eventful twelve months for all those who bleed blue and tangerine. Following three decades of perpetual disappointment, we slammed the door firmly shut on our very own Ghost of Christmas Past — the misplaced Moroccan who dragged us to the depths of despair and the dreaded National League. This summer saw the club finally rejoice in redemption, sealing our much-anticipated return to the EFL after three long years away. Yes, 2025 will go down in history for Oldham Athletic and, here at OASF, we’ve loved every minute of it. Documented below is a review of our achievements this calendar year.

Back in January, we opened two fundraising appeals: one for the Boot Bank and another for half-season tickets for supporters facing financial hardship. Both far exceeded expectations, with over 200 pairs of boots collected — many brand new — and more than £1,300 donated to fund half-season tickets. Children across Oldham received football boots, and 15 fans, aged between 10 and 82, were able to support the club during our push for promotion. After purchasing the tickets, we donated the remaining £301.62 to Oldham Foodbank to help families struggling to make ends meet at Christmastime. Later that month, we put members’ questions to Darren Royle, with Oldham’s Chief Executive grilled on recruitment policy, catering, the deal with Oldham Roughyeds, and more. As always, all responses were published in full on our website.

In February, we discussed the introduction of a supporter director role and began sending a different OASF board member to each club board meeting. Both the club and OASF view this as a great success and intend to continue the arrangement. The following month, we met Darren to discuss the exciting SportsTown proposal. He outlined the benefits of the project, including enhanced matchday facilities, a permanent home for the academy, and increased revenue through greater daily footfall at Boundary Park. He explained that the initial £5 million from the Government’s Community Regeneration Fund will enable early development around the stadium footprint, including a new 3G pitch at Little Wembley, netball courts, and completion of the North Stand’s top floor as an education and events space. The long-term vision includes additional 3G pitches and a 3,000-seat indoor arena for netball, basketball and cricket, subject to further funding. The ambition is to transform the borough through anchor partnerships, education, grassroots sport, health and wellbeing. Exciting times lie ahead, and we reaffirmed that OASF will support the club every step of the way.

As the season drew to a close, OASF board member Martin Barlow joined a sleepout at a chilly Boundary Park to experience the challenges faced by those who find themselves homeless. Organised by Oldham Athletic Community Trust, the event raised almost £6,500 for charity. Despite a sleepless night, it was a privilege to be involved. A few weeks later, OASF became programme sponsors for the home finale against Ebbsfleet. Board members enjoyed hospitality in the Joe Royle Stand and donated more football boots to loanee Vimal Yoganathan’s appeal for disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka. Throughout the season, Latics Lift continued to help supporters without transport find a way to matches, an initiative that has stretched into 2025/26. Martin’s activity sheets have kept young supporters busy at half-time, with crossword winners delightedly spending their £20 gift vouchers in the Athletic Store.

Ahead of the play-off showdown with Southend, OASF launched a fundraising appeal to help supporters reach Wembley, raising over £2,000 in just ten days. Thanks to the generosity of our incredible fanbase, 25 people — including several children — were able to attend a truly memorable day. Many publicly expressed their gratitude, including one supporter who wrote: “Thanks to the UNBELIEVABLE support from OASF, I was able to see the game. Best thing that happened to me all year (actually, this decade). Can’t thank you enough.” Donations covered tickets, train travel and taxis, with board members working tirelessly to ensure everyone who needed help could share in the joy of the club’s first promotion in 34 years.

A month later, we returned with another fundraising effort, raising over £4,000 (including surplus Wembley donations) to help disadvantaged supporters purchase season tickets for our first season back in the EFL. With additional support from the club, we purchased 22 season tickets — our highest ever. Two were awarded to Charlotte Simpkins and her five-year-old son, Tommy, following the passing of Mark “Waddy” Wadsworth shortly before the play-off final. A lifelong Latics supporter, Waddy’s legacy lives on through his son, who received a season ticket for his father’s old seat in the Main Stand and will also serve as a mascot in the new year. Indeed, thanks to OASF, Tommy has already had the chance to meet his heroes in the Latics Lounge and lead the teams out on a matchday. To thank donors, we ran a prize draw, with two tickets to the club’s 130-year anniversary event won by Adam Keeley.

Over the summer, the OASF board was strengthened with the addition of Damian Collinson and Paul Prendergast. Both have been excellent acquisitions, and the board is confident the Foundation will continue to go from strength to strength as membership grows.

Ahead of the new campaign, we gathered supporter feedback on kit pricing and frequency. In discussions with Darren, we raised concerns, particularly around affordability for families. Darren confirmed the club had engaged extensively with manufacturers to secure the best deal and expressed a long-term ambition to replicate Accrington Stanley’s Trust initiative of providing every eight-year-old in Oldham with a free shirt — further evidence of positive direction.

Since August, we’ve worked with the club on a new ticketing policy for 2026/27, discussed a Boundary Park mural, engaged in conversations about a possible badge redesign, and supported the “3 Up” campaign. We’ve also collaborated on a comprehensive supporter engagement strategy, which has already delivered initiatives such as the Fans’ Forum. August saw the delivery of a kit focus group too, with OASF members getting the opportunity to vote on next season’s home, away and third strips.

One of OASF’s standout achievements of 2025 has undeniably been the extremely popular Road to the EFL sticker album, the brainchild of board member Jim Booth. Designed with the incredibly generous Phill Smith Photography, fabulously talented Joe Swain and produced by Oldham firms Racey Graphics and Taylor & Clifton Printing Ltd, over 20,000 stickers have been sold, with half the profits supporting the club’s academy. Following 129 social media retweets, we also donated £129 to Dr Kershaw’s Hospice. Heading into 2026, the album remains a huge success, with supporters meeting regularly to swap stickers at the OASF-sponsored dartboard in the 1895 Bar. Boys who once traded stickers in the playground are now middle-aged men desperately hunting that elusive Fondop shiny to complete their collection.

There’s no doubt that 2025 has been an exceptional year, on and off the pitch. But OASF is determined to make 2026 even better. We once again have a club to be proud of — and to keep moving forward, we need your help. If you’re not already a member, please consider joining OASF at oasf.co.uk/become-a-member. Membership costs just £12 per year — a small price to support a great club, community and cause. Make your New Year’s resolution to join OASF and help us invest in the fans, our community and our club.