Oldham Athletic A.F.C.

Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is a professional association football club in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England. As of the 2025–26 season, the team competes in EFL League Two, the fourth level of the English football league system. The history of Oldham Athletic began with the founding of Pine Villa F.C. in 1895, the team played in the Manchester and Lancashire leagues. When the local team Oldham County folded in 1899, Pine Villa moved into Boundary Park and changed their name to Oldham Athletic A.F.C.. They won the Lancashire Combination league title in 1906–07 and were elected into the Football League. They won promotion out of the Second Division in 1909–10 and went on to finish second in the First Division in 1914–15, before being relegated in 1923. Another relegation in 1935 left them in the Third Division North, which they won at the end of the 1952–53 campaign, only to be relegated back the following season. Placed in the Fourth Division, they secured promotion in 1962–63, and again in 1970–71 after another relegation in 1969. One of their successful managers, Jimmy Frizzell was at the club from 1970 to 1982. During his tenure with the team, Oldham won the Third Division title in 1973–74. Frizzell was succeeded by another successful manager in Joe Royle, who was also in charge for 12 years. During his spell as manager, Oldham reached the League Cup final in 1990. They then won the Second Division title in 1990–91, which meant that Oldham played in the top flight for the first time in 68 years and became founder members of the newly created Premier League in 1992. They were relegated in 1994 and fell to the third tier by 1997, ending a 21-season stay within the top two tiers. Their time in the Second Division/League One encompassed numerous financial crises, eventually culminating in relegation to EFL League Two in 2018. At the end of the 2021–22 season, relegation from League Two was confirmed and the club fell into the National League, becoming the first former Premier League club to play non-League football. They returned to the Football League after winning the 2025 National League play-off final. They play home matches at their stadium of Boundary Park. Known to fans as the "Latics", Oldham traditionally play in blue shirts. The club contest numerous local rivalries, most notably with Rochdale, Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town, the latter of which is known as the Roses derby.