MM looks back at the pick of the bunch from Oldham’s last 50 Boxing Day encounters.
2010 and 2011 saw postponements due to cold snaps, with Latics enjoying an equal share of four wins, four draws and four defeats since the turn of the century.
Latics are without a festive victory since 2008, but have had Boxing Day joy against this year’s opponents Blackpool with a 2-0 victory in 2001.
Rotherham 2 – 3 Oldham, 2006
During the season of Latics’ last real tilt at promotion, this hard-fought victory came towards the end of a season-defining run of 10 wins in 12 matches.
Chris Porter scored twice either side of Will Haining’s effort, as a side featuring current loanee Richie Wellens held on after a Rotherham penalty made it 3-2 with nine minutes remaining.
John Sheridan’s Oldham endured tumultuous second half of the season, eventually finishing sixth in league one only to be knocked out of the play-off semi finals by eventual promotion-winners Blackpool.
Oldham 3 – 6 Manchester United, 1991
Oldham were competing in the top flight of English football for the first time since the 1920s, and almost 19,000 crammed into Boundary Park for this Boxing Day derby.
Despite the defeat, fans were treated to a nine-goal thriller with Denis Irwin, Andrei Kanchelskis, Brian McClair and a young Ryan Giggs among the goals for United.
Graeme Sharp, Mike Milligan and Paul Bernard notched for Oldham, who went on to comfortably survive and earn their place in history as a Premier League founder member.
Oldham 11 – 0 Southend, 1962
At a snow covered Boundary Park, Oldham recorded the biggest win in their history by freezing out Southport in a Division Four match.
Latics were 7-0 up by half-time, with Bert Lister grabbing two before the break and another four in the second half.
The victory helped spur the club onto promotion after they finished in second behind champions Brentford.
Image courtesy of OAFC via YouTube, with thanks.
