Welcome
to today's issue of
BOUNDARY
BULLET-zine
The
Daily On-line e-zine for 268
Oldham Athletic Supporters
Worldwide
Today's
Edition for
2nd August 2000
Today's
Headlines
Oldham
Evening Chronicle
Latics
reserves in switch to Celtic
ATHLETIC
will protect their new pitch by playing reserve-team games at Stalybridge
Celtic for the whole of next season. After
several weeks of talks with the Unibond League club, where Athletic’s second
string also played in 1997, All 13 Avon Insurance League (formerly Pontin's
League) matches will be staged at Bower Fold. The
decision was taken on advice from Professional Sports Turf Design, the
company that oversaw the relaying of the Boundary Park surface. Managing
Director Mike Harbridge asked Athletic to restrict the number of games
while the new pitch, which is currently in excellent condition, is allowed
to bed in. The surface faced a barrage
of criticism earlier this year, including from the club’s coaching staff,
when it became rain-soaked and badly rutted. Athletic were so keen to start
renovation work that they told Oldham Roughyeds to find an alternative
venue shortly after the football season ended.
Chief
executive Alan Hardy said: “This was a difficult decision for us. We would
much prefer to play these games at Boundary Park, but we have to take heed
of this advice. “We are also mindful
that we are now a community stadium and, as such, must host rugby league
games from December. “With this in mind,
we approached Stalybridge Celtic, who have excellent facilities and a superb
pitch, and I am delighted we have been able to reach agreement.” To
reduce the inconvenience to fans, Athletic will arrange transport, subject
to demand, from Boundary Park to Stalybridge. Details will be announced
later. Prices at Bower Fold will be £3 for adults and £2 for
pensioners and juniors. Manager Andy Ritchie (39) is set to make a rare
starting appearance tonight when the reserves play a pre-season friendly
at Trafford (7 pm). The squad also includes
Stuart Thom, Paul Beavers, Jordan Tait, Danny Walsh and Ben Futcher. Barry
Prenderville (23), an Irish defender formerly with Coventry City, continues
his spell on trial from Dublin club St Pat’s.
ATHLETIC
(from): Campbell, Tait, Prenderville, Futcher, Thom, Smith, Walsh, Beavers,
McLaughlin, Froggatt, Ritchie, Doran, Haining, Otto, Whittle, Clark, Duncan.
The reserves also play at Mossley tomorrow (7.30 pm kick-off) and Ashton
United on Saturday (2 pm).
Striker
David McNiven, who left Boundary Park during the summer, is in talks with
York City. Nathan Wharton, another player recently released, is on trial
at Burnley.
From Dave
Moore, Chairman of Latics Supporters of Canada..... As
the new season approaches can I make all Latics fans aware that there is
a Latics e-mail list where supporters can air their views to other fans
in an e-mail format. News, views and similar are always welcome and one
e-mail can be sent which is then distributed to all other members of the
list (currently about 50).
Stat-mail services
will soon be available as a service of the mailing list. Fixtures, results,
scorers, league tables, predictions, cup draws, attendance's, and a host
of other Latics statistics are distributed weekly. To join visit the LSC,
Canada website, click on the 'mail-list' link and enter your e-mail address
in the box. Alternatively send a blank e-mail to:
[email protected]
Promotion/play-offs
are now a distinct possibility and the club should be commended for the
vision of allowing Andy Ritchie to sign Carlo Corazzin. I think we were
all secretly resigned to the fact that Oldham would never ever sign a striker,
or any other player for that matter. Oh the joy of being able to compete
with the likes of Northampton, Macclesfield etc. in the money stakes!
The Chairman
After
a number of request's to go ahead with the Andy Ritchie interview I am
willing to go ahead with it if there are enough good question's. I will
take question's until August 8th. Don't
forget your entries to the prediction competition The closing date for
that is the 11 August. There will be a unspecified prize (I'll see what
I can afford) for the winner.
Player
Sponsorship money received : £280
Teamtalk
Oldham
Striker
on trial
Oldham have
taken 22-year old former Grimsby and Notts County striker Mark Quayle on
trial at Boundary Park. The player, who was on Everton's books as a youngster,
turned out for Leigh RMI in a recent friendly against the Latics. His performance
impressed manager Andy Ritchie so much he has invited Quayle to Boundary
Park and he will get his first chance to impress in a reserve game at Trafford
tonight.
Leeds
test looming
Oldham's pre-season
preparations continue on Sunday with a tough-looking fixture against Leeds
United. The Latics will be optimistic of a good result, however - Leeds
play Blackburn tonight and Huddersfield on Saturday and will not be fielding
a full strength side at Boundary Park. Latics fans should expect to see
a Leeds team consisting mainly of reserves and fringe squad players.
New
physio joins
Phil Stock has
joined Oldham as the new club physio and will make his "debut" on Sunday
in the pre-season friendly against Leeds United. The 42-year-old Liverpudlian
has also been physio with Rochdale, Bolton and Manchester City reserves
and was working at Boundary Park on a part-time basis. Stock takes over
from the popular figure of Alex Moreno, who leaves on Friday to take up
a new post at Huddersfield Town.
New
reserves venue
Oldham's reserve
team will play their matches at Stalybridge Celtic's Bower Fold ground
next season. The move is being made to protect the new playing surface
at Boundary Park, which has cost the club £35,000 and comes after
several weeks of negotiations with the Unibond Premier League club. The
decision was taken on the advice of the company which has been supervising
the laying of the new surface, Professional Sports Turf Design, who have
asked the Latics to restrict the number of games while the new pitch beds
in. Latics chief executive Alan Hardy explained: "This was a difficult
decision for us. We would much prefer to play the games at Boundary Park
but we have to take heed of the advice." The second string start their
new campaign with a game against Wolves on Tuesday, August 15, kick off
7pm. Teamtalk
Burnley
Wharton
impressing on trial
The Clarets are
unlikely to sign Toulouse midfielder Derek McInnes but Oldham trainee Nathan
Wharton could join after a successful trial. Former Rangers star McInnes,
who also had a loan spell at Stockport County, was a player had been interesting
Burnley but a deal is not likely to happen. Meanwhile, Wharton has really
seized his chance and will continue to spend the pre-season period with
the club as Stan Ternent gives him an extended trial. He wasn't offered
a new deal at Boundary Park over the summer after an injury-plagued season
last term, but was reckoned to be an unlucky - as the Latics were forced
to severely trim their wage bill. Ternent said: "We are having a look at
him and he's doing OK."
Latest
from York Evening Press
City
sign McNiven
BURLY
striker David McNiven has signed a one-year deal with York City following
a successful month-long trial. The 22-year-old, who was a free agent after
being released by Oldham Athletic this summer, has scored twice for City
in just two pre-season starts, grabbing the winners against Marske United
and Newcastle Town. The bustling forward, who also notched two goals in
six games while on loan at Conference side Scarborough towards the end
of last season, is the son of former Leeds United favourite David McNiven.
Never a regular with the Latics, he made only a handful of appearances
last year, scoring one goal, after his early career was hampered by a knee
injury. However, he has impressed manager Terry Dolan enough during his
short spell at Bootham Crescent to earn a one-year deal, agreeing terms
with the club this afternoon. A decision as regards fellow trialist Phil
Hadland, who has featured in midfield and at right wing-back, is yet to
be made.
Mansfield
Chronicle
Football
- Stags boss Deaden's double swoop
BILLY Dearden swooped
twice within 24 hours on Monday to strengthen Stags for the forthcoming
season. Former Chesterfield youngster Jamie Lomas became Stags fourth close
season capture when the right midfielder signed on the dotted line. And
on the very same day, Dearden also secured the services of ex-Unibond League
left-back Martin Pemberton. Pemberton (24), who cost a nominal fee to Bradford
Park Avenue, impressed the Mansfield boss during the team’s pre-season
tour in Scotland. He has previous league experience with Oldham Athletic
and Doncaster Rovers. Pemberton has signed a 12-month contract which will
be reviewed after three months. Said Dearden: “These signings will certainly
strengthen the team. They have both impressed the coaching staff during
the last three or four weeks and I am pleased they have accepted the deals.”
Lomas, 22, has signed a three-month contract. He has also played at right
back, but is noted for his crossing ability. Dearden said: “ I’ve been
monitoring Jamie for a while now. He is a young lad who likes playing on
the right of midfield. “But when John Duncan left Chesterfield last season
he found himself out in the cold.” Dearden has also recently signed ex-Port
Vale winger Wayne Corden and experienced centre-back Stuart Hicks. Midfielder
Darrell Clarje missed training on Monday after sustaining a calf injury
in Saturday’s friendly.
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