We did it.
Oldham Athletic are back in the Football League.
Sunday’s final at Wembley was ridiculous, brilliant, stressful, and completely unforgettable. We came from behind twice. Took it to extra time. And somehow, we came out the other side with the win. I was shouting at the telly, pacing the room, laughing and swearing. You know, the usual.
It still doesn’t quite feel real.
After all those years of decline, all the false dawns, all the mismanagement and the near-misses. After dropping out of the league for the first time in our history. After the protests, the boycotts, the bargain-bin squads. Somehow, here we are again. EFL club. It’s got a nice ring to it.
I’m proud of the players. I’m proud of the fans. And I’m proud of the club for finding a bit of its old spirit.
Next season will be tough. No illusions there. League Two’s no joke, and we’ll need to strengthen in key areas. But we’re in a much better place now than we’ve been in years. And for the first time in a long time, there’s proper hope.
I’ll still be watching from afar up here in Scotland. But I’ll be watching.
Once again, there’s a spring in the step at Boundary Park.