2021–22 Oldham Athletic A.F.C. season explained

Club:	Oldham Athletic
Season:	2021–22
Manager:	Keith Curle (until 24 November 2021)^[1] John Sheridan (from 22 January)^[2]
Mgrtitle:	Head Coach
Chairman:	Abdallah Lemsagam
Stadium:	Boundary Park
League:	League Two
League Result:	23rd (relegated)
Cup1:	FA Cup
Cup1 Result:	First round
Cup2:	EFL Cup
Cup2 Result:	Third round
Cup3:	EFL Trophy
Cup3 Result:	Third round
League Topscorer:	Davis Keillor-Dunn (15)
Season Topscorer:	Davis Keillor-Dunn (17)
Prevseason:	2020–21
Nextseason:	2022–23
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The 2021–22 season is Oldham Athletic's 127th year in their history and fourth consecutive season in League Two. Along with the league, the club will also compete in the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy. The season covers the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. It was the most disastrous season in the club's history, which resulted in relegation and loss of English Football League status after 115 years.

Players

Squad at the end of the season

^[3]

No	Pos	Nat	Name	Age	Debut	Apps	Starts	Subs	Goals				Notes
1	GK			33		29	29	0	0	1	0	0
2	DF			30		46	46	0	1	9	1	0
3	DF			25		35	33	2	1	10	0	0	Released at the end of the season^[4]
4	MF			31		11	11	0	0	2	0	0	Released at the end of the season^[5]
5	DF			26		30	30	0	1	5	0	0
6	DF			30		104	102	2	9	22	0	1	Released at the end of the season
7	MF			35		67	55	12	0	6	0	0	Released at the end of the season^[6]
8	MF			23		89	74	15	1	9	0	0	Released at the end of the season
9	FW			28		46	33	13	5	5	0	0
10	FW			24		105	90	15	28	4	0	0	Released at the end of the season
11	FW			28		2	1	1	2	0	0	0
14	MF			23		79	55	24	1	5	0	1	Released at the end of the season
15	DF			23		42	31	11	2	4	0	1	Released at the end of the season
17	MF			25		33	20	13	2	6	0	0
19	FW			19		8	1	7	0	1	0	0
22	DF			26		36	25	11	0	9	0	0	Released at the end of the season
23	GK			28		24	24	0	0	1	0	0	Released at the end of the season
24	FW			26		81	64	17	11	6	0	1	Released at the end of the season
26	MF			21		13	7	6	0	1	0	0	Loan ended at end of season
27	MF			29		19	7	12	1	1	0	0	Released at the end of the season
28	MF			29		104	95	9	6	15	0	0	Released at the end of the season
29	FW			19		21	12	9	2	2	0	0
30	FW			32		50	26	24	5	0	0	0	Released at the end of the season
32	DF			19		11	10	1	2	3	0	0
33	DF			18		27	22	5	1	1	0	0
34	MF			18		36	11	25	2	1	0	0
38	DF			18		1	1	0	0	0	0	0
39	MF			18		2	0	2	0	0	0	0

Left the club during the season

No	Pos	Nat	Name	Age	Debut	Apps	Starts	Subs	Goals				Notes
11	FW			23		55	29	26	15	0	0	0	Left by mutual consent on 27/01/22
18	MF			20		25	20	5	1	6	0	0	Loan ended on 10/01/22
20	DF			24		20	13	7	0	4	0	0	Left by mutual consent on 31/08/21
25	FW			29		4	2	2	0	1	0	0	Left by mutual consent on 28/08/21
26	MF			21		13	8	5	0	0	0	0	Loan ended on 10/12/21
37	GK			32		16	16	0	0	1	0	0	Loan ended on 28/08/21
44	DF			35		15	14	1	1	2	0	0	Left on 24/11/21^[7]

Pre-season friendlies

Oldham Athletic announced pre-season friendlies against Ashton United,^[8] Stalybridge Celtic,^[8] Wigan Athletic,^[8] Burnley,^[9] Crewe Alexandra^[8] and Huddersfield Town^[10] as part of their preparations for the new campaign.

Competitions

League Two

See main article: 2021–22 EFL League Two.

Matches

Oldham's fixtures were announced on 24 June 2021.^[11]

FA Cup

See main article: 2021–22 FA Cup.

Oldham were drawn away to Ipswich Town in the first round.^[12]

EFL Cup

See main article: 2021–22 EFL Cup.

Oldham Athletic were drawn at home to Tranmere Rovers in the first round,^[13] Accrington Stanley in the second round^{[14] [15]} and away to Brentford in the third round.^{[16] [17]}

EFL Trophy

See main article: 2021–22 EFL Trophy.

The Latics were drawn into Northern Group B alongside Leeds United U21s, Salford City and Tranmere Rovers.^[18] The group stage fixture dates were confirmed on 7 July.^[19] In the knock-out stages, Oldham were drawn at home to Wigan Athletic in the third round.^[20]

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2021					Free transfer	^[21]
1 July 2021					Free transfer	^[22]
1 July 2021					Free transfer	^[23]
1 July 2021			Oliver Kilner		Free transfer	^[24]
1 July 2021					Free transfer	^[25]
1 July 2021					Free transfer	^[26]
23 July 2021				Northampton Town	Free transfer	^[27]
4 August 2021					Free transfer	^[28]
7 August 2021					Free transfer
7 August 2021					Free transfer
7 August 2021					Free transfer	^[29]
13 August 2021					Free transfer	^[30]
31 January 2022					Free transfer	^[31]
4 February 2022				Unattached	Free transfer	^[32]

Loans in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Date until	Ref.
7 August 2021					10 January 2022	^[33]
17 August 2021					24 August 2021	^[34]
20 August 2021					10 December 2021	^[35]
17 January 2022					End of season	^[36]

Loans out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date until	Ref.
13 August 2021					18 December 2021	^[37]
20 November 2021						^[38]
23 December 2021					21 January 2022	^[39]
28 December 2021			Oliver Kilner		28 January 2022	^[40]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
30 June 2021					Released
30 June 2021					Released	^[41]
30 June 2021					Mutual consent	^[42] ^[43]
30 June 2021					Released	^[44]
30 June 2021					Released	^[45]
30 June 2021					Released
30 June 2021				Aberdeen	Released	^[46] ^[47]
1 July 2021					Free transfer	^[48]
9 July 2021			Oliver Patrick		Free transfer	^[49]
17 August 2021			Ben Hough		Free transfer	^[50]
27 August 2021			Mackenzie Chapman		Free transfer	^[51]
28 August 2021					Released	^[52] ^[53]
31 August 2021					Mutual consent	^[54]
27 January 2022					Mutual consent	^[55] ^[56]

Squad statistics

Appearances

Players with no appearances are not included on the list.

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	League Two			FA Cup			EFL Cup			EFL Trophy			Total
				Apps	Starts	Subs	Apps	Starts	Subs	Apps	Starts	Subs	Apps	Starts	Subs	Apps	Starts	Subs
10	MF			46	43	3	2	2	0	3	2	1	5	3	2	56	50	6
8	MF			43	39	4	2	2	0	2	2	0	4	2	2	51	45	6
6	DF			40	40	0	2	2	0	3	3	0	3	3	0	48	48	0
2	DF			40	40	0	2	2	0	2	2	0	2	2	0	46	46	0
9	FW			39	29	10	2	2	0	1	1	0	4	1	3	46	33	13
7	MF			36	31	5	2	0	2	2	0	2	4	4	0	44	35	9
24	FW			30	25	5	2	2	0	3	3	0	3	2	1	38	32	6
3	DF			31	30	1	1	0	1	2	2	0	1	1	0	35	33	2
17	MF			30	17	13	0	0	0	1	1	0	2	2	0	33	20	13
5	DF			25	25	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	3	3	0	30	30	0
34	MF			23	7	16	1	0	1	3	1	2	3	3	0	30	11	19
1	GK			22	22	0	2	2	0	1	1	0	4	4	0	29	29	0
33	DF			19	15	4	2	2	0	1	0	1	5	5	0	27	22	5
18	MF			17	14	3	2	2	0	2	2	0	4	2	2	25	20	5
23	GK			22	22	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	0	24	24	0
14	MF			14	10	4	2	2	0	3	3	0	4	2	2	23	17	6
28	MF			20	18	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	18	2
29	FW			15	9	6	0	0	0	2	1	1	2	1	1	19	11	8
11	FW			12	7	5	1	0	1	2	1	1	4	3	1	19	11	8
27	MF			16	6	10	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	1	1	19	7	12
22	DF			12	9	3	0	0	0	2	2	0	3	1	2	17	12	5
15	DF			11	6	5	0	0	0	2	2	0	2	2	0	15	10	5
26	MF			10	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	0	13	8	5
26	MF			13	7	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	13	7	6
4	MF			8	8	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	2	2	0	11	11	0
32	DF			9	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	9	0
30	FW			8	4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	4	4
44	DF			6	5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	5	1
19	FW			3	0	3	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	1	1	6	1	5
25	FW			3	1	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	4	2	2
37	GK			2	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	3	0
11	FW			2	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	1
39	MF			2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2
38	MF			0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	0
Total				46			2			3			5			56

Goals

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	League Two	FA Cup	EFL Cup	EFL Trophy	Total
10	MF			15	1	0	1	17
9	FW			5	0	0	0	5
24	FW			3	0	1	0	4
6	DF			3	0	0	1	4
11	FW			0	0	0	3	3
11	FW			2	0	0	0	2
29	FW			2	0	0	0	2
28	MF			2	0	0	0	2
17	MF			2	0	0	0	2
32	DF			2	0	0	0	2
34	MF			1	0	0	1	2
18	MF			1	0	0	0	1
2	DF			1	0	0	0	1
33	DF			1	0	0	0	1
3	DF			1	0	0	0	1
27	MF			1	0	0	0	1
5	DF			0	1	0	0	1
8	MF			1	0	0	0	1
Total				43	2	1	6	52

Disciplinary record

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	League Two			FA Cup			EFL Cup			EFL Trophy			Total
6	DF			10	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0	1
2	DF			6	1	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	9	1	0
24	FW			2	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	1
3	DF			10	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0	0
8	MF			7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0	0
18	MF			6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
17	MF			6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
22	DF			4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	5	0	0
9	FW			5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0
5	DF			4	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0
7	MF			4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
15	DF			3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
4	MF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	0
10	MF			0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
29	FW			2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
28	MF			2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
32	DF			2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
25	FW			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
33	DF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
14	MF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
27	MF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
26	MF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
1	GK			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
23	GK			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
44	DF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total				82	1	2	4	0	0	2	0	0	3	0	0	91	1	2

Notes and References

1. Web site: Keith Curle sacked by Oldham after defeat to Cobblers at Sixfields. Northampton Chronicle. 24 November 2021. 24 November 2021.
2. Web site: Club Statement - John Sheridan . Oldham Athletic . 23 January 2022.
3. Web site: First Team . Oldham Athletic A.F.C. . 21 August 2021 . 1 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190401192251/https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/teams/first-team/ . live .
4. Web site: Sam Hart Departs . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
5. Web site: 2022 Retained & Released List . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
6. Web site: Nicky Adams set to leave Oldham Athletic after turning down new deal . Oldham Times . 26 December 2022.
7. Web site: Club Statement . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
8. Web site: First Team Pre-Season Schedule . Oldham Athletic AFC . 8 June 2021.
9. Web site: Latics To Host Clarets . Oldham Athletic AFC . 2 July 2021.
10. Web site: Latics To Travel Across Pennines . Oldham Athletic AFC . 15 June 2021.
11. Web site: 2021/22 Fixtures Released! . Oldham Athletic AFC . 24 June 2021.
12. News: EFL Clubs Enter The Emirates FA Cup, Following Sunday's First Round Proper Draw . 18 October 2021 . The Football Association . 17 October 2021.
13. Web site: Carabao Cup Round One Fixture Confirmed . Oldham Athletic AFC . 24 June 2021.
14. Web site: Carabao Cup Round Two draw confirmed . EFL . 12 August 2021.
15. Web site: Accrington Stanley (H) Carabao Cup Details . Oldham Athletic AFC . 18 August 2021.
16. Web site: Carabao Cup Round Three draw confirmed . EFL . 26 August 2021.
17. Web site: Carabao Cup Round Three Fixture Confirmed . Oldham Athletic AFC . 3 September 2021.
18. Web site: Papa John's Trophy Group Completed . Oldham Athletic AFC . 24 June 2021.
19. Web site: Papa John's Trophy Fixtures Confirmed . Oldham Athletic AFC . 7 July 2021.
20. News: Papa John's Trophy: Round of 16 draw . 4 December 2021 . English Football League . 9 December 2021.
21. Web site: Versatile Defender Adds Experience . Oldham Athletic AFC . 22 June 2021.
22. Web site: Hart Joins Defensive Ranks . Oldham Athletic AFC . 22 June 2021.
23. Web site: Attacker Becomes First Summer Signing . Oldham Athletic AFC . 22 June 2021.
24. Web site: Oldham sign Manchester United youngster Oliver Kilner . United In Focus . 27 January 2022.
25. Web site: Shot-Stopper Signs For Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 22 June 2021.
26. Web site: McGahey Makes Latics Switch . Oldham Athletic AFC . 22 June 2021.
27. Web site: Curle Appoints New Backroom Staff . Oldham Athletic AFC . 23 July 2021.
28. Web site: Stobbs Signs For Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 4 August 2021.
29. Web site: Oldham Athletic sign Jamie Bowden, Ousseynou Cisse, Danny Rogers & Jacob Blyth . BBC Sport . 7 August 2021 . 7 August 2021 .
30. Web site: Hopcutt Becomes 12th Summer Addition . Oldham Athletic AFC . 13 August 2021.
31. Web site: Target Man Signs For Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 31 January 2022.
32. Web site: Attacker Returns To Boundary Park . Oldham Athletic AFC . 4 February 2022.
33. Web site: Bowden Becomes First Loan Addition . Oldham Athletic AFC . 8 August 2021.
34. Web site: Shot-Stopper Returns On Emergency Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 17 August 2021.
35. Web site: Promising Midfielder Arrives On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 22 August 2021.
36. Web site: Alex Hunt makes Oldham switch . Sheffield Wednesday . 17 January 2022.
37. Web site: Sutton Joins Witton Albion On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 13 August 2021.
38. News: Da Silva Heads Out On Loan . 21 November 2021 . Oldham Athletic - Official Site . 20 November 2021.
39. Web site: Will Sutton Joins on Loan . Farsley Celtic FC . 27 January 2022.
40. Web site: Oliver Kilner - Curzon Ashton . Curzon Ashton FC . 27 January 2022.
41. Web site: Hemel Hempstead squad update . Hemel Hempstead Town FC . 27 January 2022.
42. Web site: George Blackwood Departs . Oldham Athletic AFC . 30 June 2021.
43. Web site: George Blackwood - Adelaide United . Adelaide United FC . 27 January 2022.
44. Web site: Burton Albion To Sign Cameron Borthwick-Jackson On Two-Year Deal . Burton Albion FC . 7 June 2021.
45. Web site: Jombati joins the party . Ebbsfleet United FC . 4 July 2021.
46. Web site: 2021 Retained & Released List . Oldham Athletic - Official Site . 14 May 2021.
47. News: Gary-Woods-signs-pre-contract. Aberdeen. 7 June 2021.
48. Web site: Conor McAleny Signs For Salford City . Salford City FC . 1 July 2021.
49. Web site: Pleavin and Patrick sign up for Development Squad . Accrington Stanley FC . 9 July 2021.
50. Web site: Hough impresses on Yellows debut . Warrington Town FC . 27 January 2022.
51. Web site: Mackenzie Chapman Joins Oxford United . Oxford United FC . 27 August 2021.
52. Web site: First Team Player Update . Oldham Athletic A.F.C.. 28 August 2021.
53. Web site: One striker joins, another departs . Chorley FC . 27 January 2022.
54. Web site: Andrea Badan Departs . Oldham Athletic AFC . 1 September 2021.
55. Web site: Dearnley Departs . Oldham Athletic AFC . 27 January 2022.
56. Web site: FC Halifax Town: Shaymen sign former Manchester United and Oldham forward Dearnley . Halifax Courier . 31 January 2022.