2023–24 Oldham Athletic A.F.C. season explained

Club:	Oldham Athletic
Season:	2023–24
Manager:	David Unsworth (until 17 September)^[1] Steve Thompson (interim, from 17 September to 12 October) ^[2] Micky Mellon (from 13 October)^[3]
Mgrtitle:	Head Coach
Chairman:	Frank Rothwell
Stadium:	Boundary Park
League:	National League
League Result:	10th
Cup1:	FA Cup
Cup1 Result:	First Round
Cup2:	FA Trophy
Cup2 Result:	Fourth Round
League Topscorer:	James Norwood (17)
Season Topscorer:	James Norwood (18)
Highest Attendance:	11,881
Lowest Attendance:	5,538
Average Attendance:	6,962
Prevseason:	2022–23
Nextseason:	2024–25

The 2023–24 season is the 129th in Oldham Athletic's history,^[4] and the club's second season since dropping out of the Football League. The club will compete in the National League,^[5] the FA Cup^[6] and the FA Trophy.

Season summary

Pre-season

Immediately following the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, Oldham announced that 18 of the players contracted for the previous season remained in contract but that nine players would be released and four players who had ended the 2022–23 season on loan would return to their parent clubs. The club also confirmed that negotiations were ongoing to extend the contracts of Devarn Green, Mathew Hudson, Junior Luamba and Josef Yarney.^[7]

A new hybrid pitch was laid at Boundary Park, with work commmencing on 8 May 2023^[8] and extending over the summer period, meaning that all but the final pre-season friendly would be played away from Boundary Park.^[9]

On 8 June 2023, Paul Murray returned to the club as Academy Manager, resuming a job he had left in 2021.^[10]

End of the Unsworth era

The season began with two weeks of contrasting fortunes: a 4–0 defeat away at Southend United^[11] being followed by a comprehensive 5–1 win at home to Aldershot Town.^[12]

Following this was a run of seven games without a win in which Oldham scored only four goals. The club's board initially stood behind manager David Unsworth, with chairman Frank Rothwell addressing a group of travelling supporters before a 2–2 draw at Gateshead to demonstrate his support for Unsworth.^[13] However, discontent amongst the club's supporters continued to grow following a 0–0 draw at home to Dorking Wanderers^[14] and Unsworth was dismissed following a 3–0 defeat away at Bromley.^[15]

Interim management

Steve Thompson, the club's Head of Recruitment, was appointed as manager on an interim basis following Unsworth's departure, with the club's board confirming that a number of applications for the role of first team manager had been received and that a recruitment process would be followed before an appointment was made.^[16]

In the meantime, Thompson appointed Neil Redfearn as his assistant manager,^[17] Redfearn returning to Boundary Park where, 32 years earlier, he had scored the most famous goal in the club's history, securing the Second Division title with a last minute penalty kick.^[18]

Thompson and Redfearn left the club on 12 October 2023^[19] two days before an FA Cup tie with Altrincham with academy manager Paul Murray taking charge of that match. Then, they won the match 1–0 with Harrison McGahey scoring.

Micky Mellon

Micky Mellon was announced on 13 October 2023 as the club's new first team manager.^[20] Mellon sat in the stands for the following day's FA Cup match against Altrincham^[21] and took charge of his first match against the team's bitter rivals Rochdale the following week, a match which Oldham would go on to win 4–3.

Mellon led Oldham on a strong run, taking them from 12th in the table into play-off positions for most of January and February. However, a run of one win in fourteen games at the end of the season resulted in a disappointing 10th place finish and to Mellon lamenting that his squad needed "major surgery" for it to challenge for promotion in the following season.^[22]

Players

Squad at the end of the season

No	Pos	Nat	Name	Age	Debut	App	Start	Sub				Notes
1	GK			27		48	48	0	0	2	0
2	DF			19		6	6	0	0	1	0	Loan from Sheffield Utd
3	DF			28		80	79	1	2	14	0
4	DF			35		82	79	3	2	20	1	Captain
5	DF			25		38	35	3	0	4	0
6	MF			27		35	30	5	2	6	1
7	FW			26		17	5	12	1	0	0	Loan at Ayr Utd
8	MF			25		29	25	4	0	4	0
9	FW			30		75	39	36	25	9	4
10	FW			27		37	35	2	8	8	0	Loan at Cheltenham Town
11	MF			26		8	6	2	0	0	0
13	GK			25		51	51	0	0	1	0
14	DF			26		97	91	6	9	18	0
15	FW			27		43	34	9	6	6	0
16	DF			30		34	33	1	0	3	0
17	DF			28		65	61	4	2	10	0
18	MF			29		46	34	12	9	6	0	Loan at Chester
19	MF			34		123	107	16	8	29	1
20	FW			30		84	60	24	12	6	0
21	DF			21		58	57	1	3	8	1
22	MF			31		18	14	4	5	4	0	Loan at Hartlepool Utd
24	FW			36		14	11	3	4	4	0
25	FW			28		34	19	15	9	3	0
26	MF			21		11	8	3	0	0	0
27	DF			20		40	25	15	1	2	0	Loan at Ashton Utd
28	FW			21		4	2	2	0	0	0	Loan from Blackburn
29	FW			24		14	7	7	0	1	0	Loan from Barnsley
30	FW			33		44	37	7	18	11	0
31	MF			19		1	0	1	0	0	0
32	MF			28		18	15	3	0	3	0
99	GK			23	n/a	0	0	0	0	0	0	Loan at Blyth Spartans
-	DF			24		1	0	1	0	0	0	Loan at Darlington

Left the club during the season

No	Pos	Nat	Name	Age	Debut	Apps	Starts	Subs				Notes
-	MF			33		36	28	8	2	6	0	Released 31 August^[23]
23	DF			32		10	10	0	0	1	0
24	FW			20		4	4	0	3	1	0

Pre-season fixtures

On 17 May 2023 Oldham Athletic announced six pre-season friendlies to be played before the start of the National League season.^[9] Pitch renovation work at Boundary Park meant that the first five fixtures would all be played away from home, with only the sixth and final game able to be played at Boundary Park.

Competitions

Oldham Athletic will play in the National League in the 2023–24 season. It will join the FA Cup at the Fourth Qualifying Round and the FA Trophy at the Third Round.

National League

See main article: 2023–24 National League.

Matches

Oldham's fixtures were announced on 5 July 2023.^[24]

FA Cup

See main article: 2023–24 FA Cup.

Oldham will join the 2023-24 FA Cup at the Fourth Qualifying Round. Fixtures will take place on the weekend of 14 October 2023, with the draw being made following conclusion of the Third Qualifying Round on the weekend of 30 September 2023.^[25]

FA Trophy

See main article: 2023–24 FA Trophy.

Oldham will join the 2023-24 FA Trophy at the Third Round. Fixtures will take place on the weekend of 9 December 2023, with the draw being made following conclusion of the Second Round on the weekend of 18 November 2023^[26]

Squad statistics

Appearances

Players with no appearances are not included on the list.

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	National League			FA Cup			FA Trophy			Total
				Apps	Starts	Subs	Apps	Starts	Subs	Apps	Starts	Subs	Apps	Starts	Subs
13	GK			44	44	0	2	2	0	1	1	0	47	47	0
3	DF			43	43	0	2	2	0	2	1	1	47	46	1
14	MF			44	38	6	2	2	0	1	1	0	47	41	6
4	DF			42	40	2	2	1	1	2	2	0	46	43	3
30	FW			40	34	6	2	2	0	2	1	1	44	37	7
5	DF			35	33	2	2	2	0	1	0	1	38	35	3
16	DF			32	31	1	0	0	0	2	2	0	34	33	1
9	FW			31	15	16	1	0	1	1	1	0	33	16	17
17	DF			25	23	2	2	2	0	2	2	0	29	27	2
8	MF			26	22	4	2	2	0	1	1	0	29	25	4
15	MF			26	20	6	1	1	0	1	1	0	28	22	6
19	MF			25	18	7	1	0	1	2	2	0	28	20	8
21	DF			25	25	0	1	1	0	1	1	0	27	27	0
20	FW			17	9	8	1	1	0	2	2	0	20	12	7
32	MF			17	15	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	18	15	3
22	MF			15	12	3	2	2	0	1	0	1	18	14	4
7	FW			15	4	11	0	0	0	2	1	1	17	5	12
6	MF			15	10	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	10	5
24	FW			14	11	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	11	3
29	FW			14	7	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	14	7	7
25	FW			12	5	7	2	0	2	0	0	0	14	5	9
10	FW			12	10	2	1	1	0	0	0	0	13	11	2
26	MF			11	8	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	8	3
23	DF			9	9	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	10	10	0
11	MF			7	5	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	8	6	2
2	DF			6	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	6	0
18	MF			5	2	3	1	0	1	0	0	0	6	2	4
24	FW			4	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	4	0
28	FW			3	1	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	4	2	2
1	GK			2	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	3	3	0
31	MF			1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Total				46			2			2			50

Goals

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	League	FA Cup	FA Trophy	Total
30	FW			17	0	1	18
9	FW			9	0	1	10
14	MF			6	0	0	6
22	MF			5	0	0	5
25	FW			5	0	0	5
24	FW			4	0	0	4
19	MF			4	0	0	4
20	FW			3	0	1	4
15	MF			3	0	0	3
24	FW			3	0	0	3
4	DF			1	0	0	1
6	MF			1	0	0	1
10	FW			1	0	0	1
18	MF			1	0	0	1
17	DF			0	1	0	1
7	FW			0	0	1	1
Total				63	1	4	68

Disciplinary record

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	National League			FA Cup			FA Trophy			Total
9	FW			6	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	1	1
21	DF			4	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	1
4	DF			12	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	1	0
6	MF			3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	0
3	DF			11	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	12	0	0
30	FW			11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0	0
14	MF			7	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	9	0	0
15	MF			5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0
19	MF			5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0
24	FW			5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0
10	FW			4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
22	MF			4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
8	MF			4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
5	DF			4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
17	DF			4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
16	DF			3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
32	DF			3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
18	MF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
25	FW			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
23	DF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
24	FW			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
1	GK			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
19	MF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
2	DF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
13	GK			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
29	FW			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total				104	3	2	3	0	0	0	0	0	107	3	2

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
Pre-season	MF				Undisclosed fee	^[27]
Pre-season	FW				Free transfer	^[28]
Pre-season	MF		Dan Ward		Free transfer	^[29]
Pre-season	DF				Free transfer	^[30]
Pre-season	DF				Free transfer	^[31]
Pre-season	MF			-	Free transfer	^[32]
Pre-season	FW				Undisclosed fee	^[33]
11 August 2023	DF			-	Free transfer	^[34]
3 November 2023	GK			-	Free transfer	^[35]
9 January 2024	MF				Undisclosed	^[36]
19 January 2024	MF				Undisclosed	^[37]
31 January 2024	FW				Undisclosed	^[38]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
Pre-season	GK				Free transfer	^[39]
Pre-season	MF			-	Released	^[40]
31 August 2023	MF			-	Released
2 January 2024	DF			-	End of contract	^[41]

Loans in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Date until	Ref.
15 December 2023	FW			Wigan Athletic F.C.	2 January 2024	^[42]
2 January 2024	FW			Blackburn Rovers F.C.	End of season	^[43]
15 January 2024	DF			Sheffield United F.C.	End of season	^[44]
22 January 2024	FW			Barnsley F.C.	End of season	^[45]

Loans out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date until	Ref.
7 July 2023	DF		Jordan Windass		End of season	^[46]
11 July 2023	MF		Kofi Moore		7 January 2024	^[47]
15 July 2023	FW		Jake Forshaw		September 2023	^[48]
19 July 2023	DF		Frazer Cookson		January 2024	^[49]
15 August 2023	DF				September 2023	^[50]
24 August 2023	DF		Llyton Chapman		October 2023	^[51]
2 September 2023	MF		Ollie Havens		November 2023	^[52]
5 September 2023	FW		Jake Forshaw		November 2023
23 September 2023	DF				End of season	^[53]
6 October 2023	DF		Llyton Chapman		TBC
7 November 2023	MF				January 2024	^[54]
17 November 2023	FW		Jake Forshaw		21 December 2023	^[55]
17 November 2023	MF		Kofi Moore		15 December 2023
12 December 2023	GK		Dan Langley		End of season	^[56]
1 January 2024	MF		Kofi Moore		End of season	^[57]
11 January 2024	DF		Oliver Kilner		End of season	^[58]
1 February 2024	FW				End of season	^[59]
1 February 2024	FW				End of season	^[60]
2 February 2024	MF				End of season	^[61]
9 February 2024	MF				End of season	^[62]

Notes and References

1. News: David Unsworth: Oldham Athletic sack boss after seven-game winless run . BBC Sport . 17 September 2023 . 18 September 2023.
2. News: Oldham Athletic: Interim boss Steve Thompson and assistant Neil Redfearn leave club . BBC Sport . 12 October 2023 . 14 October 2023.
3. Web site: Mellon Appointed Latics Manager . Oldham Athletic . 13 October 2023 . 14 October 2023.
4. Web site: Club History . Oldham Athletic A.F.C. . 11 June 2023.
5. Web site: Clubs . Oldham Athletic A.F.C. . 11 June 2023.
6. Web site: Online applications open for the 2023-24 FA Cup, FA Trophy, FA Vase and FA Youth Cup . The FA . 11 June 2023.
7. Web site: 2023 Retained & Released List . Oldham Athletic AFC . 10 June 2023.
8. Web site: Oldham Athletic: works on new pitch at Boundary Park begin . The Oldham Times . 11 June 2023.
9. Web site: Pre-Season Schedule 2023 . Oldham Athletic A.F.C. . 11 June 2023.
10. Web site: Murray Appointed Academy Manager . Oldham Athletic AFC . 11 June 2023.
11. Web site: Southend United 4-0 Oldham Athletic . BBC Sport . 26 September 2023.
12. Web site: Oldham Athletic 5-2 Aldershot Town . BBC Sport . 26 September 2023.
13. Web site: Frank Rothwell bids to raise morale as well as money . The Oldham Times . 26 September 2023.
14. Web site: Oldham Athletic boss determined to overcome rough start . The Oldham Times . 26 September 2023.
15. Web site: David Unsworth. Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 September 2023.
16. Web site: Update From The Board . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 September 2023.
17. Web site: Redfearn Added To Coaching Staff . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 September 2023.
18. Web site: Caught in Time: Oldham Athletic win the Second Division in 1991 . The Times . 26 September 2023.
19. Web site: Steve Thompson & Neil Redfearn . Oldham Athletic AFC . 12 October 2023.
20. Web site: Mellon Appointed Latics Manager . Oldham Athletic AFC . 13 October 2023.
21. Web site: GALLERY: Altrincham 0-1 Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 12 November 2023.
22. Web site: Manager Micky Mellon highlights problems at Oldham Athletic . Oldham Times . 21 June 2024.
23. Web site: John Rooney Departs . Oldham Athletic AFC . 3 September 2023.
24. Web site: 2023/24 Fixtures Released! . Oldham Athletic AFC . 9 July 2023.
25. Web site: The Emirates FA Cup Round Dates For The 2023-24 Season . The Football Association . 5 August 2023.
26. Web site: The Isuzu FA Trophy Round Dates For The 2023-24 Campaign . The Football Association . 5 August 2023.
27. Web site: Lundstram Joins Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 10 June 2023.
28. Web site: Willoughby Arrives At Boundary Park . Oldham Athletic AFC . 10 June 2023.
29. Web site: Ward Strengthens Midfield Options . Oldham Athletic AFC . 9 July 2023.
30. Web site: Latics Complete Hobson Signing . Oldham Athletic AFC . 9 July 2023.
31. Web site: Latics Add Raglan To Back Line . Oldham Athletic AFC . 9 July 2023.
32. Web site: Latics Sign Versatile Midfielder . Oldham Athletic AFC . 5 August 2023.
33. Web site: Norwood Added To Attack . Oldham Athletic AFC . 5 August 2023.
34. Web site: Latics Sign Right-Back Freeman . Oldham Athletic AFC . 13 August 2023.
35. Web site: Latics Sign Keeper Langley . Oldham Athletic AFC . 12 November 2023.
36. Web site: Conlon Strenghtens Midfield . Oldham Athletic AFC . 13 January 2024.
37. Web site: Latics Sign Midfielder Hammond . Oldham Athletic AFC . 21 January 2024.
38. Web site: Striker Garner Signs For Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 31 January 2024.
39. Web site: Jayson Leutwiler . Oldham Athletic AFC . 9 July 2023.
40. Web site: Luke Burgess . Oldham Athletic AFC . 20 July 2023.
41. Web site: Kieron Freeman . Oldham Athletic AFC . 3 January 2024.
42. Web site: Latics Add Striker Stones On Loan. Oldham Athletic AFC . 15 December 2023.
43. Web site: Winger Walker Joins On Loan. Oldham Athletic AFC . 3 January 2024.
44. Web site: Mellon Adds Sachdev As Right Back. Oldham Athletic AFC . 21 January 2024.
45. Web site: Loanee Dallas Strengthens Latics Attack. Oldham Athletic AFC . 23 January 2024.
46. Web site: Windass Joins Darlington On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 9 July 2023.
47. Web site: Moore Heads Out On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 12 July 2023.
48. Web site: Forshaw Heads Out On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 23 July 2023.
49. Web site: Cookson Leaves On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 19 July 2023.
50. Web site: Couto Joins TNS On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 19 August 2023.
51. Web site: Loan Watch 2023/24 . Oldham Athletic AFC . 5 December 2023.
52. Web site: Ollie Havens . The North West Counties Football League Limited . 5 December 2023.
53. Web site: Couto Joins Ashton United On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 September 2023.
54. Web site: Tollitt Joins Kidderminster Until January . Oldham Athletic AFC . 12 November 2023.
55. Web site: Forshaw and Moore Join Guiseley On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 5 December 2023.
56. Web site: Langley Makes Loan Switch . Oldham Athletic AFC . 15 December 2023.
57. Web site: Moore Resumes Guiseley Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 3 January 2024.
58. Web site: Kilner Joins Bury On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 13 January 2024.
59. Web site: Nuttall Joins Cheltenham On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 1 February 2024.
60. Web site: Willoughby Makes Ayr Loan Switch . Oldham Athletic AFC . 1 February 2024.
61. Web site: Dickenson Joins Hartlepool On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 2 February 2024.
62. Web site: Tollitt Makes Loan Move To Chester . Oldham Athletic AFC . 9 February 2024.