Oldham Athletic fans celebrate historic return to the Football League with homecoming party
Thousands of supporters poured into Boundary Park on Monday night to celebrate the club's dramatic return to the English Football League.
Music, fireworks, a trophy parade, and plenty of emotion filled the air as the Latics marked the end of a long and difficult chapter in their history.
Just 24 hours earlier, Oldham pulled off a stunning 3-2 win over Southend United at Wembley in the National League play-off final.
They came from behind twice, equalising with a second-half penalty before clinching the win with two late goals in extra time. It was their first promotion in 34 years, and it sent more than 21,000 travelling fans into complete euphoria.
For many, the Wembley trip was a throwback to 1994, the last time Oldham played at the national stadium in an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United. But this win meant even more, a return to League Two after three years out of the EFL, and a full-circle moment after what fans have called "three dark decades" of decline.
Monday's celebrations began with a civic reception at the town hall, before everyone made their way to Boundary Park. The stadium was packed, with a big screen in the Joe Royle Stand making sure no one missed out.
Players, coaches, and club officials joined supporters on the pitch for speeches, cheers, and an emotional trophy lift.
After falling out of the Football League in 2022, the first Premier League side to do so, many feared Oldham might never return. But under new owner Frank Rothwell, who took over that same year, the club has been rebuilt from the ground up.
As fireworks lit up the night sky, it wasn't just about promotion. It was about pride, resilience, and a belief that Oldham Athletic is back where it belongs.
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