It was a moment 34 years in the making. Under the iconic arch of Wembley Stadium, Oldham Athletic clawed their way back into the English Football League
In the most dramatic fashion imaginable, a 3-2 extra-time victory against Southend United in the National League play-off final.
The roar of 52,000 fans (21k from Oldham), the tears in the stands, and the flood of emotion from the pitch told a story far bigger than football.
This wasn’t all about the promotion, though. It was about revival, resilience, and a town rediscovering its pride.
Oldham Athletic return to the Football League
We caught up with club captain Tom Conlon, to discuss the incredible highs and lows of a topsy-turvy season. For Tom, the moment was surreal. “It was amazing,” he recalled.
“I was looking around at all the fans. I could see my family down there, my little boy with my fiancée. And I just thought, wow, this is the stuff you dream of.”
A goal from James Norwood in the 110th minute, followed moments later by Kian Harratt’s fortuitous cross looping into the net, sent the Oldham faithful into raptures. Latics, once fallen giants of the Football League, were back.
The long road back
The climb has not been easy. Relegated in 2022, Oldham found themselves outside the Football League for the first time in 115 years, a gutting blow to one of the proud founding members of the Premier League era.
But in just over three seasons under the stewardship of chairman Frank Rothwell, they’ve turned despair into hope and transformed Boundary Park into a place of belief again.
Tom Conlon joined the club with a clear mission. “When I first signed for the club, this was the aim. This is where they wanted to get to,” he said. “My personal goal was to play a part in that. And we have, we’ve done something that hasn’t been done in decades.”
But it wasn’t smooth sailing. In the final itself, Oldham trailed twice. Southend struck early through a defensive mishap, and then again in extra time.
For Tom, who started on the bench, the experience was almost unbearable. “It’s the most intense game I’ve ever been involved in, by a mile. Sitting there watching, your heart’s racing. I was warming up just to do something because I felt sick just sitting still.”
But Oldham refused to lie down. Joe Garner’s penalty had kept them in it, and when Norwood and Harratt struck, the tide turned. The final whistle blew, and history was made.
Uniting the Oldham community
For many clubs, promotion is about trophies and finances. For Oldham, it’s about community. Few people embody that more than Frank Rothwell, the 74-year-old adventurer and businessman who took over the club in 2022 and immediately re-established the bonds between the club and its people.
“Absolutely there’s a family feel,” said Conlon. “For any football club, you’re only going to be as good as your owners. And Frank and his family do amazing things for the community.”
Indeed, Rothwell’s leadership has breathed new life into the club. He’s become a local hero, not just for saving Oldham, but for caring. He walks the terraces, chats to fans, and has brought visibility back to a club that was on the brink of vanishing.
“It feels like a proper community club now. Frank’s not just in the boardroom; he’s part of this. The relationship the team has with the fans now, it’s something really special.”
The people’s club
This resurgence has not gone unnoticed in the town itself. Once fragmented by economic hardship and disappointment on the pitch, Oldham is united again.
“One of the best things about getting success as a football team,” Tom explained, “is what it does to the people around it. Naturally, the community gets closer. Everyone’s behind you, and you carry that feel-good factor.”
It’s evident in the stands, in the local pubs, and in the reenergised atmosphere at Boundary Park. The club is a source of pride, identity, and togetherness.
From rock bottom to Wembley Glory
To fully appreciate this promotion, you have to understand the depths Oldham plumbed. Years of mismanagement, ownership crises, and relegation battles left the club floundering. Fans protested, boycotted, and wept as the club they loved deteriorated.
That’s what makes this moment so powerful. For the thousands of fans who stuck around, who cheered through the rain in the National League North, this promotion is personal.
“They’ve been amazing,” said Conlon of the Oldham faithful. “There have been so many negative times. And when you’re in a city like Manchester, with the two huge clubs nearby, it would’ve been easy to just walk away. But they didn’t.”
“That’s another reason I’m so proud. We’ve finally given them something back. Something to really cheer about.”
The Frank Rothwell effect
It’s impossible to tell the story of Oldham’s return without talking about their chairman. Rothwell, who not once, but TWICE rowed solo across the Atlantic, brought not just investment but identity. His passion has set the tone throughout the club.
While Conlon is quick to credit the players and staff, he knows the spark came from the top.
“He’s given us all a reason to fight, not just for ourselves, but for everyone who cares about this club. That trickles down. You feel like you’re playing for something bigger.”
What’s next for Oldham Athletic?
Now back in League Two, the challenge is clear: build on this momentum, not rest on it. For Conlon and the rest of the squad, the message is already clear, the celebrations are over, and the work has begun.
“That’s gone now. It’s about setting our next goal,” he said. “League One is the target. You don’t want the club to stand still. This club still belongs higher up.”
He’s passionate about ensuring that the values built this season, togetherness, hard work, and humility, stay at the heart of the team.
“I want us to keep everything we’ve already built as a group. The culture we have now is key. That’s what gets you through the tough times.”
And how were the celebrations?
For now, Conlon is taking a well-earned break with his fiancée in Spain. But his focus won’t stray far from Oldham.
“You celebrate, of course. But then you get your head back down. That’s what football is. You enjoy the highs, but you don’t live in them.”
“The stuff you dream of”
Oldham Athletic’s story this season isn’t just about 90 minutes at Wembley. It’s about rediscovery. About a town finding its voice again through the boots of its players, the vision of its chairman, and the relentless belief of its supporters.
From the family feel under Frank Rothwell to the sweat poured out by the players, from the pain of relegation to the ecstasy of promotion — this season has been more than a football campaign. It’s been a healing journey.
“It’s unforgettable,” Conlon said, pausing for a moment. “It’s something I’ll never, ever forget. And I feel so, so grateful to have achieved what we have.”
For Oldham, this is only the beginning. But it’s already a season that will live forever in the hearts of a community reborn.
You can find out more about what’s happening at Oldham Athletic on their website here
