Boundary Park and its surrounding area has been in a severe state of disrepair for many years. It’s a fair cry from the brand-spanking, newly designed and up-to-date stadia that are popping up all over the country.
With the Rochdale Road End being the only significant update to the stadium since the Ford Stand was built back in the early 70's, the other three sides, as of 2007, were looking very tired indeed. John Sheridan was manager, Lee Hughes was a new arrival and the economy was in full swing. Here comes the catch, two years later, the economy was in the worst recession since the 1930's, land prices had plummeted and with that, the sale value of the land surrounding Boundary Park was next to nothing when trying to finance a large construction project. A new option had to be found, Ferny Field was looked at again, other land in the Oldham area was considered but a large enough piece of available land, roughly three and a half miles away from Boundary Park as the crow flies, had been decided on.
Now 2010, Latics fans are used to the idea of the move, its far to easy for Latics fans against the move to pick out the "Fail" in "Failsworth", I choose the opposite, what exactly is this project "worth"? I think its worth quite a lot. A brand new 12000 seater stadium with the ability to expand capacity into all four corners bringing new facilities for the fans, new refreshment stalls, a bar. All in all a ground we can be proud of. Better facilities also make fans want to come that little bit more. Just think, we'll have a scoreboard! I don’t even need to mention the better facilities the playing staff will have, maybe it'll help curb these injuries we have be plagued with for the last few years! The running theme alongside all of this is the seven-day income streams. Conferencing facilities, five-a-side pitches, a social club even? The plans are yet to be finalised but the club will be making money seven days a week, its not a business plan to be laughed at. It just makes sense.
Staying at Boundary Park would be my preferred choice, while I've not been attending matches there for fifty years like some, I can happily say I have some very fond (and some not so) memories of my time spent there. Most of all, my reason for supporting the Failsworth project doesn’t come down to passion or heart, its cold hard cash. The fact is, we have three people willing to fund the construction of a brand new stadium. This comes at a time when football is failing, more clubs have entered administration in the last four years than ever before. Chester City have gone out of business, Stockport could be relegated five leagues, a Premiership club has gone into administration. Not to mention Leeds, Southampton, Bournemouth, Rotherham, Southend and Darlington who have all, for one reason or another, not been able to stay afloat, or are having continuing difficulties. My biggest worry of our owners is the fact that we rely on them to finance our club, but that’s also their biggest attraction. Without them, there wouldn’t be an Oldham Athletic at all, never mind at Boundary Park.
Hopefully the proposals we are making to the charity commission will be passed, the NIMBY's defeated again and work can start on our new ground. At the end of it all, the questions it comes down to are:
Is it worth keeping Oldham Athletic running?
Is it worth having a brand new stadium?
Is it worth having owners that'll pay for it all?
Is it worth moving 3.5 miles to see football stay in Oldham?
I think its worth it.
Simon