BOUNDARY BULLETIN The official matchday programme of Oldham Athletic Football Club Free to Download Oldham Athletic vs. Bolton Wanderers Sky Bet League Two - Matchday 31 Tuesday 2nd March 2021 - 7pm KO HEAD COACH - HARRY KEWELL “Hi everyone and thanks once again for supporting us from home.” There’s always an extra sense of anticipation when a home fixture comes straight on the back of a good away win and that’s certainly been evident over the past few days in our preparation for this evening’s game. The result we picked up at Carlisle United on Saturday felt like more than just three points due to the manner in which it was achieved and the character shown by the players to come from behind in such dramatic circumstances. As a team, we have developed a habit this season of battling back in games, and for the second successive Saturday, I was incredibly proud of our determination to keep going against strong opposition and produce a hard-earned result. I have said throughout the season that we have a young squad full of potential and our ability to record a win at Carlisle, along with the draw at Tranmere Rovers the previous weekend, shows we are progressing in the right way. Of course, we were all disappointed with the home defeat against Barrow in the middle of those results, but to respond so quickly in a difficult fixture is testament to the players and their hunger to put things right. No-one typifies that mentality more than Carl Piergianni who, despite being limited in his game-time in recent weeks, came off the bench to register an outstanding second-half performance at Brunton Park before scoring the goal that made sure of the win. Carl is someone who is respected by all of the players. He is an excellent professional who has always led by example and his celebration after heading home our third goal showed exactly what the moment meant to him and the rest of the lads. The importance of this being a squad game is particularly relevant in a season such as this. The players are under no illusions that they all have a key role to play and the fact that all four substitutes helped shaped the outcome on Saturday is further evidence of that. I am delighted that Dylan Bahamboula has been able to translate his excellent attacking performances into more goals recently, and it was also pleasing to see Marcel Hilssner find the target for the first time in English football to start the turnaround at Brunton Park. In Bolton Wanderers, we welcome a team tonight who are right in form. The quality within their squad has never been in doubt and Ian Evatt deserves great credit for their recent run of five straight wins which has put them firmly in the promotion picture. That level of consistency is something we are all currently striving for. The way Bolton have elevated themselves up the table is an example to every team in the division and with plenty of points to play for it shows what can still be achieved in a relatively short period of time. With the added ingredient of this being a local fixture, I am sure there will be a real sense of excitement in both camps as kick- off approaches. Our job tonight is to ensure our performance lives up to that billing. As the first of back-to-back home games, we are focused on getting a result so we can look to build our own momentum as the final part of the season approaches. As well as the players, I know this is a fixture you will all be looking forward to and we want to make sure we use it as an opportunity to reward your continued support. Best wishes, SPONSORED BY Harry BOUNDARY BULLETIN - 03 VISITING BOUNDARY PARK … THE TROTTERS MAN AT THE TOP... IAN EVATT Appointed on 24th June 2020 as the first-team manager of Bolton Wanderers after they agreed £250,000 on compensation with Barrow AFC. The 38-year-old started his football career with Derby County in 1999 and made a handful of Premier League appearances for the Rams before being released and joining Chesterfield. He became a vital part of the Spireites team and made 90 appearances which saw Queens Park Rangers swoop in a move for £150,000. After an unsuccessful spell with the London club, Evatt signed for Blackpool initially on loan but made it permanent in 2007. He won promotion to the Championship with the Seasiders in his first spell, beating Oldham Athletic in the play-off semi- final. Under Ian Holloway’s reign he helped guide Blackpool to the Premier League and Evatt played a full season in the top-flight. Evatt rejoined Chesterfield in 2013 and suffered relegation to Sky Bet League Two. He was sent off that season against Latics after a tussle with Anthony Gerrard before Peter Clarke headed in a late winner. Since his retirement, Evatt has won promotion as Champions of the Vanarama National League with Barrow AFC. This meant the Bluebirds returned to the Football League for the first time in 48-years. BOUNDARY BULLETIN - 05 three-years with the club where he made 138 appearances and FOR THE RECORD... helped guide the Cod Army to Sky Bet League One for the first time BolTon WAndeReRs - CluB HonouRs LOOKING GOOD FOR BOLTON... ever whilst being named in the PFA Team of The Year in the same seCond division #13 MATT Gilks campaign. Champions (3): 1908/09, 1977/78, 1996/97 Runners-up (4): 1899/1900, 1904/05, 1910/11, 1934/35 The vastly experienced goalkeeper arrived at Bolton in August After a short spell at Shrewsbury Town, Sarcevic moved to Devon to join Plymouth and became a fans favourite at Home Park. Last Play-off Winners (2): 1995, 2001 2020 as a player/goalkeeping coach to help the development of Play-off Runners-up: 1999 the young shot stoppers. season, he was part of the squad that gained promotion to League Play-off Semi-finalists: 2000 Gilks began his career with his hometown team, Rochdale, and One and won the club’s Player of The Year. THiRd division/leAGue one spent 12-years at the club progressing from a youth team player Champions: 1972/73 to a first-team regular. Overall, he managed to make 197 #14 MARCus MAddison Runners-up (2): 1992/93, 2016/17 Play-off Runners-up: 1991 appearances in all competitions for Dale moving to Norwich City. The attacking-midfielder arrived at the University of Bolton Stadium in January 2021 on loan until the end of the season from Sky Bet Play-off Semi-finalists: 1990 After struggling to break into the side at the Canaries, he moved FouRTH division/leAGue TWo back up north to sign for Blackpool. It was a huge successful spell League One side Charlton Athletic. Third: 1987/88 in his career as he helped guide the club to the Premier League as Maddison began his career at Newcastle United and spent time on FA Cup well as winning Player of The Year for the 2012/13 season. loan with local side Blyth Spartans before moving to Scotland to join Winners (4): 1922/23, 1925/26, 1928/29, 1957/58 Following that, he’s gone on to play for Shrewsbury Town, Burnley, St Johnstone. Runners-up (3): 1893/94, 1903/04, 1952/53 In August 2013, he signed for Gateshead and began to catch the eye Semi-finalists (7): 1888/89, 1895/96, 1914/15, 1934/35, Rangers, Wigan Athletic, Scunthorpe United, Lincoln City and 1945/46, 1999/2000, 2010/11 of bigger teams as he scored 13 goals in 27 games. Fleetwood Town. FooTBAll leAGue Cup Gilks has represented Scotland four times at senior level. The Heed received their club record fee for him as Peterborough Runners-up (2): 1994/95, 2003/04 United brought him to the club. Overall, he made 249 appearances Semi-finalists (2): 1976/77, 1999/2000 #5 RiCARdo AlMeidA sAnTos and found the back of the net 62 times for the Posh, scoring some FA CHARiTy sHield Winners: 1958 The 25-year-old joined the Trotters on a two-year deal after great goals as well. Since then, he’s gone on to have a loan spell with Hull City before FooTBAll leAGue TRopHy they signed him on free transfer from Vanarama National Champions: 1988/89 League side Barnet. joining Charlton but failed to establish himself as a regular in the Runners-up: 1985/86 After being released by Dagenham & Redbridge, Almeida side. FooTBAll leAGue WAR Cup WinneRs : 1944/45 Santos applied his trade in non-league and an impressive Maddison has represented England C twice. pReMieR leAGue AsiA TRopHy WinneRs : 2005 spell with Thurrock in 2013, Peterborough United peACe Cup RunneRs up : 2007 CARlsBeRG Cup WinneRs : 2010 brought him to the club. #28 eoin doyle The prolific goalscorer put pen-to-paper on a three-year deal with lAnCAsHiRe senioR Cup WinneRs: (12): 1886, 1891, The central-defender spent two-years with the Posh 1912, 1922, 1925, 1927, 1932, 1934, 1939 (shared with and featured at the heart of the defence in Sky Bet Bolton Wanderers in the summer after leaving Sky Bet League One Preston North End), 1948, 1989, 1991 League One, but his time came to an end at the side Swindon Town on a free. CenTRAl leAGue CHAMpions : 1955, 1995 London Road Stadium as Barnett agreed a fee of Doyle started his career in Ireland with spells at Shelbourne (twice), pReMieR ReseRve leAGue noRTH CHAMpions : 2006/07 £100,000 for him.