Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Declan Clark
Guest(s)
Release Date
2 November 2023
Duration
70 min
In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by North-West football specialist Declan Clark to revisit one of English football’s most beloved underdog stories — Oldham Athletic’s unforgettable 1989–90 season under Joe Royle.
At a time when the top flight was dominated by big-spending clubs, Oldham — a modest Second Division side playing on the windswept slopes of Boundary Park — became the heartbeat of the nation’s cup dreams. Royle’s team combined fearless attacking football with relentless work ethic, and across one magical season, they delivered two sensational cup runs that made them legends.
In the League Cup, Oldham swept past Arsenal and West Ham before reaching the final at Wembley, narrowly losing to Nottingham Forest. In the FA Cup, they famously defeated Everton and Aston Villa, booking a semi-final showdown with Manchester United. Boundary Park became a fortress of belief, and the team’s spirit turned Sunday afternoons into national television events — birthing the term “Super Sunday.”
Powered by cult heroes like Andy Ritchie, Roger Palmer, Frank Bunn, and Nick Henry, Oldham blended grit and flair in equal measure. Royle’s leadership, humour, and man-management made them more than a cup team — they were a family, uniting a town and capturing the romance of football’s pre-Premier League era.
The episode explores their tactics, personalities, and cultural impact, asking the big question: just how great were Joe Royle’s “Pinch-Me” Latics of 1989–90?
Takeaways
Joe Royle’s Oldham embodied the magic of late-80s cup football.
Their twin cup runs remain among the great modern fairy tales.
Boundary Park became an unlikely fortress of joy and belief.
Oldham’s attacking style won hearts beyond their fanbase.
The 1989–90 season remains a proud chapter in football folklore.
Oldham Athletic 1989–1990: The Cup Kings of Boundary Park
In 1989–90, Oldham Athletic achieved the impossible. Under Joe Royle, a second-tier side turned the football world upside down with a pair of breathtaking cup runs that carried them to the League Cup Final and FA Cup Semi-Final — beating top-flight giants along the way and capturing the nation’s imagination.
From their unglamorous home at Boundary Park, the Latics played football that was brave, fast, and thrilling. They demolished Arsenal and Everton, outplayed Aston Villa, and took Manchester United to the wire in a semi-final classic. Their performances made Sunday afternoons must-see TV, giving birth to football’s first “Super Sundays.”
At the heart of it all was Joe Royle — witty, honest, and inspirational. His players were cult heroes: Andy Ritchie’s guile, Roger Palmer’s goals, Rick Holden’s deliveries, and Nick Henry’s engine made Oldham a force to fear. They were giant-killers with personality, a working-class team who reminded the country that belief can outshine budget.
Though they fell just short of silverware — losing the League Cup final to Nottingham Forest — their achievement remains one of English football’s most loved fairytales.
Oldham 1989–90 weren’t built for glory — they built it themselves. A team of heart, humour, and hustle who turned Boundary Park into the beating heart of cup magic.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Joe Royle’s management and Oldham’s transformation
Dual cup runs: FA Cup semi-final and League Cup final
Iconic matches vs Arsenal, Everton, and Manchester United
The rise of “Super Sunday” and Boundary Park’s magic
Oldham’s legacy and Royle’s later Premier League journey
Beating Arsenal and Everton on Boundary Park’s frozen turf
Reaching the League Cup Final vs Nottingham Forest
The FA Cup semi-final classic against Manchester United
Roger Palmer’s goalscoring heroics in both cup runs
“Super Sunday” coverage bringing Oldham to national fame
Joe Royle’s touchline celebrations and post-match humour
Notable Manager
Joe Royle
Notable Players
Andy Ritchie, Roger Palmer, Frankie Bunn, Nick Henry, Mike Milligan, Denis Irwin, Earl Barrett, Andy Holden, Rick Holden, Neil Adams, Paul Warhurst, Steve Redmond
Style of Play
4-4-2 Formation, High Press, Counter-Attacking, Wing Play, Physical Intensity, Cup Specialists
Joe Royle’s Oldham Athletic were the archetypal giant-killers — tactically brave, physically intense, and tactically clever enough to unnerve far wealthier opponents. Operating in a high-tempo 4-4-2, they relied on relentless pressing, rapid wing play, and direct attacking transitions that maximised their home advantage on Boundary Park’s often unpredictable surface.
Royle’s system emphasised fast breaks and verticality. The full-backs pushed high, while midfielders like Nick Henry and Mike Milligan broke lines with energy and precision. Out wide, Rick Holden provided quality delivery, and Andy Ritchie acted as the focal point — holding play, creating chances, and scoring crucial goals. Roger Palmer, with his instinctive movement, thrived off Ritchie’s service.
Oldham’s pressing was aggressive but organised; opponents frequently struggled to cope with their work rate and confidence. The blend of physicality and flair — typified by Frankie Bunn’s six-goal haul against Scarborough — turned the team into entertainers as well as battlers.
Defensively, the back line of Irwin, Barrett, and Holden balanced grit with composure, while goalkeeper Jon Hallworth proved reliable during high-pressure moments. Royle instilled a mentality of defiance: “Why not us?” became their unspoken mantra.
Oldham 1989–90 weren’t just a tactical success — they were an emotional one. Their football was fearless, joyous, and pure — the last great romantic chapter before football’s Premier League modernisation.
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