2022–23 Oldham Athletic A.F.C. season explained

The 2022–23 season was the 128th in Oldham Athletic's history and the club's first season outside the Football League since 1906-07. The club competed in the National League, the FA Cup and the FA Trophy.

Pre-season commenced with uncertainty over the future of the club lingering following relegation from the Football League.^[3] Abdallah Lemsagam had announced in January 2022^[4] that he was willing to sell Oldham Athletic, but no further announcement had been made as preparations began for the new season. On 24 May 2022 it was announced that only three of Boundary Park's stands would be in use during the 2022/23 season, with the North Stand remaining unopened.^[5]

Then, on the day that the new squad met to commence pre-season training, it was announced that Abdallah Lemsagam and Simon Blitz had agreed to sell both the football club (owned by Lemsagam) and the stadium and its surrounding land (owned by Blitz's company Brass Bank Limited).^[6] The announcement stated that the target date for completion of the purchase was within four weeks and that the buyer would be a longstanding successful local business.

Frank Rothwell, the founder of Manchester Cabins, was announced as Oldham Athletic’s new owner and chairman on 28 July 2022.^[7] Rothwell was introduced at a media conference alongside his fellow directors Peter Norbury, Sue Schofield, Darren Royle and Joe Royle, as well as the club’s manager, John Sheridan.^[8]

The season therefore started with a positive atmosphere descending over Boundary Park, exemplified by the procession and celebrations which preceded the first home match, against Dorking Wanderers on 14 August 2022.^[9] However, following a sequence of indifferent results, it was announced on 15 September 2022 that manager John Sheridan would leave the club after the subsequent game against Eastleigh.^[1] Sheridan ended his long association with the club on a high after a last-gasp 3-2 win^[10] and was replaced three days later by David Unsworth.^[2]

Unsworth's team struggled at first and a series of new signings and loan players were introduced over the first few months, with Oldham languishing in the relegation zone over the Christmas period.^[11] The Latics rallied over the last few weeks of the season, ultimately pulling themselves safely clear of relegation and finishing in 12th position, with the final home game of the season against Bromley seeing central defender and 41 year-old former club captain Peter Clarke being introduced by Unsworth to play as a centre forward for the last fifteen minutes in his final game for the club.^[12]

Players

Squad at the end of the season

^[13]

No	Pos	Nat	Name	Age	Debut	Apps	Starts	Subs				Notes
1	GK					31	31	0	0	1	0
2	DF					67	66	1	1	15	1
3	DF					8	7	1	0	0	0
4	DF					36	36	0	1	8	0	Captain
5	DF					36	34	2	1	5	0
6	MF					13	11	2	0	1	0
8	MF					95	87	8	4	24	1
9	FW					79	63	16	32	2	0
11	FW					64	48	16	8	5	0
13	GK					4	4	0	0	0	0	Signed 02/12/22[14]
14	DF					50	50	0	3	9	0
15	FW					15	12	3	3	1	0	Signed 17/02/23[15]
16	MF					20	20	0	1	3	0	Signed 20/01/23[16]
17	MF					36	28	8	2	6	0
18	MF					40	32	8	8	5	0
19	GK					45	45	0	0	1	0
20	FW					42	23	19	15	3	2
21	FW					9	6	3	2	1	0	Signed 17/03/23[17]
22	DF					1	0	1	0	0	0
25	FW					20	14	6	4	2	0	Signed 22/11/22[18]
26	DF					33	33	0	2	2	0	Signed 31/10/22[19]
27	FW					18	5	13	2	3	0	Loan from 28/10/22[20]
29	FW					33	14	19	2	3	0
32	DF					31	30	1	3	4	0
33	DF					40	25	15	1	2	0
36	MF					25	16	9	3	2	0	Loan from 17/11/22[21]
38	DF					1	1	0	0	0	0
41	DF				n/a	0	0	0	0	0	0
42	DF					142	136	6	18	26	2	Loan from 11/11/22[22]
44	DF					23	22	1	2	6	0	Signed 07/01/23[23]
45	FW					24	24	0	7	4	0	Signed 09/12/22[24]

Out on loan

No	Pos	Nat	Name	Age	Debut	Apps	Starts	Subs				Notes
7	MF					44	28	16	2	6	0
10	MF					12	4	8	1	2	0
37	MF				n/a	0	0	0	0	0	0

Left the club during the season

No	Pos	Nat	Name	Age	Debut	Apps	Starts	Subs				Notes
13	FW					2	0	2	0	0	0	Loan from 08/09/22 to 09/10/22
15	DF					10	10	0	0	2	0	Loan from 25/08/22 to 01/01/23
16	MF					18	14	4	0	5	0	Released on 01/01/23
21	MF					8	8	0	1	5	0	Loan from 25/09/22 to 01/01/23
23	DF					6	4	2	1	0	0	Loan from 02/09/22 to 08/01/23[25]
24	DF					12	12	0	1	1	0	Loan from 02/09/22 to 01/01/23
25	FW					4	0	4	0	0	0	Loan from 21/10/22 to 21/11/22
28	MF					11	10	1	0	2	0	Loan from 10/22/22 to 30/01/23[26]
31	DF					6	6	0	0	0	0	Loan from 16/09/22 to 01/11/22
34	MF					41	11	30	2	1	0	Sold on 31/01/23

Competitions

Oldham Athletic played in the National League in the 2022–23 season, the club's first season outside the Football League since 1906-07. It entered the FA Cup in the Fourth Qualifying Round and will take part in the FA Trophy, joining in the Third Round.

National League

See main article: 2022–23 National League.

Matches

Oldham's fixtures were announced on 6 July 2022.^[27]

FA Cup

See main article: 2022–23 FA Cup.

FA Trophy

See main article: 2022–23 FA Trophy.

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
1 July 2022	DF				Free transfer	[28]
1 July 2022	FW				Free transfer	[29]
1 July 2022	DF		Jordan Windass		Free transfer	[30]
1 July 2022	MF				Free transfer	[31]
1 July 2022	DF				Free transfer	[32]
1 July 2022	GK				Free transfer	[33]
2 July 2022	DF				Free transfer	[34]
4 July 2022	MF				Free transfer	[35]
26 July 2022	MF			-	Free transfer	[36]
29 July 2022	MF			-	Free transfer	[37]
4 August 2022	MF			-	Free transfer	[38]
27 September 2022	MF				Free transfer	[39]
31 October 2022	DF			-	Free transfer
22 November 2022	FW				Free transfer
2 December 2022	GK				Free transfer
9 December 2022	FW				Undisclosed Fee
7 January 2023	DF			-	Free transfer
20 January 2023	MF				Undisclosed Fee
17 February 2023	FW			-	Free transfer

Transfers out

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
1 January 2023	MF				Free Transfer	[40] [41]
31 January 2023	MF				Undisclosed fee	[42]
End of season	DF			-	Released	[43]
End of season	FW			-	Released
End of season	DF			-	Released
End of season	MF		Joe Edwards	-	Released
End of season	DF		Oliver Kilner	-	Released
End of season	MF			-	Released
End of season	FW			-	Released
End of season	MF			-	Released
End of season	DF		Trey Turner	-	Released
End of season	FW			-	Released	[44]

Loans in

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Date until	Ref.
25 August 2022	MF				1 January 2023	[45]
25 August 2022	DF				1 January 2023	[46]
2 September 2022	DF		Charlie Wellens		8 January 2023
2 September 2022	DF		David Okagbue		8 January 2023	[47]
8 September 2022	FW		Joe McGlynn		9 October 2022	[48]
16 September 2022	DF				1 November 2022	[49]
21 October 2022	FW		Conor Carty		20 November 2022	[50]
28 October 2022	FW				End of season	[51]
10 November 2022	MF		Sydie Peck		30 January 2023
11 November 2022	DF				End of season	[52]
17 November 2022	MF				End of season	[53]
17 March 2023	FW		Bassala Sambou		End of season

Loans out

Date from	Position	Nationality	Name	To	Date until	Ref.
14 December 2022	MF				18 January 2023	[54]
3 January 2023	DF				6 January 2023	[55]
11 January 2023	MF		Joe Edwards		11 March 2023	[56]
13 January 2023	DF		Josh Windass		13 February 2023	[57]
14 March 2023	MF				End of season	[58]
23 March 2023	MF				End of season	[59]

Squad statistics

Appearances

Players with no appearances are not included on the list.

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	National League			FA Cup			FA Trophy			Total
				Apps	Starts	Subs	Apps	Starts	Subs	Apps	Starts	Subs	Apps	Starts	Subs
14	DF			45	45	0	3	3	0	2	2	0	50	50	0
19	GK			42	42	0	2	2	0	1	1	0	45	45	0
18	MF			36	29	7	3	3	0	1	0	1	40	32	8
20	FW			35	19	16	3	2	1	2	1	1	40	22	18
4	DF			34	34	0	0	0	0	2	2	0	36	36	0
17	MF			32	24	8	3	3	0	1	1	0	36	28	8
26	DF			30	30	0	1	1	0	2	2	0	33	33	0
36	MF			24	15	9	0	0	0	1	1	0	25	16	9
45	FW			23	23	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	24	24	0
44	DF			22	21	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	23	22	1
2	DF			18	17	1	3	3	0	0	0	0	21	20	1
8	MF			18	14	4	2	2	0	1	0	1	21	16	5
16	MF			20	20	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	20	0
32	DF			20	20	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	20	20	0
25	FW			18	13	5	0	0	0	2	1	1	20	14	6
11	FW			16	13	3	1	1	0	1	1	0	18	15	3
16	MF			15	12	3	3	2	1	0	0	0	18	14	4
42	DF			16	11	5	0	0	0	2	2	0	18	13	5
27	FW			15	3	12	1	1	0	2	1	1	18	5	13
15	FW			15	12	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	15	12	3
6	DF			9	7	2	3	3	0	1	1	0	13	11	2
33	DF			9	1	8	2	1	1	2	1	1	13	3	10
24	DF			9	9	0	3	3	0	0	0	0	12	12	0
10	MF			11	4	7	1	0	1	0	0	0	12	4	8
29	FW			11	2	9	1	0	1	0	0	0	12	2	10
28	MF			9	8	1	0	0	0	2	2	0	11	10	1
7	MF			10	8	2	1	0	1	0	0	0	11	8	3
15	DF			9	9	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	10	10	0
21	FW			9	6	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	6	3
21	MF			8	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	8	0
3	DF			7	7	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	8	7	1
31	DF			5	5	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	6	6	0
5	DF			6	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	4	2
23	DF			6	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	4	2
34	MF			4	0	4	1	0	1	0	0	0	5	0	5
9	FW			3	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	4	3	1
25	FW			3	0	3	1	0	1	0	0	0	4	0	4
1	GK			0	0	0	1	1	0	1	1	0	2	2	0
13	FW			2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	2
22	DF			1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
Total				46			3			2			51

Goals

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	League	FA Cup	FA Trophy	Total
4	DF			1	0	0	1
6	MF			1	0	0	1
9	FW			1	0	0	1
10	MF			1	0	0	1
11	FW			3	0	0	3
14	DF			3	0	0	3
15	FW			3	0	0	3
16	MF			1	0	0	1
17	MF			2	0	0	2
18	MF			7	1	0	8
20	FW			11	2	0	13
21	MF			1	0	0	1
21	MF			2	0	0	2
23	DF			1	0	0	1
24	DF			1	0	0	1
25	FW			4	0	0	4
26	FW			2	0	0	2
27	FW			2	0	0	2
32	DF			1	0	0	1
36	MF			3	0	0	3
42	DF			2	0	1	3
44	DF			2	0	0	2
45	FW			7	0	0	7
Total				62	3	1	66

Disciplinary record

No.	Pos.	Nat.	Player	National League			FA Cup			FA Trophy			Total
2	DF			5	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
4	DF			8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	0
6	MF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
8	MF			4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1	0
10	MF			1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
14	DF			9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0	0
15	DF			2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
15	FW			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
16	MF			3	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0
16	MF			3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
17	MF			5	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
18	MF			4	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0
19	GK			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
20	FW			3	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	2
21	MF			5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	0
21	FW			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
24	DF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
25	FW			2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
26	DF			2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
27	FW			3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
28	MF			2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
29	FW			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
32	DF			1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
33	DF			0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
36	MF			2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
42	DF			3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	1	0
44	DF			6	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
45	FW			4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
Total				83	1	2	7	0	0	0	1	0	90	2	2

Notes and References

1. News: John Sheridan: Oldham Athletic boss to leave after farewell game against Eastleigh . BBC Sport . 15 September 2022 . 21 September 2022.
2. News: David Unsworth: Oldham Athletic name ex-Everton coach as manager . BBC Sport . 20 September 2022 . 21 September 2022.
3. News: Oldham Athletic: How the Latics stumbled their way to relegation to the National League . BBC Sport . 25 June 2022 . 21 September 2022.
4. Web site: Club Statement . Oldham Athletic AFC . 21 September 2022.
5. Web site: Club Statement . Oldham Athletic AFC . 21 September 2022.
6. Web site: Club Statement . Oldham Athletic AFC . 21 September 2022.
7. Web site: Club Statement . Oldham Athletic AFC . 21 September 2022.
8. Web site: Takeover Press Conference . Oldham Athletic AFC . 21 September 2022.
9. News: A memorable day as Oldham Athletic beat Dorking Wanderers . The Oldham Times . 14 August 2022 . 21 September 2022.
10. News: Oldham 3-2 Eastleigh . BBC Sport . 17 September 2022 . 21 September 2022.
11. Web site: Unsworth encourages unity in adversity at Oldham Athletic . Oldham Times . 10 June 2023.
12. Web site: Oldham Athletic legend Peter Clarke gets fitting 'farewell' . Oldham Times . 10 June 2023.
13. Web site: First Team . Oldham Athletic A.F.C. . 10 June 2023 . 26 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221226110622/https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/teams/first-team/ . live .
14. Web site: Latics Add Goalkeeper Hudson . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
15. Web site: Latics Sign Winger Green . Oldham Athletic AFC . 18 February 2023.
16. Web site: Shelton Makes Latics Switch . Oldham Athletic AFC . 12 February 2023.
17. Web site: Striker Sambou Arrives On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 10 June 2023.
18. Web site: Latics Sign Striker Reid . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
19. Web site: Kitching Signs For Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
20. Web site: Abraham Arrives On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
21. Web site: Chapman Signs On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
22. Web site: Clarke Returns To Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
23. Web site: Defender Yarney Joins Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 8 January 2023.
24. Web site: Nuttall Joins Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
25. Web site: Wellens Joins Latics On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
26. Web site: Sydie Peck Signs On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
27. Web site: 2022/23 Fixtures Released! . Oldham Athletic AFC . 10 September 2022.
28. Web site: Hogan Joins As First Summer Signing . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
29. Web site: Striker Porter Returns To Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
30. Web site: Young Prospect Moves To Boundary Park . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
31. Web site: Latics Add Burgess To Squad . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
32. Web site: Sheron Completes Move To Boundary Park . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
33. Web site: Shot-Stopper Signs For Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
34. Web site: Sheridan Adds Francis-Angol . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
35. Web site: Latics Complete Maynard Signing . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
36. Web site: Winger Tollitt Joins Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
37. Web site: Gardner Returns To Boundary Park . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
38. Web site: Sheridan Completes Cooper Capture . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
39. Web site: Rooney Signs For Latics . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
40. Web site: Squad Update . Oldham Athletic AFC . 1 January 2023.
41. Web site: Transfer Charlie Cooper is our latest addition . Yeovil Town F.C. . 14 January 2023 . 14 January 2023 .
42. Web site: Vaughan Joins Hull City . Oldham Athletic AFC . 12 February 2023.
43. Web site: 2023 Retained & Released List . Oldham Athletic AFC . 10 June 2023.
44. Web site: Ex-Oldham Athletic youngster Luamba joins Salford City . The Oldham Times . 30 September 2023.
45. Web site: Threlkeld Joins Latics On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
46. Web site: Sheridan Signs Defender Roberts . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
47. Web site: Sheridan Adds Young Stoke Defender . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
48. Web site: Striker McGlynn Signs On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
49. Web site: Youngster Carragher Joins On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
50. Web site: Conor Carty Joins On Loan From Bolton . Oldham Athletic AFC . 26 December 2022.
51. Web site: Abraham Loan Extended . Oldham Athletic AFC . 2 January 2023.
52. Web site: Clarke Agrees New Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 2 January 2023.
53. Web site: Chapman Extends Loan Until End Of The Season. Oldham Athletic . 21 January 2023.
54. Web site: Vaughan Extends Loan At Radcliffe . Oldham Athletic AFC . 21 January 2023.
55. Web site: Sutton Recalled From Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 8 January 2023.
56. Web site: Edwards Extends Mossley Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 12 February 2023.
57. Web site: Windass Departs On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 21 January 2023.
58. Web site: Stobbs Joins Torquay . Oldham Athletic AFC . 10 June 2023.
59. Web site: Burgess Joins Altrincham On Loan . Oldham Athletic AFC . 10 June 2023.