Oldham Athletic Wins Play-Off Final Returns Football League

Oldham Athletic secured promotion back to the English Football League (EFL) after a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Southend United in the National League play-off final at Wembley, ending a three-year absence from the league. The win marked a remarkable turnaround for the club under new owner Frank Rothwell, who took over in 2022 after Oldham became the first former Premier League side to drop into non-league football. To celebrate, the club organized a ticketed event at Boundary Park featuring a parade with players, management, and board members, live music from four bands, speeches, and fireworks, with a large screen set up for fans unable to get tickets. Thousands of fans participated in the celebrations, including more than 8,000 at the parade and around 21,000 at Wembley for the final. Manager Micky Mellon expressed pride in the club's return, describing Oldham as a "monster of a club" set to be awakened by this success. Supporters expressed deep emotional connections to the club, highlighting the promotion as a significant moment for the community and loyal fans.