I imagined that every away day would mean watching the game from a worm's-eye view, unable to see anything but the touchline mud.
I also imagined being in a mixed-fan zone, with the wheelchair users of Halifax or Gateshead. This is halfand-half scarf magnanimity territory a place in which I, an Oldham fanatic, am an alien.
Worse still, I thought I'd be in with the main body of home fans. It's a good job we're so rubbish away from home four wins all season - so I haven't really been in a position to wind anyone up by doing something incendiary like celebrating a goal. Chance would be a fine thing.
But that also means that I have to wear it when opposition fans celebrate. I've done a lot of that this season. If you are among the main body of Oldham fans, you probably get about a second before the roar hits you to process the fact that the ball is once again lodged in your net.
You get to take a deep breath so that you have the lungful of air you need for the mournful sigh you’re about to let out. You don’t get a second if you’re among the other team’s fans. It’s immediate and it’s right in your face.
Raucous
Denne historien er fra April 23, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
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Denne historien er fra April 23, 2023-utgaven av The Non-League Football Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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SHAKERS REVEL IN MAKING HISTORY
DAVE McNabb says Bury's FA Cup heroes are proud to be writing their own chapters in club history.
WILCOX: WE FEEL COMPLETE WITH WIN
RUSS WILCOX'S verdict after watching his Gainsborough Trinity side outmuscle and outplay their hosts was that it was \"probably our most complete performance\".
CRACKER BY KABIA TOPPLES TUDORS!
ASSISTANT boss Stewart Yetton said his Truro City side were good value for their win over table-toppers Hemel Hempstead Town.
BRAKES PUT STOP ON BORO BATTLERS
SEPARATED only by goal difference before kick-off, these sides remain neck and neck in the embryonic table after playing out 90 minutes in the October sunshine that was a great advert for the division.
BOSS COTT'S GOT A REALLY GOOD THING WITH ROVERS
STEVE Cotterill hailed Forest Green Rovers’ first class performance as they produced a spirited comeback to topple fellow high-flyers Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium.
SKIPS STEER HEED'S SHIP
GATESHEAD captains of the past and present are playing a lead role in helping the National League club move on from the departure of FA Trophy-winning manager Rob Elliot.
FA CUP PREVIEW: SWEET! 'DREAM' DRAW IS CHANCE OF OUR LIFETIME
DAVE NORTHFIELD says minnows Biggleswade FC were like 'kids in a sweet shop' when they drew out York City in what he describes as the 'draw of a lifetime'.
PARKER'S HEART IS STILL AT HOME
FORMER England right-back Paul Parker has revealed he would never completely rule out a return to management – but says he would only do so for one of his beloved local clubs.
LOCALS RALLY TO REBUILD BRIDGE
WHEN committee members at Bamber Bridge set out to raise £30,000 to protect the club's future, they were apprehensive about the response they'd get.
RUTHLESS BEES FIND THEIR FEET
ASTERLING second-half performance resulted in league leaders Barnet brushing aside a Boston United outfit that led at the interval through Keaton Ward’s early strike.