
By Joe Jones
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Notts County first played Oldham Athletic all the way back in 1910. During the Division One fixture, played at the Oldham Athletic Ground (now known as Boundary Park), the home side ran out 2-1 winners against the Magpies.
The Latics hold the upper edge against Notts in the head-to-head, having won 36 games to our 34, while 21 draws have taken place - making a total of 91 games.
Of those draws, arguably one of the most important in recent years was a mere eight months ago, when Notts travelled to Boundary Park at the end of the 2013-14 season with their League One status in the balance.
I'm sure I don't need to remind people of events on that day, but needless to say, Notts got the job done with an Alan Sheehan penalty helping his then side to a 1-1 draw and completing the Great Escape.
The last fixture was a lot tamer, at the opening end of the current season back in September when the Latics travelled to Meadow Lane and played out a 0-0 draw.
The club was formed in 1895 as Pine Villa F.C. When local rivals Oldham County F.C. folded in 1899, Pine Villa moved into their stadium, the Oldham Athletic Ground, and changed their name to Oldham Athletic.
The Latics' most successful season came in 1914-15, when they finished runners-up in the First Division by a single point. They also reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, after making the semis just a year earlier.
Boundary Park is less than 9 miles from the nearby stadiums of Bury, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Rochdale.
Oldham's mascot, Chaddy the Owl, has famously been flagged for offside in a game against Peterborough United in 2000, while in 2003, in a game versus Blackpool at Bloomfield Road, Chaddy was involved in a scuffle with Bloomfield Bear after throwing his foam boots into the crowd. Chaddy defended himself, stating that Bloomfield Bear was attempting to break his beak.
Near the end of the 2005–06 football season, Chaddy was ejected from Belle Vue in a game versus Doncaster Rovers. Chaddy was escorted off of the premises after inciting a riot and making obscene gestures.
Notable Oldham Athletic fans include comedy duo Cannon and Ball, professor Brian Cox, ex-Manchester United footballer Paul Scholes, glamour model Michelle Marsh and Hollyoaks star Alex Carter.
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Oldham could give a debut to on-loan goalkeeper Jake Kean, and will check on top scorer Jonathan Forte - who spent time on loan at Notts a few seasons ago - who is nearing recovery from a groin injury.
Notts have midfielder Liam Noble and on-loan striker Kwame Thomas back after suspension.
Kaiyne Woolery is also in contention to start after joining on a one-month loan deal from Bolton Wanderers.
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