Oldham Athletic v Harrogate Town

RETRO LATICS
JAMES GLONECK STOPS OFF ON THE SOUTH
COAST FOR A KEY GAME IN THE SECOND DIVISION
PROMOTION-WINNING SEASON…
Heading into the match
in March 1991, Latics had
a mixed record at the
Goldstone Ground, a record
that stretched back to
January 1914 and a narrow
1-0 FA Cup defeat.
In those 77 years, Oldham
had won five, drawn four and
lost nine when going away to
Brighton & Hove Albion.
Joe Royle’s side occupied
second place in the Second
Division standings and were
inconsistent away, despite
yet being beaten at Boundary
Park. With Latics just four
points behind leaders West
Ham, there remained hope of
a title challenge.
The Seagulls also had
promotion aspirations of their
own and represented resilient
opposition on home soil.
In a frenetic encounter, it
was Oldham who broke
the deadlock, Andy Ritchie
nodding the ball home on
his former stomping ground,
yet just two minutes into the
second half, the home side
hit back from a set piece
through Gary Chivers.
After grabbing Oldham’s first,
it was Ritchie again who
would settle the contest.
Picking up a loose ball inside
the Brighton half and with five
opposing players surrounding
him, the hitman surged past a
number onrushing challenges,
impudently nutmegged the
final defender and lashed
the ball into the net, ensuring
a crucial victory to keep
dreams of silverware alive.
The Goldstone Ground
opened in 1901 and stood on
Old Shoreham Road in Hove,
in a partly residential area.
Prior to the construction of
the stadium, the site was
cattle-grazing land owned by
Goldstone farm.
The directors of amateur side
Hove FC asked if they could
lease the site for their 1901-02
home fixtures. An eight-foot
fence was built around the
perimeter, with turnstiles and
changing rooms installed, as
well as a 400-capacity stand.
The stadium was first used for
a football match by Hove in
September 1901. The current
Brighton & Hove Albion was
founded nine months later
and agreed to share the
ground with the local side.
It became the Deagulls’
permanent home the
following season and
improvements were swiftly
made, as a new 1,800
capacity stand was erected
with new turnstiles and
entrances.
During the First World War,
the site was used as a rifle
range and by the end of the
conflict, the ground was
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