Oldham Athletic – Boundary Park
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The Boundary Park stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 10,638. Ironically, it became an all-seater venue during the 1994-95 season, the season following Oldham’s relegation from the Premier League. Currently, the ground comprises just 3 sides, with a new stand under construction on the Broadway side of the ground, opposite the Main Stand.
The Rochdale Road End is occupied by a large, covered, all-seater stand with windshields on both sides and an electric scoreboard on its roof. The Chadderton Road Stand at the other end is smaller, but also covered with windshields on both sides. On one side of the ground is the old, two tiered Main Stand. This used to be terraced at the front, but seating has been installed in this area. The “Oldham Arena” project, announced in 2007, is a plan to redevelop the ground into a 16,000 capacity stadium with 3 new stands, hotel and leisure centre.
The plan is underway with the demolition of the Broadway Stand, to be replaced by a new Main Stand, hopefully ready for the start of the 2009-10 season. The remainder of the project is expected to take a further 4 years to complete.
How to get to Boundary Park
By Road:
Drivers coming from both North and South should follow the M62 as far as junction 20, taking the A627(M) towards Oldham. Take the second slip road off the A627(M) following signage for Royton (A663). Turn left at the large roundabout onto the A663 towards Royton (beware 30 m.p.h. speed cameras!) Boundary Park is visible on the right.
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By Rail:
Oldham Werneth station, which is served by North West Trains on the Oldham-Rochdale loop, is about a 15-minute walk from Boundary Park. On exiting the station, turn right into Featherstall Road South and follow it for about ¾ mile, through one set of lights and straight across the small roundabout near Tesco. At the large roundabout, turn left (Chadderton Way) and cross the road via the underpass. After about ¼ mile, turn right into Boundary Park Road. At the end, turn right into Sheepfoot Lane and go past the main stand to reach the away section. Click here to check the current train timetables
By Air:
The nearest airport is Manchester International, at a distance of 15 miles. Rail and Metro links are available to Oldham Werneth station, via Manchester Victoria and Manchester Piccadilly. Total journey time is about 1½ hours. Click here to check the current flight times
Taxis
There are several taxi companies in Oldham that can take you to and from Boundary Park. You can always prebook a private hire taxi, or hail a black cab on any highway.
Calling all Oldham Taxi Companies – Why not advertise your company here?.
Where to Park?
Visiting fans advise that there is plenty of parking available at the ground, in a large car park to the rear, which can be accessed from Hilbre Avenue. Several away fans have recommended parking at the rear of the Rifle Range pub, on Burnley Road, for a speedy getaway following the match.
Away Friendly Pubs near Boundary Park
The Old Grey Mare, on Oldham Road, has been recommended by a number of visiting supporters.
It reportedly offers a particularly warm welcome to away fans and serves a very good selection of beers. To reach the Old Grey Mare, walk to the top of Sheepfoot Lane, turn left at the newsagents and then the pub is about 100 yards on the right.
Several pubs on the other side of Sheepfoot Lane have been the subject of encouraging reports. These include the Queens, and The Rifle Range, on Burnley Road, which is about a 10-minute walk from the ground. It is reported as a very friendly, accommodating pub, with a family room, TV screens, good food, local ale and a beer garden.
Hotels near Boundary Park
The Best Western Hotel Smokies Park (pictured left), Ashton Rd, Bardsley, Oldham OL8 3HX offers style comfort and modern facilities within minutes of the M60. It is one of the highest rated 3-star properties in Greater Manchester, 3 miles from Boundary Park and just 7 miles from Manchester city centre.
The Holiday Inn Manchester Central Park (pictured right), 888 Oldham Road, Manchester, M40 2AG, opened in 2005, is just over 4 miles from Boundary Park. It offers contemporary styling and modern facilities with free resident parking, and comes recommended by many away fans.
Click here to see all hotels near Boundary Park
What have other Away Fans said about their trip?
Most visiting fans have found the home supporters to be particularly welcoming and there have been few complaints about the excellent views of play from the away section. The atmosphere is also helped by a drummer in the home section. Facilities are generally reported as adequate, though toilets are a little cramped and food outlets sell out quickly.
An almost universal complaint from visitors to Boundary Park is that it is always cold, with a biting wind. Boundary Park is anecdotally known as being the coldest ground in the Football League which earns it the nickname “Ice Station Zebra.” Visitors have also complained of lengthy delays in exiting the club car park.
A thoroughly good day out.
We parked at the back of the Rifle Range pub, and it was certainly very easy to get away from and nice and close to the stadium. The Rifle Range is very much an Oldham Athletic pub, with bar staff supporting club colours, decor in the club colours and lots of memorabilia. I have to say that even in our Away colours we were made most welcome – this is a good pub and I would like to thank the staff and regulars for their hospitality.
The Oldham fans freely admit that the ground as seen better times. That said, I liked the place (even if I was glad of my thermals). The away end offers a perfectly good view. An old fashioned ground, but a refreshing change from some of the more modern corporate structures.
The fans next to the away end were, as usual vociferous, with some mild goading (13 year olds pretending to be hard is always amusing). There was never any real threat though and the local fans I came across were all superb.
The ground was just on the outskirts of Oldham only accessible for away fans at one entrance from there you go round the back to the away end where their programme sellers are located.The stewards then take a look at your tickets and membership cards and that is good with no frills or spills.Once in the away at end its a small space however there were about 4000 of us, a smaller fan base should have plenty of room in the away end. Their is plenty of room in the away end on the terraces (seating) with good pies and pints at the rear and the seats have good leg room and the aisles are widen enough for a big allocation to get away fairly quickly.
you can park in an official car park at small charge but you could be stuck for 10-20 mins after depending on the away support or you can park in the retail park you arent allowed due to clamping but we took the risk and found loads of fans parked in their home and away fans
Due to it being a night game we didnt sample the pubs or nightlife but most home fans head to oldham the younger ones or the oldies head to the few surronding pubs
Inside the ground. without being biased it was the leeds fans making the noise only oldham during their only goal or a sub or cheering lee hughes who got a fair bit of flack from the leeds fans as always like the above comment you have teenagers thinking they are it when really their not and the same could be said for some adults.when oldham scored they tried to come down to the leeds end but where blocked off.However when the leeds score all the police seem to be concerned about was stopping leeds fans getting on the pitch when the front row is block by a hoarding or two and stewards. they were happy to help however not the same could be about the police who wanted to chuck leeds fans out for nothing when really it was the majority that were behaving themselves
Overall I found Boundary Park to be a pretty good ground to visit. The only major complaint was the size of the turnstiles which for anyone of any size were quite a squeeze and I was left wondering how some of my fellow supporters managed to get in. The burger I had was of a fairly good quality and was a reasonable price compared to my experience at other grounds. As said above the average age of the home fans alongside the away area seemed to be about 13, which limits the banter. The home support as a whole were shocking. They sang for a couple of minutes after they scored but other than that they were silent throughout.
Getting to the ground via public transport at the moment is pretty tricky as THERE ARE NO TRAIN SERVICES INTO OLDHAM UNTIL AUTUMN 2011. There is however a good connection with local towns via buses, which leave regularly from the Hospital bus stop at the top of the road which runs alongside the ground, 3-4 minute walk away.