Oldham Athletic fans flock for Frank Rothwell’s homecoming
Oldham Athletic supporters packed the park to welcome back chairman Frank Rothwell from his epic fundraising row across the Atlantic Ocean.
Saturday’s visit of Kidderminster Harriers was the 73-year-old’s first home game since returning from his 3,000-mile voyage from the Canary Islands to Antigua – a journey that took him 64 days to complete amid some torrid conditions.
Supporters’ group The Athleticos encouraged the sell-out crowd – Latics’ biggest for almost 20 years – to bring a scarf to contribute to a colourful and vocal reception for Rothwell.
A “Welcome home, Frank” banner was held up in the Rochdale Road End when he addressed the crowd before kick-off.
It was the second time Rothwell had completed the row but when asked if there would be a third he declared: “Never again!”
Professor Brian Cox was in attendance at his hometown club to lend his support to Rothwell, who has raised more than £300,000 for Alzheimer’s Research UK, while Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon and council leader Arooj Shah were also guests.
The game unfortunately did not live up to the occasion, with Latics slipping to a 2-1 defeat to a side battling the drop, but the remain in the play-off positions.
