Over the past few weeks, we have been getting to know more about the OAFC HGT team members. Next up is Alison. We hope you enjoy finding out more about the leader of our pack!
Name : Alison Schofield
Anyone who knows me knows how much I can talk, I have now realised this equally translates to blogging! Grab a brew or a beer, this one’s quite a big one!
What got you into football?
One word… DAD!
I am 29 years old and when I say I’ve been going to Oldham Athletic my whole life I pretty much mean that. My first game was around three weeks old, my dad used to sit near to where the players partners sat. He has told me stories of where sometimes they would ask to hold me and he wouldn’t see me for most of the game, he would have to look around to find out who had me!
I remember sporadically going from about 3 to 6 and then I think it was most home and away games from then on. We had a season ticket in the Lookers Stand with a few of my dads’ friends and their sons for donkeys. We then split between Chaddy and the Main Stand when they were rebuilding. After that we joined the 100 Club and then we had box 3 up until covid! Now I’m in the Legends Lounge so I get to see all the amazing staff, the players, the Trust and other fans I now call friends!
I was obsessed with England mens team (the womens team weren't really as publicised then) and used to love watching them play, especially in the tournaments.
At around 12 years old I asked my dad if we could go to a game, this was around the time when old Wembley had been knocked down and new Wembley was being built. England were playing all over the country. I remember my dad saying he would see what he could do then a few weeks later bringing home tickets to what would be my first England game at Old Trafford. I remember my dad going getting me a drink as I wanted one and when he came back he had missed two goals! Oops.
From that day on it was both club and country home and away.
Dad and me in South Africa. I was happier than I look - I promise!
It’s nice to be able to say that I still watch Oldham with my dad, however he fell out with watching England after 2010 World Cup when one of the players criticised the fans! I started going on my own, I have made so many friends now so I’m never actually solo anymore!
I played football for most of my childhood. I played for Oldham Athletic girls team from fairly young. I then moved to a new team before packing it in at around 17 years old. I played left back, I was never a good player, I just enjoyed it. I’m much better suited as a fan! I didn’t get the opportunity to play in secondary school as when I started there wasn’t a girls team, so I did every other sport possible!
Oldham Athletic girls. No idea what was wrong with my knee. Sorry to the girls for bringing this one back out 😂
Furthest you have travelled?
Any of the southern teams will have been the furthest for Oldham. Feel guilty admitting this now, but on more than one occasion we flew down, I remember for sure Brighton away!
For England it’s South Africa, with Kazakhstan being one behind! I could spend hours talking about England away trips, maybe on another blog…
Colour coordinating in SA.
Favourite memory as a fan?
Wow. Just so many great memories for Latics despite only ever seeing relegation and not a single trophy! I do feel like since I was born they have only got worse, like I’m bad luck 😅
Of course, I loved the many FA Cup games that we won! Playing Premiership teams and winning - especially against top clubs like Man City and Liverpool - was always a proud feeling.
I can’t recall exactly when, but I remember playing Cardiff one season. We were losing something stupid like 6/7-0, we got one back and I remember everyone cheering like we had won the game and laughing. That’s what it’s about being Oldham, it’s the fans that make it.
It’s even harder for England! I have so many amazing moments, a lot to do with the places I have travelled to watching them! In Kazakhstan we stayed in the same hotel as all the players! We had coffee with Fabio Capello (manager) and Lord Triesman (who were head of The FA at the time) they actually asked us for pictures and paid for our coffees! Capello wasn’t fluent in English at the time so the conversation was short and sweet.
I remember walking past Beckham, (just before he got injured) smiling and carrying on with my day! I didn’t even ask to have my photo with him!
Kazakhstan - Capello, me, my dad Dave and Lord Triesman
The England women lifting that trophy and being made European champions last month was just epic! I was at the opening game at Old Trafford and although it was a pretty tough one, I had a feeling we were going to do it then! I couldn’t be happier for the team and Sarina - wow - she is some manager!
At Elland road for the last Home friendly against Netherlands before the Womens Euros
Worst memory as a fan?
For Oldham of course it has to be witnessing two relegations in such a short space of time. Especially the last relegation, I know I can be dramatic but I have never felt heartbreak like it! Probably made it worse as even at the 78th minute of the Salford game, I still had hope!
Quite a few for England! I think the Germany game in South Africa, last 16 hurt the most. We had an embarrassing tournament really, so for it to end the way it did was awful. The only silver lining was a month in a beautiful country, it’s still up there as one of my favourite trips of all time.
Predictions for Oldham and England?
I just want to see Oldham get back into League football! (I’m not saying straight away, although that would be nice) and continue to be in good hands for the rest of time! I hate seeing what happens to some clubs due to poor ownership! I hope soon, more is done to prevent this.
I’m off to Qatar for a month this year. Like many, watching England lift that trophy in person at some point in my life would be my absolute dream! Of course I would love it to be this year. The last four games I witnessed did not give me much faith so I have to be realistic! Haha!
Let’s hope the women next year can bring it home again, this time as World Champions!
Favourite previous player?
For the club I do have a few. David Eyres #28 was a great player for us and one of my favs! I bumped into him last season and he still looks exactly the same!
Players I just remember and stand out for me are Davies, Lomax, MacDonald, Cooksey, Doyle, Taylor and Smith.
Taylor at the Aldershot game
Favourite current player?
I was impressed with Hogan's first game. Obviously he is out for what could be 10 weeks which is just our luck! Roberts I think will be a great addition to the team. The way he worked up the pitch on his debut was fantastic. He is a talented player and I’m sure he will make a massive impact.
Meeting Hogan after the first game of the season
Something about you others may not know?
I have some lovely titanium in my neck! Cage, screws, plate - the normal kind of stuff!
It would be great if I could now share a really spontaneous or adventurous reason as to why, but nope! At 20 years young I just woke up and could hardly move. Then it was procedures up until the surgery! The last three years have been amazing as I have been pain free and been able to enjoy life again! I will need more surgeries over time which will come with more risks and restrictions - this is why I live by the motto “happiness is a feeling not a destination!”
New Year’s Eve partying hard!
Any other hobbies and interests?
Around my full time job, being involved with Her Game Too and supporting club and country it doesn’t leave me with a lot of spare time! I do love socialising, swimming and travelling. I try to do a charity swim or walk every year, the most recent one being a 44 mile swim in 12 weeks for Diabetes UK.
What got you into Her Game Too?
It was actually a Rochdale fan that introduced me to Her Game Too! We met watching England and he assumed after speaking to me that I was already involved in the campaign.
Shortly after that, Oldham Athletic partnered with the campaign and I expressed my interest of being the ambassador. I had a zoom call with the lovely Caz (the HGT founder) and it was just all go from there! I have been subject to sexist abuse both at Boundary Park and following England, also in pubs before/ after games. I just want everyone to be able to go to a football game and have a great match day experience (despite the score)!
I try to take my friends to Oldham or England games when I can, a couple of the girls really love it and have asked to come back! That’s what it’s all about for me! Whether you want to be a player, supporter or work in football then anyone should be able to without abuse or questioning their intentions!
Bringing along my friends Laura & Rachael and my sister Heather to both Oldham & England games
I absolutely love our Oldham Athletic Her Game Too team and what we have already achieved at Boundary Park. From free sanitary products to all, raising awareness of the campaign and starting this blog! I think it’s great we can all come together on here and share what we are passionate about.
We do have an amazing set of supportive fans at Latics, and we have had so much love! No club is perfect though! Hopefully one day…
Some of the Her Game Too team at Latics collecting our hats from Sam Corry