WE TOLD 'EM OLDHAM!!

We told 'em, Oldham....Athletic would get back to the Football League. After 110 minutes of thrilling football in the National League play off at Wembley, in front of 52,000, Oldham scored twice in the closing stages of  "Extra Time" (110' James Norwood and 112') to secure the club's place back in the English Football League, following a three year absence. Southend United looked as though they had the game "wrapped up", when they scored in the first minute of "Extra Time" following a 1-1 draw in normal time. Former Ipswich Town player Joe Garner (48 min) opened the scoring for Oldham Athletic, as the Latics beat Southend United in the National League promotion final yesterday.

Southend United looked as though they were on the way up instead, but ex-Independent School boy, James Norwood (110 mins) and colleague, Kian Harratt (112 mins), scored the vital goals at Wembley to  send the Greater Manchester club back to League Two, having been relegated from the Football League in 2022. They are both on Talksport as I type (4.15pm)....in Oldham talking to the Radio chaps!! Norwood is on the shoulders-left.....

The club take over by local business man Frank Rothwell helped secure the cliub 's place back "at the top"..well you know what I mean. Manager, Micky Mellon, said, "We have a great family behind us and we deserve to go up!" Playing in front of a National League match record attendance, the 52,000 fans was bigger than Monday's League Two Play Off!

Southend took the lead after 5 minutes through a Manny Monthe own goal. Oldham's, Joe Garner dispatched a penalty early in the second half and Southend sub, Parillon, nodded home at the start of Extra-time, 91 minutes. After 110 minutes, James Norwood rounded Southend keeper, Nick Hayes, tobring the sides level and two minutes later Kian Harratt (who debuted at Huddersfield Town in Dec 2019) 

James Norwood was put onto the pitch; he crossed a vicious ball into the six yard area causing pandemonium in the Oldham box, it bounced awkwardly between two defenders and the ball nestled into the bottom corner of the net. 

Born in Eastbourne, East Sussex, Norwood played for Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace youth teams. He was at St Bede's School playing for the school team and representative school teams as well as Eastbourne Town youth and for the England Schools select XI in the 2008-9 season. Later in that same season, he played for Eastbourne Town's senior side despite still being at school, making eighteen appearances for the Isthmian League club, scoring ten goals.

In April 2009, he won the English Schools FA Trophy with St Bedes. He made his debut for England Schools on 5 March, against Wales in the Carnegie Centenary Shield. In June 2009, Norwood represented England Schools again in their 4–2 defeat against France at Wembley Stadium.