Walking in fellow Latics’ footsteps

FAR-FLUNG FANS: David Walls, pictured with daughter Inara (seven) and 11-year-old son Lewis at Morecambe Bay.

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THE LAST thing our amateur football reporter John Gilder expected on a Chronicle outing for the Morecambe Bay walk was to bump into a group of Athletic fans who had travelled from High Wycombe to take part.

In a walking party of 400-plus, but easily recognisable in Athletic colours, John introduced himself to the group and spoke to David Walls, a Global Infrastructure Architecture Manager for the Anglo American group.

David said: “It was quite a pleasant surprise to come across another Latics fan given there are not many of us around! I first went to see Oldham play in 1980 and so being part of the glory days home and away will always be a proud part of my life.

“Despite all the ups and downs it will always be in my DNA regardless of the fact that it always amuses others when they say, Oldham who? When my son and daughter were born it was mandatory to wear OAFC baby-grows, and I’m pleased to say that even though they are now old enough to make up their own minds they also now are proud fans and enjoy being different to the mainstream.

“I live in High Wycombe and a couple of seasons ago when Latics played at Wycombe, my son was the Oldham mascot with 13 other Wycombe fans, some of which he went to school with.

“He took a fair amount of stick that day which caught the attention of the then manager Paul Dickov, who took him into the changing rooms to meet the team and to present him with a signed shirt which has pride of place on his bedroom wall.

“I go to as many southern games as possible and keep in touch via the Chronicle website and Facebook.

“I am optimistic that we’ll again do ourselves proud this season and surprise a few by being there or thereabouts.

“We have friends who are Morecambe fans who have long wished to do the bay walk and the thought of being so far out to sea surrounded by the stunning backdrop was a big draw.”