Special appearance by Latics hero Mulvaney

CHAMPIONS . . . a proud moment for Dick Mulvaney, centre right, as he holds the title trophy

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A LATICS legend will be making a guest appearance for Oldham's last home game of the season.

Central defender Dick Mulvaney (now 74) was signed by Jimmy Frizzell in 1971 from Blackburn Rovers.

With more than 140 league games for Blackburn behind him, Mulvaney brought a wealth of experience, guiding Latics to winning the Third Division title in the 1973/74 season.

The former club captain will be at SportsDirect.comPark on Saturday,to present the match ball to players before kick-off against derby rivals Rochdale.

He said: "I had a fantastic three years at the club. We narrowly missed out on promotion to division two the very next year but achieved the task the following season as champions.

"To lift the third division championship trophy at Boundary Park as club captain is one of my most special memories in football.

"To return to the ground on Saturday and sponsor the club that has a special place in my heart, will be a very special occasion for me."

Mulvaney lifted the championship trophy in a civic reception in Oldham town centre in front of thousands of supporters ­- then aged 32.

His son Richard Jr said: "I'm immensely proud of what my dad achieved while playing professional football during the sixties and seventies.

"Playing against famous teams and of course at famous grounds like Old Trafford, against players like George Best, Dennis Law and the Charlton brothers, was an incredible achievement for a shipyard worker from a colliery village in Sunderland."

Mulvaney, who played non-league football between 1958 and 1963 and then 14 years as a professional, will travel to the game from his home in Ryhope, Sunderland.

The match ball sponsor will be joined by family and former Latics player and friend Alan McNeill.

He will be in the North Stand from around noon until 6pm against Rochdale ­- a club he also played for and captained.

Mulvaney was diagnosed with both dementia and Alzheimer's disease last year. Studies suggest links between repeated head impacts and degenerative disease, although no clear link to football has been established.

Richard added: "Recent debates suggest there may be a link between former professional footballers, and the disease, particularly in centre backs and centre forwards.

"Dad's former team mate Jim Fryatt also has the condition and the Jeff Astle Foundation believe they have data to suggest that over 300 former footballers now have the same diagnosis.

"It's unclear to say whether dad's current diagnosis is connected to heading the ball. The reason for this unfortunately is that it can only be confirmed via a post-mortem."