And they've got a point.
Despite the signs on the Newton Heath border that welcome you to the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, despite the fact the residents pay their council tax to Oldham, Failsworth just isn't Oldham.
It's Manchester. Everyone knows it. Go into a pub there in a Latics shirt and you'll probably get laughed at. Ask most Failsworthians about Oldham and chances are they'll mutter something about 'those yonners from up the road'.
The accents are different, the culture is different - they even have a different postcode.
I've supported Oldham for 25 years but I've never yet met a Latics fan from Failsworth.
I'm assured they exist and I have no reason to question that. But nobody can tell me it's a heartland.
So, if Messrs Corney, Blitz and Gazal get their way, the majority of the club's fans will have to trudge down Broadway (going through Moston, Manchester to get there) or down the A62 from places like Shaw, Royton and Saddleworth.
Bolton example
Big deal. It's not the end of the earth. In fact for most, it's not even an extra 15 minutes on their journey.
And look at Bolton. My friends who follow the Trotters say that when they moved to Horwich it was greeted with as much enthusiasm as a Sammy Lee statue on Deansgate.
Fast forward 13 years and they're doing OK aren't they?
Other clubs have done it. United don't even play in Manchester for heaven's sake.
Some would ask why Boundary Park can't be redeveloped. But where does the money come from? The only way such a move could be financed is by raising money through the sale of the land.
Some would question why the new ground can't be built elsewhere in Oldham. But the club say there is nowhere else and the council haven't exactly been forthcoming with a list of potential locations.
What is clear is that a move has to happen as Boundary Park itself is falling to bits.
Most of us have fond memories of the famous old ground. But nowadays it's a mess. There's no leg room. The food is awful. You can't even get chips.
They say football is a family game and for sure, if I had kids I'd take them. But I'm one of the dwindling hardcore. There are over 200,000 people in Oldham. About 4,000 of those regularly go to Boundary Park. A lot who don't may be United or City fans. But nobody can tell me there isn't potential there.
When the club played at Wembley in 1990 over 30,000 followed them to London.
What is clear is that the new stadium has to be right. It has to be a place with character that people enjoy visiting.
And that's the real challenge.
Simon Corney caused panic when he mentioned new grounds at Shrewsbury and Colchester as role models.
And justifiably so. Both are identikit concrete boxes that, to me, look like they've been unpacked from an box marked `Made in the Soviet Union'.
The capacity, mooted as 12,000, has also raised fears over a perceived lack of ambition.
But Mr Corney, as open and honest as always, assures me there will be room for expansion.
He also says the ground will have character and identity.
We're a cynical mob in Oldham. It takes a lot to win us over.
But if, come 2011, Latics are kicking off the season in a new stadium with an identity of its own and room for expansion, I won't be complaining.
What do you think? Have your say.
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Army Surplus Special, bringing up the rear. (08/09/2009 at 12:29)
Is a new stadium going to change this ?
Win matches, get promoted (after 13 years) back to the second tier at least and they will return.
BP falling to bits??, who's faults that, no-one forced them to pull the 'Broadway' stand down...
Observer,, Little Owdham ! (08/09/2009 at 15:53)
Yes to New Stadium.
Agree with third paragraph.
B.P. Falling to bits - yes IT IS and one of the reasons I suspect Broadway stand was demolished was because of it's unsafe condition, the original plans to develop B.P. and the intention to build a new stand in its place, this stand was nothing like as old as the Main Stand which is rotting away everywhere and will surely be just a matter of time before the Licensing Authorities decide that's not safe either.
All of which confirms what the TTA are saying - that there is no point in throwing away good money on ground repairs and maintenance year after year.
According to OS today Mr Blitz is confident of a start to new stadium very soon, with first cuttings and so on with a predicted completion date within two years.
As for being in Failsworth, what a silly argument this is, I was born an brought up in Oldham, I was and always remain proud of that fact, Failsworth and all the other areas surrounding the town and whose residents pay their whatever to Oldham Council - I say come on be proud of where you live, Failsworth is a nice place, so is Chadderton, so is Royton and Shaw....and so is Oldham.... but we can also say about everyone one of those mentioned - IN PARTS ... BECAUSE IN OTHERS THEY WILL BE A MESS, SAME AS IN ALMOST EVERY TOWN THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
All this nonsense about the exact location is just an indication of today I'm afraid.....I expect all people who came originally from Liverpool and the surrounding areas feel the same, the difference being the scousers are REALLY PROUD of the fact.... and Failsworth people should be proud to have the prospect of a new and fantastic facility in their boundaries....it's called PROGRESS AND I would more or less guarantee that it will be great for everyone living there.... Including the Allotments.
Matthieu Williamson (09/09/2009 at 11:58)
Vote for Ashton
Manchester postcode
Historically Manchester - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_(ancient_parish)
Not opposed to OAFC, but quite frankly I don't want Failsworth to be associated with Oldham, as do the majority of Failsworth... and tbh who can blame us?
Shampain, Manchester (09/09/2009 at 17:19)
Funnily enough the people in Failswrth I have spoken to are rather upset that the excellent facilities at the Lancaster Club, the park & the allotments are being lost. Not what I or anyone I know calls progress.
Also, if you have bothered to read any of the letters from local residents you will see that they dont think there is anything particularly 'great' about having a football stadium in a place where a car boot sale was banned because of traffic concerns.
Stick to your own town, Failsworth doesnt want you.
Observer,, Little Owdham ! (10/09/2009 at 00:16)
Let's be honest there's not a lot going for Failsworth these days and really the only thing remaining after basically Centuries is "Failsworth Pole" all other industry having long gone, signs of massive decay and the usual neglect surrounds you.
You need something new to get used to and somehwre to be able to do something different, this will be your golden opportunity no matter what or no matter how many Failsworth people you ask if they want to have the Oldham Athletic Stadium in Failsworth, I guess the same answers would come from Oldham people.
You really are NOT giving yourselves chance to see what you will be getting, and in direct answer to Shampain....the difference between football stadiums and car boot sales is simple, the organisers of Car Boot sales only care about one thing - taking the money off people who want to set up stalls to sell rubbish to other people who want to buy it !.... once the sales are over virtually every single car boot sale in the country has the same problem, no one cares what the traffic problems are afterwards.
Army Surplus Special, bringing up the rear. (10/09/2009 at 12:24)
MAN-KEY-UNION, MANCHESTER (10/09/2009 at 14:13)
Darren Campbell (25/09/2009 at 13:01)