This time last year, the 22-year-old was combining Blue Square Bet North football with studies in International Management with American Business Studies.

Latics host Chesterfield in Monday’s second leg, looking to overturn a 2-1 deficit from last week’s first meeting in Derbyshire.

If they succeed, they will line up in a cup final there for the first time since the 1-0 Littlewoods Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest in 1990.

In the under 11 boys’ event, Ethan Glasgow-Lattibeaudliere had another good win in 5:38 to win the series overall after four races.

Top Aussie stars Josh Perry and Chris Flannery head up a quality Saints squad for what will be Oldham’s only home friendly ahead of the Northern Rail Cup.

But reigning champions Whalley Range retained their unbeaten record and stay seven points adrift of Hey with five games in hand as they beat Old Stretfordians 3-1.

And the Oldham Advertiser is delighted to have teamed up with the race organisers to create a ‘Race within a Race’ for entrants living in our newspaper catchment area, with a prize for our first local male and female finisher and a full set of our local runners’ results printed in the paper following the event.

The 22-year-old has received glowing praise from Shefki Kuqi and Robbie Simpson for his performances so far in his first season at professional level.

The 26-year-old gave Latics the lead at Liverpool with a 25-yard screamer past Pepe Reina and at the Kop End – making him the fourth most popular subject on Twitter that evening.

The Scot had been a formidable presence at the heart of Latics’ backline until unwittingly playing a part in their hosts’ late winner.

Following two previous postponements, last Sunday’s scheduled meeting was a victim of the weekend frost.

The 26-year-old was catapulted into the national spotlight when his 25-yard screamer gave Athletic the lead at Liverpool in their FA Cup meeting last Friday.

Robbie Simpson’s 28th minute opener for Athletic was cancelled out by Craig Bellamy’s fortuitous leveller moments later.

The alleged insults directed at Latics’ Tom Adeyemi overshadowed a fine performance from Dickov’s men against their more illustrious opponents.

Paul Dickov’s squad – backed by more than 6,000 supporters – head to Anfield, determined to cause arguably the biggest shock of the round.

Having trailed to Jordan Bowery’s goal, Athletic ensured parity when Matt Smith headed home his third of the season with half-time approaching.

Luca Scapuzzi’s first-half goal looked little more than consolation when Athletic trailed 2-1 with 20 minutes left at Boundary Park.

The winger was dropped following the Boxing Day loss to Hartlepool United, but made a decisive contribution in the last 25 minutes at Boundary Park.

Ex-Widnes youngsters Tom Rigby and Jack Reid will both figure in the rearranged fixture this weekend (3pm) following last Sunday’s postponement because of a waterlogged pitch.

Oldham-born Miles Greenwood, one of the best and most experienced full-backs outside Super League, has joined the club on a season-long contract after spending the last four years with Championship side Halifax.

Athletic head into New Year’s Eve chastened by their performance against Hartlepool on Boxing Day – and with starting spots up for grabs for the FA Cup trip to Liverpool, he wants a response.

Boxing Day’s defeat against Hartlepool United left Athletic 14th in League One, eight points off the top six.

Coach Tony Benson plans to bring in the new year by showcasing all of his new players apart from the latest recruit, Chris Murphy.

The match, on February 5 (3pm), is followed seven days later by another meeting between the two sides.

James Poole’s seventh-minute goal handed the visitors three deserved points against a Latics side which offered little over 90 minutes.

However, Terriers’ boss Lee Clark immediately gave him the green light to return to Boundary Park and train with Athletic until the January transfer window.

Coach Tony Benson will take his troops back to an army camp for another weekend of intense tough physical training. Benson’s brigade enjoyed the experience so much last year they will return for more square-bashing in January.

Filipe Morais’ late goal handed Dickov’s side a 1-1 draw at the Valley, making it one defeat in eight games for the visitors.

Lauren Dowling (12), who trains at Bolton Arena, earned her place on the programme following a successful year on court and will now receive added support from the LTA.

Athletic’s recent run of form and cup progress had seen him shunted onto the sidelines in recent weeks.

Nigel Marland is bidding to set up a fund to be exclusively used to bring players to the club’s Whitebank Stadium during the coming season.

Chris Murphy (22), a former Warrington Wolves youngster, has chosen Oldham ahead of the North Wales, Rochdale and Swinton Lions, all of whom were thought to be looking at him.

His signing from Whitehaven shortly before the start of the 1959/60 season hit the rugby league headlines because Oldham paid a transfer fee of £9,000 which was then a world record for a forward.

Next month, Diamond is going back to Anfield, but this time he won’t be an awe-struck fan.

Saturday morning conditioning sessions have been dubbed a real killer by chairman, Chris Hamilton.

The 26-year-old former Leigh, Workington, Blackpool and Swinton scrum-half joined Roughyeds on loan from Swinton last April and finished the season as the club’s top points scorer with 146 from 63 goals and five tries in 14 appearances.

They intend to hold meetings and fundraising events at venues throughout the town rather than stage all their activities at the club’s Whitebank ground in Limehurst Village.

Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Bradford City sent Athletic into the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy area final against Chesterfield.

More than 30 Championship, Championship One and Northern Rail Cup games will go out live in the coming season, plus four additional matches, details of which will be announced in the new year.

Athletic had looked well set to claim their place in the FA Cup third round thanks to James Wesoloswki’s first-half strike.

Last month, Simpson netted a hat-trick in the win over Chesterfield despite suffering from tonsillitis.

Tony Benson's men are the only Championship One side to be paired with Featherstone in the pool stages - a big ask given that Rovers probably possess the best-equipped squad outside Super League.

The on-loan Norwich midfielder broke the deadlock on the hour before Shefki Kuqi wrapped up proceedings 10 minutes from time to leave Oldham 180 minutes from Wembley.

The 23-year-old centre-half spent the 2009/10 campaign on loan at Roots Hall, ironically netting against Latics in a 2-2 draw at Boundary Park with two games of the season remaining.

The 26-year-old will be in the centre of defence as Latics seek a passage into the FA Cup third round with victory at Southend United on Saturday.