OLDHAM ATHLETIC 0 CITY 1
League Division 2
14th January 1989
attendance 19,200
Scorer Megson(27)
Ref D Phillips
City Dibble, Seagraves, Hinchcliffe, Gayle, Megson, Redmond, White, Lake, Moulden, McNab, Biggins – subs I Brightwell(77), Gleghorn(77)
Oldham Rhodes, Irwin, Barrett, Skipper, Holden, Barlow, Palmer, Ritchie, Marshall, Milligan, Adams – subs Henry, Warhurst
GARY MEGSON SCORES ON HIS DEBUT
from DAVID WHITE, SHADES OF BLUE by David White with Joanne Lake
…New Year 1989 saw midfielder Gary Megson arriving at the club, having been lured from Sheffield Wednesday for £250,000. Shortly after Meggo’s arrival, and on the eve of our game against Oldham Athletic, the manager called me into his office.
“You’re on the bench tomorrow David” he said bluntly, as I felt the blood rush to my head. “It’s no reflection on your form son, but I just don’t think the astro turf at Boundary Park suits your game, I’ll be playing Meggo instead”.
I was lost for words. My performances had been a bit erratic that season, as tended to be the case, but I’d done well in the previous couple of games. Not only that, Mel was asking me to surrender my place to someone who didn’t even play in my position.
Why isn’t he dropping a midfielder, I moaned to myself as I drove to Steve and dad’s yard, becoming more agitated by the minute …. “I’m not bleedin playing” I snapped as I barged into the office and slumped into a chair by dad’s desk. “You what” he replied aghast. “That’s bang out of order. That gaffer of yours needs to be told David. Pick up that phone”
Once I’d got through to the manager I asked him why he’d felt so obliged to field his new signing at my expense. “Maybe Oldham’s pitch doesn’t suit me gaffer, but my form’s been decent. I’m not having this, and I don’t think you can justify it, with all due respect, I think you’ve got it wrong”.
We ended our conversation agreeing to disagree, and I spent the rest of the night, and the following morning in the biggest grump imaginable, dreading the prospect of languishing in the reserves as I fought to reclaim my place.
I arrived at Boundary Park dressing room the following day to discover that Mel had performed a dramatic U turn. “You’re playing David” he said tersly. “I’ve put Brighty on the bench instead”.
Good on you, I thought, you’ve seen sense as Meggo plays in Brighty’s position not mine.
… Fuckin hell I’d better play well now, I remember thinking as I emerged from the tunnel at Oldham.
We won 1-0, as it happened, with, ironically enough, a goal from Gary Megson coming courtesy of a David White assist.
