That’s all from me! I’ll leave you with Paul MacInnes’ match report from Wembley…
Oldham manager Micky Mellon tells DAZN: “I’m speechless. Football... this is what it’s all about if you’re on the winning side of it. I’m elated. My players have been unbelievable. What a day - it will never leave you, this day.”
Oldham striker James Norwood tells DAZN: “I was angry about the chance I missed in the 93rd minute but I knew I just had to wait for another chance. It’s massive, it means everything. The club was minutes away from going out of business and the owner saved them. I’m delighted we’ve won - it means a lot to the town, the place, the club, the players, it’s just everything to us.”
Oldham-born Jack has emailed in to say:
“The year I was born in Oldham, they were relegated from the Premier League.
In the three decades since, it has been nothing but a slow decline into misery.
Even if Oldham are relegated next year, what matters is that the town has finally had a brief moment of joy.
“When fans of the biggest clubs complain about not winning a major title in 6 months, I hope they keep some perspective.”
Here’s how Oldham turned it around…
DO NOT WRITE OLDHAM OFF 😱
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) June 1, 2025
OLDHAM ATHLETIC HAVE COMPLETELY TURNED IT AROUND IN EXTRA TIME
Watch the Promotion Final live on DAZN. Buy now at https://t.co/17IGNhwWu5⚽️@OfficialOAFC | @TheVanaramaNL pic.twitter.com/2lpdEMVQ6s
What an end to an incredible match! Oldham looked down and out for the majority of extra time, but two goals in two minutes from James Norwood and Kian Harratt completely turned things around. Fantastic from the Latics, who will compete in League Two next season.
‘Hey Mickey’ by Toni Basil is blasted through the speakers at Wembley in tribute to the Oldham manager Micky Mellon, who has just guided the team back to the EFL. The celebrations are already in full swing for the Latics.
FULL-TIME AET: Oldham Athletic 3-2 Southend United
Oldham Athletic are promoted back to the Football League!
120+4 min: Oldham look to break away but Fondop wins a free kick in midfield following a foul from Husin.
120 min: Four minutes (yes, you read that right, FOUR minutes) have been added on.
119 min: Big chance for Southend as Goodliffe fails to make contact with a cross. Walker then latches onto it but can’t get his shot away and Oldham can frantically clear the danger.
118 min: Two minutes left for Southend to find an equaliser…
115 min: Another change for Oldham as Uchegbulam is replaced by Jordan Rossiter.
114 min: Substitution for Southend as Forson is replaced by Joe Gubbins.
GOAL! Oldham Athletic 3-2 Southend United (Kian Harratt, 112)
Oh my goodness! What a turnaround! Harratt’s cross somehow makes its way into the bottom-left corner! Oldham lead for the first time in this match!
Updated
GOAL! Oldham Athletic 2-2 Southend United (James Norwood, 110)
Norwood gets the all-important equaliser for Oldham! The striker brilliantly receives a long ball from defence, controlling it with his chest before lifting his shot over Hayes and into the net!
Updated
109 min: A slightly unusual moment as Elliot Bell is subbed off, presumably due to injury. A replacement referee is now on.
108 min: Walker does well to make a run down the right with the ball before cutting inside and into the six-yard box. He goes for goal, but fires his effort straight at Hudson! What a chance to wrap the match up!
106 min: For the last time in this match, we’re under way.
ET HALF-TIME: Oldham Athletic 1-2 Southend United
Southend are just 15 minutes away from the Football League.
105 min: Just the one minute added on to the end of this first period of extra time.
103 min: Southend break forward on the attack as Coker receives the ball in the middle and looks to play Bonne through on goal, but the striker’s touch takes it away from him and Hudson can collect.
102 min: Substitution for Oldham as Kian Harratt replaces Evans.
100 min: Walker draws a foul from Hobson on the right and looks to carry on with his run, but the referee fails to play the advantage. Coker steps up to take the free kick and sends the ball into the box, but nothing comes of the set piece.
99 min: Oldham have a corner and Pett fires it into the box. Raglan goes for it near the front post but directs his header over the crossbar.
97 min: Another change for Oldham as Shaun Hobson replaces Kitching.
95 min: The ball drops to Husin about 25 yards out from goal. The midfielder aims for the target but his effort flies well wide.
92 min: Forson plays a short ball to Scott-Morriss, who makes a gut-busting run down the inside right to receive the underlap. The wing-back sends a cross into the box, forcing Hudson to parry it behind, but Parillon is there to head it into the net!
GOAL! Oldham Athletic 1-2 Southend United (Leon Chambers-Parillon, 91)
What a start to extra time! Super-sub Parillon with the goal which could earn Southend promotion!
ET KICK-OFF: Oldham Athletic 1-1 Southend United
Here we go! Another 30 minutes to play here at Wembley.
FULL-TIME: Oldham Athletic 1-1 Southend United
We go to extra time…
Updated
90+5 min: The ball drops through to Norwood in the box following a flick-on from Fondop, but the striker completely misses it with his attempted shot and Southend can pick up possession.
90+4 min: Another change for Southend as Hopper, who was just booked, is replaced by Josh Walker.
90+3 min: Monthé is booked for a pull on Forson in midfield.
90+1 min: Huge chance for Oldham as Kitching goes for goal, but his effort is dragged just wide of the post!
90 min: Hopper is shown a yellow card for a foul on Husdon while he was attempting to take a drop-kick.
Nine minutes have been added on…
89 min: Southend are really pushing for the winner in these late stages. Oldham find themselves under pressure.
87 min: Nothing comes of the initial set piece for Southend but the ball eventually falls out to Coker on the right, who sends a cross into the box. Goodliffe gets his head to it but Hudson is there to catch.
86 min: Parillon’s shot is deflected behind for a corner and Scott-Morriss waves his arms to get the crowd going as we approach the 90-minute mark.
84 min: Another substitution for Oldham as Yoganathan is replaced by Tom Conlan.
82 min: Scott-Morriss looks to send a dangerous cross into the box, but his effort runs behind for a goal-kick.
79 min: Evans is booked for a very late challenge on Bonne.
76 min: Another substitution, this time for Southend. Miley is replaced by Oli Coker with 14 minutes of regular time left to play.
75 min: Oldham make a substitution, with James Norwood replacing Garner, who converted the 48th minute penalty.
73 min: Yoganathan is sent through on goal but Taylor does well to cover, flicking the ball into the path of Hayes who makes the clearance.
70 min: Southend have a huge penalty shout as Forson goes to ground in the box following a challenge from Evans. The referee does not give it, however. Kevin Maher is furious.
Updated
67 min: A change for Oldham now as Pritchard makes way for Jesurun Uchegbulam.
65 min: Southend are first to make some changes with Macauley Bonne replacing Kendall in attack and Bridge making way for Leon Chambers-Parillon in midfield.
Updated
63 min: Another huge chance for Oldham! A shot from Pett is stopped in the box by Fondop, who has acres of space in front of goal. The striker turns before unleashing a shot less than 10 yards out from the target, but his effort is saved by Hayes!
61 min: Kevin Maher is preparing a few substitutions, with Macauley Bonne one of the stars in line to come on.
58 min: After a bit of treatment and some stretching, Kitching is able to continue.
56 min: There is a break in play while Kitching receives treatment for what appears to be a calf issue.
53 min: Southend push forward in search of another goal as Kendall looks to play a short ball across the box, but Monthé is there to make the clearance.
50 min: That was the perfect start to the second half for Oldham. This is shaping up to be a thrilling 45 minutes of football.
GOAL! Oldham Athletic 1-1 Southend United (Joe Garner, 48)
Garner calmly converts the penalty, placing the ball into the bottom-right corner and sending Hayes the wrong way!
Updated
PENALTY! (Oldham)
47 min: Penalty for Oldham! Monthé is dragged down in the box by Goodliffe and the referee does not hesitate when pointing to the spot.
Updated
KICK-OFF: Oldham Athletic 0-1 Southend United
We’re back under way in London!
For those of you who might be wondering, today’s final is being shown live on DAZN. Neither Sky Sports nor TNT Sports have the rights to this one.
Here’s a look at that all-important early goal…
SOUTHEND UNITED ARE OFF THE MARK IN THIS NATIONAL LEAGUE FINAL! ⚽️
— National League on DAZN (@DAZN_NationalLg) June 1, 2025
National League Final | Every Game Live | https://t.co/17IGNhwWu5@SUFCRootsHall | @TheVanaramaNL pic.twitter.com/C3ckGk747O
HALF-TIME: Oldham Athletic 0-1 Southend United
Southend lead at the break… just.
45+2 min: Pritchard is shown a yellow card for a challenge on Forson.
45 min: Two minutes have been added on…
44 min: Oh wow! A huge chance missed for Oldham! Goodliffe’s attempted clearance as the last man bounces off his own player and deflects straight back through to Fondop, who runs into the box and looks to chip Hayes. He is successful in doing so, but his shot brushes just past the post!
Cheers from the Oldham fans are brought to a halt when they realise the ball did not, in fact, hit the back of the net. What an opportunity!
Updated
42 min: Fondop looked baffled as to why he wasn’t awarded a penalty. Replays showed he was caught by Taylor’s trailing leg in the challenge. Southend are perhaps lucky there.
40 min: Oldham appeal for a penalty as Fondop goes to ground in the box following a sliding challenge from Taylor, but the referee signals for play to continue. No VAR here, so that decision is final.
36 min: Oldham have looked much more comfortable in possession over the last 10 minutes or so. They need to keep this momentum going into half-time.
33 min: The corner is crossed into the box and finds Garner at the back post, who heads it down and rattles the woodwork with his effort! Southend can eventually clear.
31 min: Fondop breaks away down the left and looks to cut into the box, but Taylor is there to pass the ball out for a corner.
30 min: Oldham are piling on the pressure now. A deep cross is played in from the left and Fondop looks to get his head to it at the back post, but Ralph does well to flick it out of reach.
27 min: Oldham have a free kick in midfield following a challenge from Husin on Fondop. Ralph does well to head it clear at first but the ball then falls to the feet of Fondop on the edge of the box, who fires his shot wide.
Updated
24 min: Monthé does well to see a Southend throw out for a goal kick. Both teams are starting to settle a bit more now.
21 min: Southend are pushing for a second as they edge deeper into the opposition half. Scott-Morriss sends a long throw into the box and Goodliffe looks to head it towards goal, but his effort is comfortably caught by Hudson.
18 min: Huge chance for Oldham! A cross is sent into the box from the left and Yoganathan gets in front of Fondop to head it towards goal, but his effort flies wide! Fondop is absolutely furious with his team-mate, insisting he should have left it. Neither player will want to watch that back.
16 min: Monthé is looking very nervous following that unfortunate own-goal. The defender almost makes a mistake in possession but manages to keep his composure and pass back to a team-mate, restarting the play.
14 min: Some miscommunication between Taylor and Scott-Morriss sees the ball headed behind for an Oldham corner. The ball is swung into the box and Fondop gets his head to it, but directs his effort wide.
11 min: Southend are looking to build on that early goal by piling on the pressure. Hayes has barely had anything to do in the last five minutes or so.
8 min: Miley is booked for a late challenge on Evans just outside the Oldham box.
6 min: Pett loses the ball to Bridge in midfield, who plays a first-time lobbed pass over the Oldham defence and through to Kendall. The forward piles the pressure on Monthé and Hudson. Monthé then sticks a boot out in a bid to make the clearance on the edge of the box but instead flicks the ball over his own goalkeeper and into his own net. Not the ideal start for him. Kendall, meanwhile, takes all the plaudits.
GOAL! Oldham Athletic 0-1 Southend United (Manny Monthé OG, 5)
What a start for Southend! A Monthé own-goal gives the Shrimpers an early advantage!
Updated
3 min: Yoganathan receives the ball on the right and taps it through the legs of Hopper before sending a dangerous cross into the Southend box. However, there is just a bit too much on it and the ball runs behind and through to the other side.
1 min: Oldham have an early free kick just inside their own half. The ball is played long and into the Southend box but is headed away immediately by Ralph and then Bridge.
Updated
KICK-OFF
We’re under way at Wembley Stadium!
Smoke from pyrotechnics covers the Wembley pitch as both sets of players prepare for the national anthem.
The teams are out! Kick-off is just a few minutes away!
There is a huge crowd at Wembley this afternoon – despite the ongoing travel chaos around London today. Due to closures on the Jubilee Line and Metropolitan Line, Wembley Park station – the main travel hub for the home of English football – has been closed meaning most fans have had to either get to the stadium through Wembley Central or via car/coach/bus.
That hasn’t stopped them, however! Wembley Stadium is rocking!
Darren Royle was at Wembley when Mark Hughes broke Oldham Athletic hearts in 1994, scoring a 120th-minute equaliser in an FA Cup semi-final. Now, the CEO is looking forward to one of the biggest games in the club’s history.
The stage is set. Kick-off is just 20 minutes away!
Our very own Dominic Booth spoke to Southend United head coach Kevin Maher this week ahead of today’s final.
As always, I want to hear from you! Where are you watching/reading from? Are you on your way to Wembley? And who are you backing to win this afternoon? Feel free to send me an email.
For Southend United, the last four years have been filled with torment and turbulence. Until last summer, the club came dangerously close to collapsing altogether amid what felt like never-ending takeover talk. But in July, under-fire owner Ron Martin finally sold the club to a consortium led by Australian businessman Justin Rees. Now, 11 months later, Southend are finally on the verge of a return to the Football League.
Team news
Oldham Athletic starting line-up: Matthew Hudson, Reagan Ogle, Mark Kitching, Tom Pett, Manny Monthé, Mike Fondop, Joe Garner, Charlie Raglan (C), Corry Evans, Vimal Yoganathan, Joe Pritchard. Substitutes: Tom Donaghy, Shaun Hobson, Tom Conlan, Jordan Rossiter, Jesurun Uchegbulam, Kian Harratt, James Norwood.
Southend United starting line-up: Nick Hayes, Gus Scott-Morriss, Nathan Ralph (C), Jack Bridge, Noor Husin, Harry Taylor, Cav Miley, Ben Goodliffe, Tom Hopper, Keenan Appiah-Forson, Charley Kendall. Substitutes: Nathan Harness, George Wind, Macauley Bonne, Josh Walker, Joe Gubbins, Leon Chambers-Parillon, Oli Coker.
Updated
Preamble
Oldham and Southend are 90 minutes away from returning to the Football League. It would be an incredible achievement for either club, having both come back from the brink. In recent years the clubs’ very existence has been threatened, so to be at Wembley is a huge achievement.
The Latics breezed through the playoffs, winning their two matches against Halifax and York by a combined score of 7-0. They have found form at the right time and possess a lot of experience among their ranks. From Charlie Raglan to James Norwood, there is no shortage of quality in the squad, not to mention young loanee Vimal Yoganathan.
Southend, on the other hand, snook into the final playoff spot, proceeding to require extra-time to eliminate Rochdale and a penalty shootout at Forest Green. Things have not been easy for the Shrimpers but they are used to doing things the hard way and it should put them in good stead for this game.
Let’s hope for a cracker.
Kick-off: 3pm BST.
