SKIPPER Jordan Turner is still pinching himself at how far Oldham have come since the club was taken over about 20 months ago, writes Kasey Smith.

Oldham are preparing for a big season in the championship next year having recruited experienced big name players such as Iain Thornley, Gil Dudson and most recently Josh Drinkwater.

The club have been in pre-season training going on for two months in a bid to gain an advantage on their rivals.

And for Oldham-born Turner, witnessing the club’s rise from where it was is nothing short of surreal.

“This season was a bit of a pipe dream about 18 months ago, but look at us now,” he said.

“Look at the calibre of players walking around this gym. It’s a different kettle of fish from where Oldham has been in the past 20 years.”

Despite the high-profile signings, it’s the less experienced players who have made the biggest impression on the former Waterhead amateur.

“There’s a couple of blokes who we’ve signed which I didn’t know much about,” he explained.

“But I can’t believe how good they have been.

“For example, Lewis Baxter and big Ben Forster – I’m tipping them to upset a few people this year because they are really pushing hard in training.”

When the team resumed training at the start of October, they were welcomed back to a newly renovated Melrose which was another “pinch-me moment” for the Roughyeds captain.

“I used to play on Melrose as an amateur,” he said. “It was the sort of pitch where everybody went when all the others were booked up and there was nowhere else to go.

“To see the transformation and where it is at – now everybody wants to get on it and book it. It’s crazy.

“I sometimes pinch myself that I’m actually back here and training at Melrose, it’s a surreal feeling to come back.”

He added: “The club has done a fantastic job in renovating it because it was run down and wasn’t great.

“To see how it is now compared to what it was, I’m really proud.”