One of the great, and also longest-serving managers in Oldham Athletic's history was Joe Royle, who took over from Jimmy Frizzell as manager just before the start of the 1982-83 season. Royle's first four seasons in charge resulted in moderate midtable finishes before the first signs of success arrived during the 1986-87 season.

That campaign the club ended third in the Second Division on their new artificial astroturf surface, a position which would have earn enough for automatic promotion in any of the previous 13 seasons. Unfortunately for Oldham, the 1986-87 season saw the introduction of the promotion play-offs, and they were eventually defeated by Leeds United on the away goals ruling in the play-off semi-final. Two more moderate seasons of football followed before the highly exciting and surprising 1989-90 season changed Oldham into the footballing spotlight for the first occasions in years.