Oldham Athletic – a special, sleeping giant says hero Garner

The 37-year-old does not yet know what the future holds personally. He is out of contract this summer.

But after playing a significant role in firing Latics back to the Football League, with a goal in each National League play-off round, he feels this can be the springboard to even more success for the club.

“This club deserves to be in the EFL, and they can go again,” said Garner.

“It’s a massive club. I’ve played at a lot of big clubs but this club’s special.

“It’s a sleeping giant. It’s a huge club and it has the potential. The fans… you bring almost 25,000 down here, it’s a special club and it will go places I’m sure.

“When you get promoted everyone says you try to stay up (the next year) but this is a special club with a massive fanbase.

“The following we had is fantastic.

“I’m really happy for the fans, really happy for the (Rothwell) family and more so for the staff and the players.

“The lads have worked hard all year and I think, over the course of game, we deserve it to be honest.”

Latics fell behind twice to Southend in the play-off final – first to a Manny Monthe own goal in the fifth minute after a Gus Scott-Morriss throughball caused a defensive mix-up. Garner levelled from the spot early in the second half after Monthe was brought down by Ben Goodliffe, but Oldham trailed again in the first minute of extra time. Goalkeeper Mat Hudson parried a Scott-Morriss cross, but the ball fell invitingly for substitute Leon Parillon to finish from close range.

Two goals in two minutes in the second half of extra-time completed a dramatic turnaround for Oldham though. James Norwood equalised with a classy finish before Kian Harratt’s cross-shot caused havoc and bounced in to win it.

“We had probably had three or four chances in the first half. I hit the post, probably should have scored. Mike (Fondop) had one. We just kept going, kept going and deserved to win, we were the better side. Don’t get me wrong they are a good side and deserved to be in the final. But I’d say over the course of the 120 minutes, whatever minutes it was, I think we deserved to win.

“To score two goals in the 100th and whatever minute you need a fit side and we work really hard. The fitness coach gets us going and we do work hard.

“The fitness probably came into it when we got the second to make it 2-2, I think there was only one side that was wanting to win it.

“Kian cuts in, I don’t know if it was a cross or a shot but he’s got a great left foot and we’re back in the EFL.”

Garner made National League history by becoming the first player to score in all three play-off rounds, with his penalty to complete the set taking on extra meaning.

“I’ve played here twice and won twice and I’ve not scored here,” he explained.

“I wanted to take the penalty and I was confident I’d score it.”

And it helped to complete a hat-trick of play-off final wins for Garner.

“Swindon, Stockport and now Southend, so anyone with an S we end up winning,” said the former Preston and Carlisle striker.

“I’m buzzing for the lads, happy for the staff and we’ll rest up and go again.”

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