Insitesoccer

Wigan Athletic history

In 1897 Wigan County was established as the first football team in Wigan. Playing in the Lancashire League they fielded a reasonably good side and were comfortable in the league. It should also be noted that W.C. were the first Association side to play at Springfield Park. After only three seasons County were in financial difficulty and were liquidated as a mistaken adventure.

The next attempt to build a successful team came under the name of Wigan United. Formed in 1901 they played in the Lancashire Combination league for two years before folding in 1904. Along with Scotland's World Cup Qualifier mayhem, United had their fair share of extraordinary events. In the Rawcliffe Cup United were to play the first round away to Stalybridge. Due to a waterlogged pitch the travelling side decided to withdraw prior to kick off, the referee did not agree so allowed the 'match' to go ahead. Stalybridge walked the ball down the pitch and placed it into the unguarded net, therefore winning the tie.

Wigan Town were next to take on the challenge of trying to stay afloat for more than three years, sadly this didn't happen. After the Towns departure many felt it was not to be, but thirteen years later...

Wigan Borough were formed in 1921. In doing so they became one of the founder members of the Football League Third Division (North). In the early days 'Boro performed surprisingly well, in the 1922-1923 season the lads notched up their best ever result, a resounding 9-1 win over Lincoln. Boro' were well on course for promotion, sadly a slide in results towards the close of the season left them in fifth spot. The best season of all was to be in 1928-1929 when they reached the Third Round Proper of the F.A. Cup, fate dealt a cruel blow by handing them a draw against the famous Sheffield Wednesday side at that time. Undeterred Boro' went down fighting with a respectable score line of 3-1. Carrying on in tradition Boro' were in money troubles after ten years, £806 was owing in wages to players, the star players were sold, but not even this brought in the cash to pay the players. Wigan Borough played their last league game on the 24th October 1931 against Wrexham United, the Race Course Ground side were victorious, 5-0. However the team made one more appearance to finish the seasons remaining reserve match. They won 2-1 at Southport, then folded.

Wigan Athletic are the last in the line of soccer teams in Wigan, founded in 1932 they had quite immense success nearly every season of their none league life, detailed in the honours list on the honours page. After 34 disappointments of not being voted in to the Football League their time finally came on Friday 2nd June 1978 after tying with Southport on 26 votes a-piece a re-vote was called, Latics were victorious, winning by 29 votes to 20. Wigan Athletic were the newest team in League Football entering into Division Four and Southport joined the none league circuit where they have stayed ever since.

The Latics have not fared too well as a league team winning promotion three times, in 1981-1982, 1996-1997 and 2002-2003. In 1992-1993 Wigan suffered relegation for the first time in their history, moving from the Second Division to the Third. Many a poor side graced the turf of Springfield Park, but in February 1995, Mr. Dave Whelan, owner of the JJB Sports chain purchsed the club from Stephen Gage and Nick Bitel. A series of impressive signings including the 'Three Amigos' scoop that shocked the world of football followed. Following this capture the Latics became favourites to be promoted, particularly after Jesus Seba's impressive start. Graham Barrow was leading the squad at this time, many say that Wigan played the most attractive football of all time during the beginning of 1995-1996. The league position was satisfactory, but mid-season, surprisingly they lost 6-2 at home to Mansfield Town, Isidro Diaz scoring a memorable overhead-kick, Barrow was sacked. Frank Lord took over as caretaker manager, in his first game Wigan won 4-0 (somewhat a turn-around on the previous weeks result) with Seba being reinstated to the team and celebrating by scoring two superb goals. Soon afterwards John Deehan was appointed manager, promotion being the main aim, he set about by promptly dropping Seba after his splendid performance for Frank Lord. Wigan played the most attractive football of all time during this 1995-1996 season. The bulk of it coming from Diaz and Martinez who had the ability to spray the ball to each other from any distance, control then turn in an instant. Wigan needed only one point from the final three games of the season to ensure a play-off place. They amassed zero points.

The 1996-1997 season was billed as the big one, and it was, the play sadly lost its high pace and excitement of the previous season though. Graeme Jones and Graham Lancashire were the most prolific strikeforce in the country for the opening month or so, then the latter was badly injured. The honus was to be on the boy Jones, by the end of the season he had a tally of 33 goals, the countries leading scorer, two ahead of Fowler and Ravanelli.

Currently Wigan Athletic reside at the impressive new JJB Stadium under the considerable finances of Dave Whelan. With Paul Jewell at the helm The Latics gained promotion to Division 1 on the 19th April 2003, amassing 100 points along the way and finishing 14 points ahead of the pack.

However the 2004/2005 Season has to be the most important in Latics short history. On May 8th 2005 a 3-1 win over Reading was enough to secure 2nd place in the Championship, and hence a place in football's elite: The Premier League.

Club Honours

Northern Premier League Champions: 1970-1971, 1974-1975

Northern Premier League Cup Winners: 1971-1972

Northern Premier Shield Winners: 1972-1973, 1973-1974, 1975-1976

Cheshire League Champions: 1933-1934, 1934-1935, 1935-1936, 1964-1965

Lancashire Combination Champions: 1947-1948, 1950-1951, 1952-1953, 1953-1954

Election to Football League: 1978

Promoted to Third Division (old): 1981-1982

Football Association Cup best: Round 6, 1986-1987

Football League Cup best: Final 1996

Freight Rover Trophy Winners (now AutoWind Shield): 1984-1985

Third Division Champions: 1996-1997

AutoWindshield Winners: 1999

Second Division Champions: 2002-2003

Championship Runners Up: 2004-2005

Promotion to Premier League: 2005

Club Records

Competition Results

Biggest win: 7-1 v. Scarborough 1996/1997 Division Three

Biggest win (non-league): 12-1 v. Congleton Town 1937/1938 Cheshire League

Biggest home loss: 0-5 v. Bristol Rovers (Div 3, 26th February 1983) and also versus Chelsea (FA Cup round 3 replay, 26th January 1985)

Biggest away loss (league): 6-1 v. Bristol Rovers (3rd March 1990)

Biggest loss (non-league): 0-8 v. Hyde United (1945-1946)

Longest unbeaten run (league): 21 games in the 1981-1982 season

Longest unbeaten run (non-league): 52 games from 15th September 1962 to 5th November 1966

Most wins in a season (non-league): 33 from 46 games in 1974-1975 (Northern Premier League)

Best FA Cup run: Round 6, 1986-1987

Best League Cup Run: Round 5, 2002-2003

Most Clean-Sheets in a season (League games only): 25 by John Filan 2002-2003

Highest points in a season: 100 in 2002-2003

Highest League Position: 10th in The Premier League, Season 2005-2006

Transfer Records

Largest transfer fee paid: £5.5M for Emile Heskey - Birmingham City 2006

Largest transfer fee recieved: £3M Nathan Ellington - West Brom 2005

Attendance Records

Largest attendance at The JJB Stadium: 25,004 v. Arsenal (Premier League) Saturday 19th November 2005

Largest attendance at Springfield Park (Wigan Borough): 30,611 v. Sheffield Wednesday (FA Cup 1928-29)

Largest attendance at Springfield Park (Wigan Athletic): 27,526 v. Hereford (FA Cup 1953-54)...This is still the largest attendance between two non-league clubs out-side of Wembley.

Playing Records

Greatest Goal-scorer in a single season (league): Graeme Jones (31)

Greatest Goal-scorer in a single season (non-league): Harry Lyon (66) and 61 the next!

Greatest all time Goal-scorer (league): David Lowe & Andy Liddell (66)

Greatest all time Goal-scorer (non-league): Harry Lyon (273) 1962-1969

Consecutive Player Appearances: Jimmy Bullard (121)

Amazing Facts

Wigan were the first team in England to play a game with three Spaniards in the line-up

Wigan were the first team to have a Spaniard playing in an FA Cup game

In 1996 defender Matty Carragher scored from 72 yards out during a reserve game (and he meant it!)

Wigan have played more games in the AutoWindshield competition over the years than any other team

Wigan went 4 games in the 1998/99 Auto Windshield Competition without conceeding a goal, a new record

Labels: Wigan Athletic history