Wigan Athletic Football Club is a professional football team based in
WiganWigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south of Preston, west-northwest of Manchester, and east-northeast of Liverpool. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre...
,
Greater ManchesterGreater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.56 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and...
. They compete in the Premier League, in which they have been playing since their promotion from
the Football LeagueThe Football League, also known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.
They play at the DW Stadium, which they now own, and share the stadium with
rugby leagueRugby league football is a full-contact form of football, played with a prolate spheroid ball by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. Rugby league is one of the two codes of rugby football, the other being rugby union...
club
Wigan WarriorsWigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The first team competes in Europe's engage Super League competition, playing its home matches at the DW Stadium, Wigan....
. It has been their home since 1999; before that they played at
Springfield ParkSpringfield Park was a multi-purpose stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home ground of Wigan Athletic F.C. until the club moved to the new JJB Stadium after the 1999 season. At its largest, the stadium held 40,000...
for 67 years.
As of the 2007–08 season, Wigan Athletic were the youngest club in the Premier League, having only been formed in 1932.
Life in the local leagues
Wigan Athletic F.C. was formed in 1932 following the demise of
Wigan BoroughWigan Borough Football Club was an English football club from the town of Wigan, Lancashire. It was a fourth attempt at establishing football in Wigan, their forerunners Wigan County, Wigan United and Wigan Town all having fallen into liquidation previously....
the previous year. Wigan Athletic was the fifth attempt to stabilise a football club in the town following the demise of
Wigan CountyWigan County F.C was the first attempt to establish a football club to represent Wigan. They were the first football team to play their games at Springfield Park and would be followed by Wigan Town, Wigan United, Wigan Borough and Wigan Athletic....
, Wigan United, Wigan Town and the aforementioned Wigan Borough.
Springfield ParkSpringfield Park was a multi-purpose stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home ground of Wigan Athletic F.C. until the club moved to the new JJB Stadium after the 1999 season. At its largest, the stadium held 40,000...
, the former home of Wigan Borough, was purchased by the club and they were elected to the
Cheshire County LeagueThe Cheshire County League was a football league founded in the north west of England in 1919, drawing its teams largely from Cheshire, surrounding English counties and North Wales....
.
In the early history of Wigan Athletic, the most notable exploits came in the
FA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association. The name "FA Cup" usually refers to the English men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held...
. In the 1934–35 season, Wigan Athletic beat
Carlisle UnitedCarlisle United F.C. are an English football team based in Carlisle, Cumbria. The club are currently plying their trade in League One - tier 3 of the English football pyramid.-Carlisle United is born:...
6–1 in the first round, setting a cup record for the biggest victory by a non-league club over a league club, a record which still stands today; although it was equalled in 1955 by
Boston UnitedBoston United Football Club are a football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They are members of the Northern Premier League after being demoted for financial reasons. They are currently managed by Rob Scott and Paul Hurst who were appointed on 14 May 2009 as successors to Steve Welsh...
, and in 1957 by
Hereford UnitedHereford United Football Club are an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in League One in the 2008-09 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites', after...
.
In 1945, Wigan Athletic were elected to a different league, the Lancashire Combination, and in 1950 came close to election to
the Football LeagueThe Football League, also known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
, narrowly losing out to
Scunthorpe UnitedScunthorpe United Football Club are an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.Nicknamed The Iron, they play in the Football League Championship...
on a vote. In the 1953–54 season, Wigan Athletic played an FA Cup match against
Hereford UnitedHereford United Football Club are an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in League One in the 2008-09 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites', after...
in front of a crowd of 27,526, a Wigan Athletic record and also a record for a match between two non-league teams at a non-league ground. In 1961, the club moved back to the
Cheshire County LeagueThe Cheshire County League was a football league founded in the north west of England in 1919, drawing its teams largely from Cheshire, surrounding English counties and North Wales....
.
In 1968, Wigan Athletic were founder members of the
Northern Premier LeagueThe Northern Premier League, known in recent years as the UniBond League under a title sponsorship contract, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the...
, known in recent years as the
UniBondHenkel AG & Co. KGaA is an international company headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany.The company operates in three business areas: Home Care , Personal Care , and Adhesives, Sealants & Surface...
League. After 34 failed election attempts, including one controversial but headline-making application in 1972 to join the Scottish League Second Division, Wigan Athletic were elected to the Football League in 1978.
Wigan Athletic's first match under their new floodlights was against Manchester City. City brought a full strength team to Springfield Park and won 4-0.
Early league years: 1978-1995
Wigan Athletic had finished in second place in the
Northern Premier LeagueThe Northern Premier League, known in recent years as the UniBond League under a title sponsorship contract, is one of the regional English football leagues which sits directly below the Football Conference. Geographically, the league covers all of Northern England, and the northern areas of the...
in the
1977/78 seasonThe 1977-78 Northern Premier League season was the 10th in the history of the Northern Premier League, a football competition in England.- Teams :* Altrincham* Bangor City* Barrow* Boston United* Buxton* Frickley Athletic* Gainsborough Trinity...
, behind winners
Boston UnitedBoston United Football Club are a football club based in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. They are members of the Northern Premier League after being demoted for financial reasons. They are currently managed by Rob Scott and Paul Hurst who were appointed on 14 May 2009 as successors to Steve Welsh...
. But as Boston's ground and facilities did not meet the Football League criteria for a League club, whereas
Springfield ParkSpringfield Park may refer to:*Springfield Park - a park in Upper Clapton, London*Springfield Park - a former multi-use stadium in Wigan, England*Springfield Park - a city park in Queens borough of New York City...
did, Wigan Athletic were put forward for election to the League. There was no automatic promotion to the Football League until 1987, before when, a club had to be ‘voted out’ of the League to allow a non-league team to be promoted in their place. At the end of the 1977/78 season,
SouthportSouthport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6008...
finished next to bottom of the old Fourth Division, and faced off with Wigan Athletic for their place in the League. The first round of voting ended tied, with both clubs receiving 26 votes, but after a tense re-vote Southport controversially lost out 20-29 and lost their place in the Fourth Division. Wigan Athletic became an English League club on 2 June, 1978.
In the club's first season of League football, Wigan Athletic finished in sixth place, just six points off promotion in their first League season and in front of an average crowd of 6,701. Two more top-half finishes came in the following seasons. The Latics gained their first Football League promotion under the management of former
LiverpoolLiverpool Football Club is a professional football club based in Liverpool, England. The club plays in the Premier League, and has won more trophies than any other English club...
player
Larry LloydLaurence Valentine Lloyd was a footballer, a burly and tough central defender who won honours for both Bill Shankly's Liverpool and Brian Clough's all-conquering Nottingham Forest side of the late 1970s....
in 1981/82, when a points tally of 91 saw them join the old Division Three for the first time, beginning a 10 year spell in the third tier of English football. The club struggled in their first season in Division Three, which resulted in Lloyd being controversially sacked in early 1983 and replaced by
Harry McNallyHarry McNally was a football player, coach and manager, noted for his spells as manager of Wigan Athletic and Chester City.- The Non-League Background :...
. Under McNally's management the club stabilised in Division Three and secured a pair of mid-table finishes, but a dreadful 1984/85 season cost him his job, with
TranmereTranmere Rovers Football Club is an English football club located in the Prenton area of Birkenhead. The nicknames of the club are The Rovers or Super Whites....
manager
Bryan HamiltonBryan Hamilton is a Northern Irish former professional football player and manager. He gained 50 caps for Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1980, and later managed the national team for four years.-Playing career:...
stepping into the breach. Under Hamilton's management the club's performances went to the next level, winning their first silverware as a League club that season, with the
Freight Rover TrophyThe Football League Trophy is the generic name of an association football competition for clubs in the two lower divisions of The Football League and, in some seasons, the leading sides in the Conference National...
. They were beaten in the Northern Final of the same competition the following season by
Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football club based in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. They are currently in the Premier League....
. Moreover, Hamilton achieved Division Three survival, which had looked an impossible task earlier that season.
The 1985/86 season saw a marked improvement in the club’s league form, eventually finishing in fourth position, a then-club record high which would stand for 17 years, until 2002/03. In fact, the Latics finished the season just one point outside the promotion places in the final season before the Football League introduced the
play-off systemThe Football League play-offs are a series of football matches to determine a promotion place within the English football league system. Essentially, each division of the league offers a certain number of automatic promotion places to the top two or three clubs. A further promotion place is...
for promotion and relegation. Hamilton's feats attracted the attention of First Division
Leicester CityLeicester City Football Club , are an English professional football club based at the Walkers Stadium in Leicester. They play in the Football League Championship, having been promoted as champions from Football League One in the 2008–09 season.The club were founded in 1884 as Leicester Fosse,...
however, and he left to become their manager in the summer of 1986. His assistant,
Ray MathiasRaymond "Ray" Mathias is an English football coach and former player. He has spent most of his career in the lower leagues of English football but is currently without a role - after being relieved of his duties as former manager Paul Ince also left the club.- Playing :Born in Liverpool, Mathias...
, who had followed him from Tranmere, stepped up to the manager's job. Wigan Athletic managed an identical fourth place finish in the 1986/87 season, but this time were rewarded with the chance to compete for the final promotion place in the new play-off system. (In the first two years of the play-off system, teams finishing 3rd, 4th and 5th joined the team finishing 20th in the division above to play off for the promotion place; this was changed to the teams finishing 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th from the 1988/89 season). The Latics lost at the two-legged semi final stage to
SwindonSwindon Town Football Club is an English football club based in Swindon, Wiltshire, who currently play in League One. The club's home ground is the County Ground, which has an all-seated capacity of 15,728....
, who went on to win the final promotion place.
The fourth place finishes of the 1985/86 and 1986/87 seasons proved to be the high points of Wigan Athletic's first stint in Division 3. For the next five years, they finished in mid-table, flirting with relegation in 1988-89 (during which Mathias was sacked and previous manager Bryan Hamilton returned) and 1989/90, until they were relegated for the first and only time in the club’s League history in 1992/93. Wigan Athletic finished in 23rd place, amid tumbling attendances which had fallen from averages of 3,000-4,000 in Wigan Athletic’s Division 3 years to 2,593 in 1992/93. A year later, with the club back in the fourth tier of the English League, the Latics finished 19th - fourth from bottom – to complete their worst-ever league season. Attendances would fall to a lowest-ever Wigan Athletic League average of 1,845 by 1995.
Rising through the league: 1995-2005
In February 1995, local millionaire and owner of JJB Sports Dave Whelan purchased the club, which was then playing in the
Third DivisionFrom the 1992-93 to the 2003-04 season, the Football League Third Division was the third-highest division of The Football League and the fourth-highest division in the overall English football league system. Before that it was the third division overall, but that ended with the creation of the...
(fourth tier), and stated his ambition to reach the Premier League, a statement which was widely ridiculed at the time. Ten years later Wigan Athletic were playing Premier League football.
At the end of Whelan’s first season as Chairman, Wigan Athletic finished in 14th position in the old Third Division, or on the 84th rung of the 92-club English Football League ladder. Whelan and Wigan Athletic made headlines in the summer of 1995 when Whelan’s business connections in Spain helped him attract three Spaniards to the club –
Roberto MartínezRoberto Martínez Gutiérrez is a Spanish former professional footballer and is currently manager of Wigan Athletic.-Playing career:...
, Isidro Diaz, and Jesus Seba – who became known as ‘The Three Amigos’. Martinez and Diaz would later become the first Spaniards to play in the F.A. Cup, and the trio became the on-pitch symbols of Whelan’s ambitious plans.
‘The Three Amigos’ were joined at the club by
John DeehanJohn Matthew Deehan , is a former football player who in recent years has had several spells in coaching and management. He is currently the Chief Scout at Norwich City.-As a player:...
, who replaced
Graham BarrowGraham Barrow is an English former footballer who has since become a lower division manager. He is currently part of the coaching staff at Premier League side Wigan Athletic, where he has previously been both a player and manager.-Barrow the Player:Barrow first entered the Football League at the...
as manager during the 1995/96 season following a 6-2 home defeat to
Mansfield TownMansfield Town Football Club are an English football club who from the 2008–09 season have competed in the Conference National. Between 1931 and 2008 they competed in the Football League. Based in the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, the club are nicknamed "The Stags"...
. Deehan had coached Norwich City to an unexpected 3rd place finish in the inaugural Premier League season, and his influence took the Latics within two points of a play-off place in his first season. The following year saw the first step towards Whelan's dream come true, when Wigan Athletic became Division Three champions on the last day of the season, in no small part helped by
Graeme JonesGraeme Anthony Jones , is a former English footballer. He is currently assistant manager at Wigan Athletic.-Career:...
’ club record 31 league goals for the season. Following a mid-table finish in Division Two the following season, Deehan quit to become
Steve BruceStephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs...
’s assistant at Sheffield United. He was succeeded by
Ray MathiasRaymond "Ray" Mathias is an English football coach and former player. He has spent most of his career in the lower leagues of English football but is currently without a role - after being relieved of his duties as former manager Paul Ince also left the club.- Playing :Born in Liverpool, Mathias...
, who returned for his third stint as Wigan Athletic manager. Mathias’ team won Wigan Athletic’s second trophy under Dave Whelan, when the Latics beat
MillwallMillwall Football Club is an English football team based in Bermondsey in the London Borough ofSouthwark, South East London. They currently play in Football League One. Their traditional strip consists of blue shirts, white shorts and blue socks. Their current strip is blue shirts, white shorts...
1-0 to win the
AutoWindscreens ShieldThe Football League Trophy is the generic name of an association football competition for clubs in the two lower divisions of The Football League and, in some seasons, the leading sides in the Conference National...
at Wembley in April 1999. More significantly, he took Wigan Athletic to the Division Two play-offs in 1999, losing 2-1 on aggregate to neighbours
Manchester CityManchester City Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Manchester. The team is currently a member of the Premier League.The first known competitive fixture was played in November 1880, when the side was known as St...
. This ultimately cost Mathias his job as he fell victim to Whelan's relentless drive for Premier League football.
His replacement
John BensonJohn Benson was a British television announcer, best known for saying "And Now ... from Norwich, it's the quiz of the week" at the start of each edition of the UK's long running Sale of the Century, which ran on ITV from 1971 to 1983....
led the squad that he inherited from Mathias to a commanding position at the top of Division Two in his first six months, including the demolition of local rivals
Preston North EndPreston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the second tier of English league football, The Championship...
4-1 away, only to collapse in the second half of the season. This was largely attributed to the dropping of leading goalscorer Stuart Barlow who was responsible for much of the side's early success, which coupled with a series of poor quality signings of ageing, and reputedly highly paid players and a run of poor performances led to strong disapproval of the management among fans. The 1999/2000 season ended in failure at Wembley as Wigan Athletic lost 3-2 after extra time to
GillinghamGillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the KRBS Priestfield Stadium...
at the last ever
Division Two play-off finalThe Football League One Playoffs are a series of playoff matches, contested by the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Coca Cola Football League One table to determine the third spot for promotion to the second tier of English football, the Championship....
to be played at the old Wembley Stadium.
Benson moved 'upstairs' to the new post of Director of Football in the summer of 2000, when former
ArsenalArsenal Football Club are an English professional football club based in Holloway, North London...
manager
Bruce RiochBruce David Rioch is an English-born football manager and former player. He was manager of Aalborg BK in the Danish Superliga, until his sacking on 23 October 2008....
took the manager’s job for the 2000/01 season. Rioch was hampered by severe injury problems and after a difficult and often unimpressive first half of the season left the club in February 2001. He was temporarily replaced by club stalwart
Colin GreenallColin Greenall is an English former professional footballer who made over 600 Football League appearances between 1980 and 1999...
, before the surprise appointment of
Steve BruceStephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs...
for the final eight games of the season. His arrival brought renewed vigour to Wigan Athletic performances, but the club ultimately lost in the play-offs once again, this time against
ReadingReading Football Club is an association football club, based in the English town of Reading, in Berkshire, who play in the The Championship. Formed in 1871 the club is one of the oldest teams in England, but did not join the Football League until 1920, and never played in the top tier of English...
. Following this blow, Bruce left for
Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where it has been based since 1924. The club is competing in the second tier of English Football, The Championship for the 2009-2010...
after repeatedly pledging his future to Wigan, leaving behind a club both grateful for his help in getting so close to promotion and also angry and bitter at his betrayal.
In the summer of 2001, highly regarded young manager and former Latics forward
Paul JewellPaul Steven Jewell is a football manager, having previously had a career as a player. He is without a job since resigning from Derby County in December 2008....
took over as manager following an unsuccessful spell at
Sheffield WednesdaySheffield Wednesday Football Club is a professional Association football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who currently compete in the Football League Championship, in England. Sheffield Wednesday is one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fifth oldest in the...
. His first season in charge saw mixed results and an embarrassing defeat to non-league
Canvey IslandCanvey Island F.C, known as the Gulls or Yellow Army, are an English association football club founded in 1926.Based on Canvey Island in the estuary of the Thames, their ground Park Lane is a few feet below sea level. Frank Saul, an FA Cup winner with Spurs, and several other players with league...
in the F.A. Cup first round, although the club eventually finished in mid-table. Jewell’s second season in charge was far more successful. Wigan Athletic went on a run to the quarter finals of the League Cup, beating Premier League opponents
West BromWest Bromwich Albion Football Club , also known as West Brom, The Baggies, Albion, The Albion, The Throstles or WBA, are an English professional association football club based in West Bromwich, West Midlands...
,
Manchester CityManchester City Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Manchester. The team is currently a member of the Premier League.The first known competitive fixture was played in November 1880, when the side was known as St...
and
FulhamFulham Football Club is an English professional football club based in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they celebrated their 125th anniversary in 2004, and are in the top tier of English football, the Premier League...
en route. Wigan Athletic won the Division Two championship in
2002-03The 2002-03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*Wigan Athletic marked their 25th season of Football League membership by winning the Division Two championship and reaching the league's second tier for the very first time....
with a points total of 100, powered by the goals of then-record £1.2 million signing
Nathan EllingtonNathan Levi Fontaine Ellington is an English professional footballer. He is a striker and currently plays for Championship side Watford.-Non-league and Bristol Rovers:...
, with a run of 10 consecutive wins along the way. The club lost only four times all season, and Wigan Athletic secured promotion to the second tier of the
English Football LeagueEnglish football league is not specific; it may refer to:* The Football League - the highest four divisions of English football until 1992 and the three divisions below the Premier League since 1992;...
for the first time in their history.
After losing their first ever game in
Division OneThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League.The Football League Championship was introduced for the 2004–05 season,...
, Wigan Athletic confounded expectations to go unbeaten for the next 17 games and sit atop the division by November 2003. A weak finish saw Wigan Athletic win only three of their last 10 games to finish seventh in Division One - a last minute goal by
West HamWest Ham United Football Club is an English football club based in Upton Park, London Borough of Newham, East London. They have played their home matches at the Boleyn Ground stadium since 1904....
's
Brian DeaneBrian Christopher Deane is an English former footballer.Signed for £40,000 from Doncaster Rovers in the close season of 1988, Deane first played and scored for Sheffield United in an 8-1 victory against Skegness Town...
in the final game of the season saw the Latics drop out of the play-off places in favour of eventual play-off winners
Crystal PalaceCrystal Palace Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where it has been based since 1924. The club is competing in the second tier of English Football, The Championship for the 2009-2010...
.
Hoping to build on the previous season’s disappointing finish, the Latics went one better than 2003/04 by remain unbeaten for the first 17 games of the 2004/05 season. Along with Sunderland and
IpswichIpswich Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Ipswich, Suffolk...
, the Latics remained in the promotion hunt all season. By the last day of the season, Sunderland had already won the title and Wigan Athletic needed at least a draw against
ReadingReading Football Club is an association football club, based in the English town of Reading, in Berkshire, who play in the The Championship. Formed in 1871 the club is one of the oldest teams in England, but did not join the Football League until 1920, and never played in the top tier of English...
- who themselves needed to win to finish in the last play-off spot - to beat Ipswich to automatic promotion. A 3-1 victory in front of their home fans at the
JJB StadiumThe DW Stadium is a dual-purpose sports stadium located within the Robin Park retail complex in Wigan, England, opened and built in 1999. The stadium was named after its principal sponsor, the sporting goods retailer JJB Sports—whose former chairman Dave Whelan owns the Wigan Athletic...
earned Wigan Athletic promotion to the top division of the
English football league systemThe English football league system, also known as the football pyramid, is a series of interconnected leagues for club football in England...
for the first time in their 73-year history.
Wigan in the Premier League
Wigan were only the fourth English team in the last 20 years to win promotion to the top division for the first time. The club's first ever Premier League game was a home match against Champions
ChelseaChelsea Football Club Chelsea Football Club Chelsea Football Club (are a professional English football club based in West London. The team, founded in 1905, play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football...
, a game they lost only to a 94th minute winner by
Hernán CrespoHernán Jorge Crespo is an Argentine footballer who currently plays for Genoa of the Italian Serie A.-River Plate:Crespo made his debut with River Plate during the 1993-94 season, scoring 13 goals in 25 league appearances as River Plate won the Apertura league title...
. A successful run followed, and by November Wigan were second in the league. Good league form was coupled with an equally strong performance in the
Football League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Carling Cup, is an English football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, with the Latics reaching their first ever major cup final after defeating
ArsenalArsenal Football Club are an English professional football club based in Holloway, North London...
on away goals in the semi-final. In the final, Wigan were defeated 4–0 by near neighbours
Manchester UnitedManchester United Football Club is an English football club, one of the most popular football clubs in the world, based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. The club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, and has played in the top division of English football since 1938, with the...
. Wigan eventually finished the season in 10th place - the club's highest ever league placing. Right-back
Pascal ChimbondaPascal Chimbonda is a French footballer who plays for Blackburn Rovers as a defender.Chimbonda, who is able to play at centre-back or left-back but more commonly appears at right-back, became well known to English football supporters due to his impressive displays on the pitch for Wigan Athletic,...
was included in the 2005–06 PFA Team of the Season. Wigan failed in their bid for European football and opted not to take part in the
UEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that have not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
.
During the close season, Wigan sold many who had starred in their first season in the Premier League, as
Jimmy BullardJames Richard "Jimmy" Bullard is an English footballer who plays for Hull City as a midfielder. He originally was a painter decorator and only became a professional footballer at the age of 20.-Career:...
left for
FulhamFulham Football Club is an English professional football club based in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they celebrated their 125th anniversary in 2004, and are in the top tier of English football, the Premier League...
,
Jason RobertsJason Andre Davis Roberts is an English born Grenadian football player who plays as a striker for Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League.-Early career:...
joined
Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire.The club was established in 1875, becoming a founding member of The Football League in 1888. It is one of only three clubs to have been both a founder member of the Football League...
, and
Stéphane HenchozStéphane Henchoz is a former Swiss international footballer who last played for Blackburn Rovers as a defender. He has been capped 72 times and played for his country at Euro 1996 and Euro 2004....
was released. Wigan brought in high-profile replacements including
Emile HeskeyEmile William Ivanhoe Heskey is an English footballer who plays for Premier League team Aston Villa as a striker. He has also played as a left winger....
,
Denny LandzaatDenny Domingoes Landzaat is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord.-Early life:Landzaat is born and raised in Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands...
,
Chris KirklandChristopher Edmund "Chris" Kirkland is an English football goalkeeper. He currently plays for Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League.- Coventry City :...
and Antonio Valencia to try to build on their successful Premier League debut. After a mid-table start to the 2006–07 season, Wigan's fortunes dipped dramatically with eight consecutive losses from mid-December, but after arresting the slump Wigan stood 15th in the Premiership in early March and finally seemed to be moving away from the relegation mire. But a series of defeats and the resurgence of rival strugglers meant Wigan faced the serious threat of relegation. On the final day of the season, Wigan battled to a 2–1 away win against
Sheffield UnitedSheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. They currently play in the English Football League Championship. They play at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, and play in red and white striped shirts.Their nickname is The Blades....
, guaranteeing their Premiership status for another year and in doing so relegating Sheffield United to the
ChampionshipThe Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League.The Football League Championship was introduced for the 2004–05 season,...
. The following day,
Paul JewellPaul Steven Jewell is a football manager, having previously had a career as a player. He is without a job since resigning from Derby County in December 2008....
unexpectedly resigned as manager; his assistant
Chris HutchingsChristopher "Chris" Hutchings is an English former footballer and manager of Walsall. He played for a number of clubs including Chelsea and played more than 100 games for Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town...
was appointed as his replacement.
Wigan's third Premier League campaign saw the club trying to fully establish itself in the division following a disappointing second season. The playing squad had changed almost entirely from the promotion-winning side. Ageing fan favourites
Arjan De ZeeuwAdrianus "Arjan" de Zeeuw is a Dutch footballer. He is a centre-back, and is playing for ADO'20 in the Dutch Hoofdklasse.-Playing career:...
,
Matt JacksonMatthew Alan "Matt" Jackson is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender throughout his career.-Career:...
,
John FilanJohn Filan is an Australian former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Club career:He played for St. George Saints and Wollongong Wolves in the old National Soccer League in Australia before moving to England to join Cambridge United in 1993...
made way, along with
Lee McCullochLee Henry McCulloch is a Scottish professional association football player who currently plays for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League...
, who sealed his dream move to
RangersRangers Football Club are an association football team based in Glasgow, Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, and
Leighton BainesLeighton John Baines is an English footballer, who plays left-back for Everton in the English Premier League. He won 16 caps for the England Under-21 team...
, who rejected a new contract and signed for his boyhood team
EvertonEverton Football Club are an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool. Having competed in the top division for a record 107 seasons, they have played more top-flight league games than any other English team and have won the League Championship 9 times — the fourth highest...
.
Titus BrambleTitus Malachi Bramble is an English football player, currently playing as a centre back for Wigan Athletic in the Premier League...
, former Chelsea defender
Mario MelchiotMario Melchiot is a Dutch football defender who currently plays for English Premier League club Wigan Athletic. He can play as either a right-back or as central defender.-Ajax and Chelsea:...
,
Jason KoumasJason Koumas is a professional football player for Premier League outfit Wigan Athletic. Formerly of Tranmere Rovers, Cardiff City and West Bromwich Albion, he is a former Welsh international...
(for £5.3 million) and much travelled striker
Marcus BentMarcus Nathan Bent is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Birmingham City, whom he joined in July 2008. At club level, he previously played for Brentford, Crystal Palace, Port Vale, Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Everton, Charlton Athletic and Wigan...
were among the players brought in. Melchiot was installed as the new club captain. For the
2007–08 seasonThe 2007–08 Premier League season was the sixteenth since its establishment. The first matches of the season were played on 11 August 2007, and the season ended on 11 May 2008...
, Wigan's home shirt returned to the club’s traditional blue and white stripes, having been blue with white sleeves in 2006–07. The away shirt became white with slate trim, with slate shorts and slate socks. A slate grey third kit with royal blue trim was also introduced.
The
2007–08 seasonThe 2007–08 Premier League season was the sixteenth since its establishment. The first matches of the season were played on 11 August 2007, and the season ended on 11 May 2008...
began well for Wigan, topping the Premier League after three games for the first time in their history. Wigan's strong start saw
Emile HeskeyEmile William Ivanhoe Heskey is an English footballer who plays for Premier League team Aston Villa as a striker. He has also played as a left winger....
recalled to the
England SquadThe English national football team represents England in international association football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football in England...
for the first time since 2005. He became the first Wigan player to represent England whilst a full member of the squad (Chris Kirkland earned his first cap while at Wigan, but was on loan from
LiverpoolLiverpool Football Club is a professional football club based in Liverpool, England. The club plays in the Premier League, and has won more trophies than any other English club...
at the time). However, Heskey broke his foot immediately after his England call-up, and was out injured for six weeks. The club's league position subsequently worsened, and on the back of a run of six consecutive defeats Wigan plummeted into the relegation zone. Chairman Dave Whelan took the decision to sack manager
Chris HutchingsChristopher "Chris" Hutchings is an English former footballer and manager of Walsall. He played for a number of clubs including Chelsea and played more than 100 games for Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town...
on 5 November 2007, after only 12 games in charge.
The Steve Bruce era
Former Manchester United defender
Steve BruceStephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs...
replaced Hutchings. Bruce had just resigned as
Birmingham CityBirmingham City Football Club is a professional football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, Birmingham F.C. in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City F.C...
manager, and signed a £2m-a-year deal to try to keep Wigan in the Premier League. Wigan had to pay a reported £3 million in compensation to Birmingham for Bruce's services. His appointment saw Wigan end their losing streak, but consistency evaded the Latics, although Bruce did soon achieve something neither Jewell nor Hutchings had managed previously - a 1–1 draw at
AnfieldAnfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, in Liverpool, England. Built in 1884, the stadium has been home to Liverpool F.C. since they were formed in 1892 as a result of the original tenants Everton F.C...
against Liverpool; the first time Wigan had taken points off one of the so-called 'Big Four' Premier League clubs. Bruce eventually oversaw a comparatively comfortable end to the season for Wigan, who finished 14th in the final table with 40 points - three places and two points higher than their finish the previous season.
In the summer of 2008, the team's kits were altered for the new season in part due to the club signing a new contract with
Champion (sportswear)Champion is a manufacturer of clothing, specializing in sportswear. The brand is a subsidiary of HanesBrands Inc. , which was spun off by the Sara Lee Corporation....
. In Bruce's first pre-season with the club and his overhaul of the playing squad continued. The two biggest deals saw
Lee CattermoleLee Barry Cattermole is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Sunderland in the Premier League.-Early life:"Catts" was born in Stockton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire...
sign from Middlesbrough for £3.5 million, and highly-rated Egyptian striker
Amr ZakiAmr Hassan Zaki is a Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a striker and is currently signed to Egyptian Premier League club Zamalek.-Early career:...
sign on an initial one-year loan. Zaki had scored 10 Premier League goals by February 2009, as Wigan reached seventh place in the table with 34 points from 25 games and looked likely to remain in the Premier League for a fifth successive season.
January saw the departure of two key first team members,
Wilson PalaciosWilson Roberto Palacios Suazo is a Honduran footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. He played as a central midfielder for previous club Wigan Athletic, but at Olimpia he played regularly on the right of midfield.-Victoria:Palacios, along with his brothers , started...
and
Emile HeskeyEmile William Ivanhoe Heskey is an English footballer who plays for Premier League team Aston Villa as a striker. He has also played as a left winger....
, to
TottenhamTottenham Hotspur Football Club, , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English professional football club based in Tottenham, North London which currently plays in the Premier League...
and
Aston VillaAston Villa Football Club is an English professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, who play in the Premier League. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of Football League in 1888...
respectively. Despite these massive changes, Wigan finished the season with 45 points in 11th place, their second best finish ever in the Premier League. On 3 June 2009, Steve Bruce left Wigan Athletic (for the second time) to take over the vacant manager position at Sunderland. July saw the departure of another key first team member Antonio Valencia to Manchester United.Before the Premier League 09-10 season got underway Wigan saw the departure of
Lee CattermoleLee Barry Cattermole is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Sunderland in the Premier League.-Early life:"Catts" was born in Stockton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire...
. Cattermole signed for Sunderland, rejoining Steve Bruce in the process.
Roberto Martinez
Wigan appointed
Roberto MartínezRoberto Martínez Gutiérrez is a Spanish former professional footballer and is currently manager of Wigan Athletic.-Playing career:...
as manager prior to the 2009–10 Premier League.. He previously played for Wigan from 1995-2001. On 15 August 2009, Wigan won their opening game of the 2009-10 season, beating away, 2-0. The good form did not continue though, losing the next three games to Manchester United, Blackpool and Everton before defeating West Ham United at the DW Stadium on September 12th, 2009 1-0 to claim three points. The winning run was short-lived, however, with a trip to Arsenal on 19 September ending in a 4-0 defeat. On the 26th September Wigan claimed their first 3 points against a "big 4" team after beating Chelsea 3-1, with goals from Titus Bramble, Hugo Rodallega and Paul Scharner.
Stadium
Wigan Athletic's stadium is the 25,138 capacity DW Stadium, part of the Robin Park complex in Wigan. It has been the club's home since the
1999-00-Premier League:Manchester United were crowned FA Premier League champions with an 18-point margin over runners-up Arsenal and with just 3 league defeats all season. This was despite their failure to retain the European Cup and withdrawal from the FA Cup in order to compete in the FIFA Club World...
season. Wigan Athletic share the stadium with
rugby leagueRugby league football is a full-contact form of football, played with a prolate spheroid ball by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. Rugby league is one of the two codes of rugby football, the other being rugby union...
team
Wigan WarriorsWigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The first team competes in Europe's engage Super League competition, playing its home matches at the DW Stadium, Wigan....
. The ground cost £30 million to construct. Previously, home games were played at
Springfield ParkSpringfield Park was a multi-purpose stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home ground of Wigan Athletic F.C. until the club moved to the new JJB Stadium after the 1999 season. At its largest, the stadium held 40,000...
, the former home of Wigan Borough.
The record attendance at the
JJB StadiumThe DW Stadium is a dual-purpose sports stadium located within the Robin Park retail complex in Wigan, England, opened and built in 1999. The stadium was named after its principal sponsor, the sporting goods retailer JJB Sports—whose former chairman Dave Whelan owns the Wigan Athletic...
for Wigan Athletic is 25,133 for a match against
Manchester UnitedManchester United Football Club is an English football club, one of the most popular football clubs in the world, based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. The club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, and has played in the top division of English football since 1938, with the...
on May 11, 2008.
The JJB Stadium was the fourth attempt at re-development/re-location for Wigan Athletic, the first coming in 1986 when then-chairman Bill Kenyon revealed plans for a 15,000 all-seater development at Springfield Park including a hotel and shopping facilities. The club were to play at the nearby Woodhouse Stadium (formerly Wigan Municipal Stadium - now demolished) while the building work took place.
In 1990, Kenyon submitted his second scheme which would cost £3m, hold 12-15,000 fans and involve moving the pitch nearer to the car park. Neither efforts got past the planning stage.
The next chairman, Stephen Gage, spent most of 1993 and 1994 trying to relocate the Latics to the then Robin Park Stadium (now demolished) until his plans were scuppered by Wigan Council when the local authority announced plans for their own ground involving Wigan Warriors. Mr Gage finally admitted defeat when he sold the Latics to Dave Whelan on 27 February 1995 for around £1m.
Plans for the JJB Stadium were first published in 1997.
Contracts for the new stadium were signed in late 1997 with work starting immediately. Originally the ground was to be built for Wigan Athletic and Orrell R.U.F.C., as grants were only available for multi-use stadia at that time. Wigan Warriors did not figure in the equation until Dave Whelan bought the rugby club some 12 months later after protracted negotiations with the directors of the rugby club.
The modern all-seater stadium was officially opened on August 4, 1999. Its inauguration was marked with a friendly between Wigan Athletic and neighbours
Manchester UnitedManchester United Football Club is an English football club, one of the most popular football clubs in the world, based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. The club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, and has played in the top division of English football since 1938, with the...
, who were then reigning European Champions, with
Sir Alex FergusonSir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE, popularly known as Sir Alex or Fergie is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986.Ferguson previously managed East Stirlingshire and St. Mirren, before a highly successful...
officially opening the stadium. However, Wigan hosted
MorecambeMorecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in Football League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to The Football League....
three days earlier on August 1 as a dress rehearsal for the official opening against Manchester United. 4,020 supporters braved a fierce electrical storm and torrential rain but the game ended in a goalless draw. The first competitive football match took place on August 7, 1999, with Wigan Athletic facing Scunthorpe United in a Division 2 match. Simon Haworth scored twice, including the first competitive goal at the new stadium, as Athletic won 3-0.
On March 7, 2005
Greater ManchesterGreater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.56 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and...
police announced that they would stop policing Wigan Athletic matches at the stadium from April 2. This move would almost certainly have resulted in the stadium's safety certificate being revoked, effectively forcing the team to play behind closed doors. The move was part of an ongoing dispute between the police force and Dave Whelan surrounding £300,000 in unpaid policing costs. (Under current arrangements, football clubs have a minimum legal requirement to pay for any costs incurred inside their stadiums or property). The situation was temporarily resolved on March 8 with both sides reaching an agreement that would allow Athletic to play at the ground until the end of the season. Four months later, Wigan, facing the prospect of playing their home games in the Premier League in an empty stadium, grudgingly paid the money they owed to the police. However, following the ordeal the club appealed against the payments in court and won it, with the claims expected to earn the club around £37,000.
On March 25 2009 it was announced that Wigan would change the name of their stadium to The DW Stadium, after chairman Dave Whelan's commercial venture, DW Sports Fitness.
Football / Rugby League Feud
Curiously for an English football club, Wigan Athletic's chief rivalry is not with another football club, but with the local
rugby leagueRugby league football is a full-contact form of football, played with a prolate spheroid ball by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. Rugby league is one of the two codes of rugby football, the other being rugby union...
club,
Wigan WarriorsWigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The first team competes in Europe's engage Super League competition, playing its home matches at the DW Stadium, Wigan....
. It is a long-standing rivalry and in fact predates the club's formation, as previous football teams within the town are said to have struggled to attract support due to the success of the
local rugby league clubWigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The first team competes in Europe's engage Super League competition, playing its home matches at the DW Stadium, Wigan....
.
Relative fortunes have also fostered resentment. In the 1989-1990 season, Wigan Athletic, deep in financial trouble, were given a lifeline as they were drawn against
LiverpoolLiverpool Football Club is a professional football club based in Liverpool, England. The club plays in the Premier League, and has won more trophies than any other English club...
in a two-legged tie in the second round of the
Football League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Carling Cup, is an English football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
. When approached, the
Wigan RLWigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The first team competes in Europe's engage Super League competition, playing its home matches at the DW Stadium, Wigan....
board refused to allow the football club use of their
Central ParkCentral Park was a rugby league stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, one of the most famous stadiums in rugby league. It was the home of Wigan RLFC prior to their move to the JJB Stadium in 1999, and it was used mostly for rugby league matches...
ground, due to a rugby fixture on the same date, which would have given the home side a greater share of the gate revenue (due to the fact
Central ParkCentral Park was a rugby league stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, one of the most famous stadiums in rugby league. It was the home of Wigan RLFC prior to their move to the JJB Stadium in 1999, and it was used mostly for rugby league matches...
had a larger capacity of around 32,000) forcing both ties to be played at
AnfieldAnfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, in Liverpool, England. Built in 1884, the stadium has been home to Liverpool F.C. since they were formed in 1892 as a result of the original tenants Everton F.C...
. The need to move the game came as Springfield Park had recently had its capacity cut from 20,000 to 10,800 in 1985 by
Wigan CouncilThe Metropolitan Borough of Wigan is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. It is named after its largest component town, Wigan and also includes the towns of Leigh, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Ince-in-Makerfield, and Hindley. The borough was formed in 1974 and is an...
due to safety concerns.
Relations have not been improved by both clubs' move to play their home fixtures at the JJB Stadium. A poor playing surface for football matches at the JJB Stadium in recent seasons has often seen Athletic fans blame the rugby matches for ruining the pitch, despite much of the damage being in the football goal mouths and despite the fact the pitch seems fine before the football season kicks off.
The rivalry resurfaced in 2008 when a
play-off gameSince 1998 a play-off system has been used to determine the Super League champions. The format has changed over the years, starting with a play-off involving first five, then six teams and currently eight. The play-offs culminate in the Super League Grand Final....
between
Wigan WarriorsWigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. The first team competes in Europe's engage Super League competition, playing its home matches at the DW Stadium, Wigan....
and
Bradford BullsBradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. It has been one of the major success stories of the Super League era, with the 2003 season being its best where the club successfully won all of the major rugby league honours,...
on September 12 was moved from the JJB Stadium to
WidnesThe Stobart Stadium Halton is a rugby league stadium in Widnes, England. The Widnes Vikings play their home games there as do Everton F.C.'s reserves.The stadium is all seater and has a total capacity of 13,350....
due to the Latics playing
SunderlandSunderland Association Football Club are a professional association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, England, that compete in the Premier League. Since their formation in 1879, they have won six First Division titles—in 1892, 1893, 1895, 1902, 1913, and 1936 Sunderland Association...
a day later. This outraged Wigan fans, as the club had earned a home game due to their standing in the league table. The decision was made by Whelco, owners of the DW Stadium, following alleged pressure from the Premier League suggesting that Wigan Athletic will get preference in the event of such clashes. Similarly, the
Good FridayGood Friday, also called Holy Friday, Black Friday, or Great Friday, is a holiday observed primarily by adherents to Christianity commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary...
clash of Wigan Warriors vs St Helens in 2009 also had to be moved to the Thursday before Good Friday due to a Latics game against
ArsenalArsenal Football Club are an English professional football club based in Holloway, North London...
. Almost 23,000 fans were in attendance, including 5,000 Arsenal supporters, compared to the 22,232 fans of the Wigan Warriors vs St Helens match, which also included 5,000 St.Helens supporters.
Attendance
Wigan Athletic have the 32nd best average attendance in England, 17,884 though this is the lowest in the Premier League. Supporters argue that, for a club that has only been playing league football since 1978, year-on-year increases in average attendance — from 1,845 in 1995 to 19,046 in 2008 — represent a huge success.
Club shop
On April 9, 2009,
Steve BruceStephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs...
, Brenda Spencer, Michael Brown and club captain,
Mario MelchiotMario Melchiot is a Dutch football defender who currently plays for English Premier League club Wigan Athletic. He can play as either a right-back or as central defender.-Ajax and Chelsea:...
, unveiled the Latics' new club shop, housed in the West Stand of the JJB Stadium. As Wigan Athletic previously had no club shop, supporters had to rely on the town's JJB Sports stores to purchase Latics merchandise. The shop was built in the former offices of Wigan Warriors manager Brian Noble, who had been forced to move to Edge Hall Road, ending all administrative ties the rugby club had with the stadium.
Current squad
Out on loan
Management
- Manager: Roberto Martinez
Roberto Martinez is the name of:* Roberto Martínez Lacayo, President of Nicaragua* Roberto Martínez y Gutiérrez, Mexican bishopSports* Roberto Martínez Celigüeta, Spanish footballer...
- Assistant Manager: Graeme Jones
Graeme Anthony Jones , is a former English footballer. He is currently assistant manager at Wigan Athletic.-Career:...
- General Manager: John Benson
John Harvey Benson was a Scottish football player and manager and is currently on the staff of Wigan Athletic. He was born in Arbroath....
- First Team Coach: Graham Barrow
Graham Barrow is an English former footballer who has since become a lower division manager. He is currently part of the coaching staff at Premier League side Wigan Athletic, where he has previously been both a player and manager.-Barrow the Player:Barrow first entered the Football League at the...
- Youth Team Coach: Dave Watson
David "Dave" Watson is an English former professional footballer who made 12 appearances for the English national team. He is now the youth team coach at Wigan Athletic.-Playing Career:...
- Goalkeeping Coach: Inaki Bergara
- Head of Sports Medicine: Richard Evans
- Chief Scout: Kevin Reeves
Kevin Philip Reeves, born Burley, Hampshire on 20 October 1957 was an English football forward who played for Manchester City between 1980 and 1983...
- First Team Physio: Alex Cribley
- Youth Team Physio: Neil Fitzhenry
- First Team Masseur: Oscar Brau
- Masseur: Dave Hallam
- Kit Manager: Dave Mitten
- Dietician: Daniel Simms
Notable Former Players
Peter AthertonPeter Atherton , is an English former professional English footballer who plays as both a defender and a midfielder...
Leighton BainesLeighton John Baines is an English footballer, who plays left-back for Everton in the English Premier League. He won 16 caps for the England Under-21 team...
Marcus BentMarcus Nathan Bent is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Birmingham City, whom he joined in July 2008. At club level, he previously played for Brentford, Crystal Palace, Port Vale, Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, Everton, Charlton Athletic and Wigan...
Carl BradshawCarl Bradshaw is a former professional footballer who played for Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Manchester City, Sheffield United, Norwich City, Wigan Athletic and Scunthorpe Utd...
Jimmy BullardJames Richard "Jimmy" Bullard is an English footballer who plays for Hull City as a midfielder. He originally was a painter decorator and only became a professional footballer at the age of 20.-Career:...
David ThompsonDavid Anthony Thompson is a former English football player who played as a midfielder.During his career Thompson played for Liverpool, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers.-Liverpool:Thompson's Liverpool debut came on August 19, 1996, as an 87th minute...
Nathan EllingtonNathan Levi Fontaine Ellington is an English professional footballer. He is a striker and currently plays for Championship side Watford.-Non-league and Bristol Rovers:...
David FaircloughDavid Fairclough is a retired English footballer, most famous for playing for Liverpool as a striker during the 1970s and 80s.-Life and playing career:...
Colin GreenallColin Greenall is an English former professional footballer who made over 600 Football League appearances between 1980 and 1999...
Bryan GriffithsBryan Kenneth Griffiths is an English former professional footballer. He played as a left winger.Born in Prescot, Lancashire, Griffiths began his career with St. Helens Town in the 1980s...
Emile HeskeyEmile William Ivanhoe Heskey is an English footballer who plays for Premier League team Aston Villa as a striker. He has also played as a left winger....
Matt JacksonMatthew Alan "Matt" Jackson is an English former professional footballer who played as a defender throughout his career.-Career:...
Paul JewellPaul Steven Jewell is a football manager, having previously had a career as a player. He is without a job since resigning from Derby County in December 2008....
Alan KennedyAlan Phillip Kennedy is a former footballer who played for Liverpool during their halcyon days in the late 1970s and early 1980s who had a knack of scoring in major cup finals.-Playing career:...
Ian KilfordIan Kilford is an English former professional footballer who played 263 games as a midfielder in the Football League for Nottingham Forest, Wigan Athletic and Scunthorpe United...
Neil MellorNeil Andrew Mellor is an English professional football player with Preston North End. He made his name in 2004 by scoring a stunning last-minute goal from long range to give Liverpool a 2–1 victory over Arsenal at Anfield...
David LoweDavid Anthony Lowe is an English former footballer. He made almost 600 appearances in the Football League in a career spanning seventeen years.-Playing career:...
Gary WalshGary Walsh is a retired English footballer who played as goalkeeper with a number of clubs including Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Bradford City and Wigan Athletic. He became goalkeeping coach at Wigan under manager Paul Jewell before teaming back up with Jewell at Derby County...
Harry LyonHarry Lyon may refer to:* Harry Lyon , New Zealand musician* Captain Harry Lyon , United States pioneer aviator* Harry Lyon , English football player...
Mike NewellMichael Colin "Mike" Newell is an English football manager and former player. He was a member of the Blackburn Rovers team which won the Premier League in 1995, and totalled £3,585,000 in transfer fees over the duration of his career. In October 2008 he was appointed manager of League Two team...
Joe ParkinsonJoe Parkinson is a former professional footballer, who played in midfield for Wigan Athletic, A.F.C...
Micky QuinnMichael "Micky" Quinn is a former football player. He was predominantly a centre forward during his career.- Career :...
Neil RedfearnNeil David Redfearn is an English footballer and manager, who plays for Salford City and is under-18s coach at Leeds United. He has played 790 matches in the Football League, the fifth highest total of all-time, and more than a thousand first-team games overall in a career that has spanned 24 years...
Allen TankardAllen John Tankard is an English former footballer. Noted for his eight years with Port Vale, overall he played 519 games in the Football League.-Playing career:...
Ryan Taylor
David UnsworthDavid Michael Unsworth is a former footballer who played in the position of centre-back or left-back....
Lee CattermoleLee Barry Cattermole is an English professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Sunderland in the Premier League.-Early life:"Catts" was born in Stockton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire...
Stephen McMillanStephen "Steve" McMillan is a Scottish former footballer, who retired from professional football in February 2007. He played for Motherwell and Wigan Athletic.-Career:...
Colin MethvenColin John Methven is an Indian-born Scottish former professional footballer.A centre-half, Methven began his career with East Fife in 1974...
Archie GemmillArchibald "Archie" Gemmill is a Scottish former footballer, most famous for a goal he scored against the Netherlands in the 1978 FIFA World Cup...
Andy LiddellAndrew Mark "Andy" Liddell is a Scottish football midfielder who plays for Rotherham United. He previously played with Barnsley, Sheffield United, Wigan Athletic and Oldham Athletic.-Early career:...
Gary TealeGary Teale is a Scottish professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for Derby County and Scotland. He has also played for Clydebank, Ayr United and Wigan Athletic. Whilst at Wigan Athletic,he was part of the first ever Wigan side to reach the top flight...
Andy Webster
Lee McCullochLee Henry McCulloch is a Scottish professional association football player who currently plays for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League...
Graham KavanaghGraham Anthony Kavanagh is an Irish footballer who plays for Carlisle United, having also played for Home Farm, Middlesbrough, Stoke City, Cardiff City, Wigan Athletic, Sunderland and two loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday....
Kevin KilbaneKevin Daniel Kilbane is an English born Irish footballer who plays as a left-sided midfielder for Hull City in the Premier League...
Peter CorrPeter Joseph Corr was an Irish footballer. Corr played as an outside-right for, among others, Everton and Ireland. In 1949 he was a member of the Ireland team that defeated England 2–0 at Goodison Park, becoming the first non-UK team to beat England at home...
Roy CarrollRoy Eric Carroll is a Northern Irish footballer who currently plays for Danish side OB. He is a goalkeeper and is best known for his spells at Wigan Athletic and Manchester United, where he won the 2004 FA Cup...
Croatia
Josip SkokoJosip Skoko is an Australian football player of Croatian heritage. He is a midfielder who is currently playing for Hajduk Split.-Early career:...
John FilanJohn Filan is an Australian former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.-Club career:He played for St. George Saints and Wollongong Wolves in the old National Soccer League in Australia before moving to England to join Cambridge United in 1993...
Jason de Vos Antonio Valencia
Amr ZakiAmr Hassan Zaki is a Egyptian professional footballer who plays as a striker and is currently signed to Egyptian Premier League club Zamalek.-Early career:...
MidoMido may refer to:* Mido, a common nickname for males named Muhammad and Ahmad in the Arab World* Mido , an Egyptian footballer, currently playing for El Zamalek on loan from Middlesbrough in the Coca-Cola Championship....
Pascal ChimbondaPascal Chimbonda is a French footballer who plays for Blackburn Rovers as a defender.Chimbonda, who is able to play at centre-back or left-back but more commonly appears at right-back, became well known to English football supporters due to his impressive displays on the pitch for Wigan Athletic,...
Antoine SibierskiAntoine Sibierski is a former French footballer who played as a striker for clubs such as Manchester City and Newcastle United-Early career:...
Jason RobertsJason Andre Davis Roberts is an English born Grenadian football player who plays as a striker for Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League.-Early career:...
Wilson PalaciosWilson Roberto Palacios Suazo is a Honduran footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. He played as a central midfielder for previous club Wigan Athletic, but at Olimpia he played regularly on the right of midfield.-Victoria:Palacios, along with his brothers , started...
Arjan de ZeeuwAdrianus "Arjan" de Zeeuw is a Dutch footballer. He is a centre-back, and is playing for ADO'20 in the Dutch Hoofdklasse.-Playing career:...
Denny LandzaatDenny Domingoes Landzaat is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord.-Early life:Landzaat is born and raised in Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands...
Henri CamaraHenri Camara is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a striker, but is currently unattached after being released by Wigan Athletic.-Early career:...
Roberto MartínezRoberto Martínez Gutiérrez is a Spanish former professional footballer and is currently manager of Wigan Athletic.-Playing career:...
Andreas GranqvistAndreas Granqvist is a Swedish football player, currently playing as a defender for FC Groningen.He started his career as a small kid in Påarps GIF, the local club of his home village Påarp, near Helsingborg. He later transferred to Helsingborgs IF and he made his senior club debut for HIF at 19,...
Neil Roberts
Carlo NashCarlo James Nash is an English footballer who plays for Everton as a goalkeeper.-Career:Born in Bolton, Lancashire, Nash started his career at non-League Rossendale United and Clitheroe before being signed by Crystal Palace...
Damien FrancisDamien Jerome Francis is a retired Jamaican international footballer.-Early career:As a child Francis followed Wimbledon, and was a ball boy at their ground...
Notable former managers
Ian McNeillIan McNeill is a former professional footballer and manager.Playing at inside forward, McNeill's career included stints at Aberdeen, Leicester City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southend United. Upon retiring, McNeill moved into management, taking charge of Wigan Athletic between 1968 and 1970...
Gordon MilneGordon Milne is an English former footballer and football manager.-Personal life:Gordon Milne, was born in Preston, Lancashire, England and is the son of the former Preston player Jimmy Milne, and son to Jesse Milne...
Bobby CharltonSir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player who won the World Cup and was named the European Footballer of the Year in 1966...
Larry LloydLaurence Valentine Lloyd was a footballer, a burly and tough central defender who won honours for both Bill Shankly's Liverpool and Brian Clough's all-conquering Nottingham Forest side of the late 1970s....
Harry McNallyHarry McNally was a football player, coach and manager, noted for his spells as manager of Wigan Athletic and Chester City.- The Non-League Background :...
Ray MathiasRaymond "Ray" Mathias is an English football coach and former player. He has spent most of his career in the lower leagues of English football but is currently without a role - after being relieved of his duties as former manager Paul Ince also left the club.- Playing :Born in Liverpool, Mathias...
Bryan HamiltonBryan Hamilton is a Northern Irish former professional football player and manager. He gained 50 caps for Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1980, and later managed the national team for four years.-Playing career:...
John DeehanJohn Matthew Deehan , is a former football player who in recent years has had several spells in coaching and management. He is currently the Chief Scout at Norwich City.-As a player:...
Bruce RiochBruce David Rioch is an English-born football manager and former player. He was manager of Aalborg BK in the Danish Superliga, until his sacking on 23 October 2008....
Paul JewellPaul Steven Jewell is a football manager, having previously had a career as a player. He is without a job since resigning from Derby County in December 2008....
Chris HutchingsChristopher "Chris" Hutchings is an English former footballer and manager of Walsall. He played for a number of clubs including Chelsea and played more than 100 games for Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town...
Steve BruceStephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs...
Other achievements
- Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the FA Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
: Promoted in 1981/1982
- FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association. The name "FA Cup" usually refers to the English men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held...
: Best performance: 6th Round 1986/1987
- Elected to Football League
The Football League, also known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
1978
- Record win for a non-league side over a league side, beating Carlisle United 6-1 in the first round of FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association. The name "FA Cup" usually refers to the English men's tournament, although a women's tournament is also held...
at Brunton ParkBrunton Park is the home of Carlisle United F.C. It is situated in Carlisle, Cumbria and has a capacity of 16,651. It flooded completely in 2005....
(a record victory that still stands) in the 1934-35 season.
- FA Trophy
The Football Association Challenge Trophy, commonly known as the FA Trophy, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after The Football Association and competed for primarily by semi-professional teams...
: runners-up in 1972/1973
- Best value premier league football club 2008/09 - ING Direct Value League
Records
- Record League victory, 7–1 vs. Scarborough
Scarborough Football Club were an English football club based in the seaside resort of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. They were one of the oldest football clubs in England, formed in 1879, before they were wound up on 20 June 2007, with debts of £2.5 million.In the 2006–07 season...
(11 March 1997)
- Record League defeat, 1–6 vs. Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol. The team play their home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city, and have played in League One since being promoted via the League Two playoffs at the end of the 2006–07 season.The...
(3 March 1990) and 0-5 vs. Manchester United F.C.Manchester United Football Club is an English football club, one of the most popular football clubs in the world, based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. The club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, and has played in the top division of English football since 1938, with the...
(22 August 2009)
- Record attendance, 25,133 v Manchester United
Manchester United Football Club is an English football club, one of the most popular football clubs in the world, based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. The club was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992, and has played in the top division of English football since 1938, with the...
, Premier League (May 11, 2008)
- Most League appearances, 317, Kevin Langley
Kevin James Langley is a former English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made 427 appearances in the Football League, including a club record 317 for Wigan Athletic....
(1981–1986, 1990–1994)
- Most League goals scored, total, 70, Andy Liddell
Andrew Mark "Andy" Liddell is a Scottish football midfielder who plays for Rotherham United. He previously played with Barnsley, Sheffield United, Wigan Athletic and Oldham Athletic.-Early career:...
(1998–2003)
- Most goals scored, season, 31, Graeme Jones
Graeme Anthony Jones , is a former English footballer. He is currently assistant manager at Wigan Athletic.-Career:...
(1996-97- Premier League :Manchester United won their second consecutive title, despite a spell in the autumn where they lost three games and conceded 13 goals...
)
- Highest league position, 10th in the Premier League (2006)
- Football League Cup best: Finalists 2005/06
- FA Cup best: Quarter Finalists 1986/87
- Record consecutive league appearances, 123, Jimmy Bullard
James Richard "Jimmy" Bullard is an English footballer who plays for Hull City as a midfielder. He originally was a painter decorator and only became a professional footballer at the age of 20.-Career:...
(Jan '03 - Nov '05)
- Record transfer fee paid, Charles N'Zogbia
Charles N'Zogbia is a professional footballer currently playing for the English Premier League club Wigan Athletic, whom he joined in 2009 from Newcastle United....
, £6 Million, from Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United Football Club is an English football club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, they play in the Football League Championship. And are renowned for having a very good fan base...
, February 2009
- Record transfer fee received, Antonio Valencia, £16 million, to Manchester United, June 2009
External links