The History & Success of Wigan Football Club

WIGAN ATHLETIC - "THE LATICS"

16 May 2009 - 2:15pm — 188FOOTBALL

Wigan Athletic hold the distinction of being the youngest football team in the Premier League, where they are currently enjoying their first spell in the top tier of English football since gaining promotion in 2005.

Following their formation in 1932, Wigan Football Club made little impact on the top level of the game until the football club's rapid and spectacular rise to the top, funded by local businessman and multi-millionaire Dave Whelan, who bought the football club in 1995.

The Latics were playing in the old Third Division when Whelan, the owner of JJB Sports, came on board. Ten years later they were in the Premier League and had earned a place in the 2006 League Cup final for the first time in their history, where they lost to Manchester United.

Wigan Athletic Wigan County, Wigan United and Wigan Town had also fallen by the wayside.

Wigan Athletic spent their formative years in local leagues and only started to climb the football ladder in earnest in 1968 as founder members of the Northern Premier League.

Ten years later, following a host of unsuccessful bids for election, Wigan Athletic were accepted into the Football League for the first time at the expense of Southport after two rounds of voting this in the days before automatic promotion and relegation in and out of the bottom division.

Wigan FC made steady progress and reached the then Third Division in 1982, where they stayed until relegation in 1993.

Wigan Athletic took the first steps towards their rapid climb to the Premiership under manager John Deehan by winning the Division Three Championship in 1997 thanks in no small part to Graeme Jones' club-record 31 League goals.

In the three seasons between 1998 and 2001, Wigan Athletic missed out on promotion three times, despite reaching the play-offs each time. During this period Wigan FC had moved from their original Springfield Park ground to the £30 million JJB Stadium in 1999.

Wigan Athletic finally achieved their longed-for promotion to the First Division by winning the Second Division title outright in 2003, earning 100 points on the way with Paul Jewell at the helm and thanks to then-record signing Nathan Ellington's goals.

The following year Wigan Athletic narrowly missed out on a play-off place and a last-day win over Reading. The 2004-05 season saw Wigan reach the top flight for the first time, as runners-up in the Football League Championship.

Wigan Athletic Football Club Facts

Wigan Ahtletic paid a club record of £6 million for player Charles N'Zogbia, from Newcastle United
Antonio Valencia was sold from Wigan Athletic to manchester United for a club record of £16 million in June 2009
Wigan FC are the youngest team in the Premier League only formed in 1932

Comments

Wigan's future

7 October 2009 - 9:54am — David Beckham

Wigan are a good side, they play well and when they're focused they're very hard to break down. They seem to have little lapses in concentration in their match against Hull which lead to the goals. Unfortunately thats football, you go to sleep for one second and the ball is in the back of the net. It's up the players out there to stay focused and you can see the difference in them when they play big teams and are on their toes the entire game.

Whats up Wigan?

5 October 2009 - 4:36pm — Steve Gerrard

There is no point in putting in a massive effort to beat one of the of clubs in the league if you cant beat the likes of Hull. While I know its great for the fans when you beat one of the big teams my problem is that its always very short lived. They've made my point, being on a high beating chelsea and failing to produce anything against Hull. You cant be successfull only beating the top four, Liverpool did that all of last seasona and still only came second...

Giant Killers

5 October 2009 - 11:11am — George Best

Every season Wigan seems to take a big scalp in the Premiership. They rise up to big occasions and have proven they can hurt the "Big Four". Consistancy is key for Wigan to do well this season. I'd love to see them dominate the games with low lying teams and get those results.

Go Wigan!

1 October 2009 - 2:24pm — danni

Wigan's jaw dropping defeat of Chelsea who were previously unbeaten this season, was inspired and thoroughly deserved. Even Drogba agreed that the Latics were the stronger team in an interview after the match. lets see more like that Wigan!

M'Bami at Wigan

1 October 2009 - 2:20pm — no1StokeFan

Looks like M'Bami wont be joining Wigan in the 09-10 season. Seems like a shame considering he has 28 caps and 6 goals for Cameroon. But you can't push it too much when negociating a deal can you. Rumor has it that he wanted a longer contract than the short-term which Wigan was prepared to offer.