Wigan Athletic

The story of Wigan Athletic Football Club starts in 1932 when the club was founded. They were admitted into The Football League in 1978 and were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 2005. Their first major honor was their victory in their 2013 FA Cup Final.

Wigan Athletic was formed in 1932 following the closure the operations of Wigan Borough the year before. Wigan Athletic was the sixth attempt to establish an established sports club within the city after the dissolution of Wigan A.F.C., Wigan County, Wigan United, Wigan Town and Wigan Borough. Springfield Park, the former home of Wigan Borough, was purchased by the club for a price of PS2,850. Even though their initial application was denied, Wigan Athletic were elected to the Cheshire County League following the resignation of Manchester Central. They also made their first of many attempts to get to the Football League, but failed to get one vote. On the 27th of August 1932 Wigan Athletic played their first ever league match with Port Vale Reserves. The team was dressed in white and red shirts and black shorts.

Wigan Athletic won its first honors during the 1933-34 season which saw it finish at the top within the Cheshire League, despite being situated in Lancashire. The following season, the club was awarded the league's second championship. They also made it into the FA Cup for the first time, beating Carlisle United 6-1 in the first round. This was an all-time record in the cup for the most significant victory of an non-league club against one of the league clubs. In the 1935-36 season the club took home their third straight Cheshire League title and the Lancashire Junior Cup.

Following after the Second World War, Wigan Athletic adopted the current white and blue colours. The club was struggling to put together an elite team and finished last in the league for the 1946-47. Despite their prior success however, the club was unable to be elected again and was taken over with Winsford United. The club was a member of in the Lancashire Combination, winning the league in their debut season. The year 1950 was the time that Wigan Athletic came close to being elected as a member of The Football League, narrowly losing against Scunthorpe United and Shrewsbury Town. Wigan Athletic would often apply for membership to The Football League over the next 28 years, before finally getting accepted.

In the season 1953-54, Wigan played an FA Cup match against Hereford United in front of a crowd of 27,526 people - the club's record and an attendance record for a game between two teams from an unofficial ground. In the following match of this cup Wigan Athletic was drawn against First Division side Newcastle United. Wigan Athletic held their top-flight rivals to a draw of 2-2 in St James' Park, however they lost the replay with a score of 3-2. After 1961, they was moved into in the Cheshire League.

The 1964-65 season was when Wigan Athletic won its first Cheshire League title since returning to the league. the league's top goal scorer Harry Lyon scoring 66 times. Harry Lyon is still the club's top goal scorer ever. Wigan Athletic won four cup championships in the season 1966-67 (Lancashire Floodlit Cup winner, Liverpool Non League Senior Cup winner, Northern Floodlit League winner, Northern Floodlit League Cup winner) and was also Cheshire County League runner-up.

in 1968 Wigan Athletic was a founding part of the Northern Premier League. The team won the title of league champion in 1970-71 the top goal scorer with 42 goals, including seven hat-tricks and seven hat-tricks, is Geoff Davies, who scored 28 goals in the subsequent 1971-72 season. The team was in Wembley Stadium for the first time in 1973's FA Trophy Final, where they fell 2-1 to Scarborough. After 34 unsuccessful election attempts as well as a controversial but notable application in 1972 to be a part of in the Scottish League Second Division, Wigan Athletic was elected to the Football League in 1978.

Wigan Athletic finished in second position within the Northern Premier League in the 1977-78 season. They were a step behind Boston United. The Boston United ground and facilities didn't meet those Football League criteria for a League club, but Springfield Park did, Wigan Athletic were chosen for selection to the league. It was not an automatic transfer from the Football League until 1987, and at that point, clubs had to be "voted out" from the League in order for an unleague team to be promoted to the league in place. In the season 1977-78 Southport was ranked at the bottom of the former Fourth Division, and faced nearby rivals Wigan Athletic for their place in the league. In the first phase of votes was not a win in both clubs, receiving 26 votes. Following a tense re-vote, which Wigan was able to win 29-20. Southport dropped out of the Fourth Division and Wigan Athletic was made an English League club on 2 June 1978.

In the first season of league football Wigan Athletic finished in sixth position, only six points away from promotion, and playing in front of an average attendance of 6,701. Two more top-half finishes were recorded during the subsequent seasons, but a slow 1980-81 campaign saw the departure of the long-serving coach Ian McNeill shortly before the conclusion in the league. They received their very first Football League promotion under the direction by former Liverpool players Larry Lloyd in 1981-82, with a score of 91 led them to be a part of the former Division Three for the first time. This marked the beginning of 10 years of playing within English football's third division. The team struggled during their debut year in Division Three and this resulted in Lloyd's dismissal in the early part of 1983. Bobby Charlton, a director at the time, was appointed as interim manager, before being succeeded with Harry McNally. Under McNally's leadership the club remained within Division Three and achieved a couple of mid-table finishes. However the disastrous 1984-85 season ended his tenure as well as Tranmere Manager Bryan Hamilton stepping into the gap. Under Hamilton's leadership the team's performance improved to the next level , and they took home their first silverware as a league team during that time with the Freight Rover Trophy. They were defeated at the Northern final of the same tournament the next campaign with Bolton Wanderers. But, more importantly, Hamilton achieved Division Three survival, something that appeared to be impossible earlier in the season.

The 1985-86 campaign saw an impressive improvement in the team's league performance which eventually saw them finish fourth an all-time record that would last for 17 years up to 2002-03. Wigan Athletic finished the season only one point short of the promotion spots in the final season prior to it was the time that the Football League introduced the play-off system of promotion and removal. Hamilton's accomplishments caught the interest to the attention of First Division Leicester City and the club hired him as manager of the club in the summer of. He was assisted by his assistant Ray Mathias, who was with him from Tranmere took over take over Wigan Athletic manager's job. Wigan Athletic managed an identical fourth-place finish during the 1986-87 season, however this time they were awarded the opportunity to contend for the final promotion spot under the new play-off system. (In the first two seasons in the system of play-offs teams finishing fourth, third and fifth were paired with teams that finished twenty-fifth that was above to play-off for promotion position; it was changed to teams that finished third fourth, fifth, and sixth after the 1988-89 season.). The Latics were defeated in the semi-finals stage in two games to Swindon and then won the final promotion spot.

Fourth-place finishes in the 1985-86 season and the 1986-87 season were the highest highlights of Wigan Athletic's initial time in Division 3. The following five seasons they were mid-table and struggling to avoid relegation in 1988-1989 (at the time Mathias was dismissed and the former manager Bryan Hamilton returned) and 1989-90. They were eliminated to the second time in club's history in the 1992-93 season. Wigan Athletic finished in 23rd position, despite a sluggish attendance that had dropped from an average of 3,000-4,000 for division 3 of Wigan Athletic's seasons to a mere 2,593 in 1992-93. 6 Hamilton quit shortly after the club was relegated then was succeeded by Kenny Swain. In the following year after the club returned in the fourth division in the English League, the Latics ended up finishing fourth from bottom 19th in the league. Although the club did not face relegation in that season because of the absence of a reputable Club that was part of the Football Conference, this remains the club's worst-ever performance. The next season was to be even more difficult in that Swain was fired at the beginning of the season following an awful beginning and ex-player Graham Barrow took over as manager. Despite the club's position being towards the lowest of the table up to the end in December, the second quarter of the season saw an improvement in the performance, and they ended far from the relegation zone , finishing in 15th position. The attendance fell to their lowest level ever Wigan Athletic League average of 1,845 by the year 1995.

Then, in February of 1995 a local millionaire and the owner of JJB Sports, Dave Whelan bought the club. Thanks to his connections with business people in Spain the Spaniards he enlisted to the club that included Roberto Martinez, Isidro Diaz as well as Jesus Seba - who became known as the Three Amigos. The trio were the on-field symbol of Whelan's strategy to bring Wigan Athletic into the Premier League. Three Amigos Three Amigos were joined at the club by John Deehan, who replaced Barrow as manager in the 1995-96 campaign following an 6-2 defeat at home at Mansfield Town. Deehan was able to bring the Latics just two points away from the play-off spot during his debut season. The club had actually been in the last automatic promotion slot with the remaining four games however they lost all of them and failed to qualify for the playoffs. The following season Wigan Athletic became Division Three champions on the final day of the seasonwith Graeme Jones scoring a club record of 31 league goals. In many seasons, they would have finished runners-up, however a temporary rule change that saw goals scored over goal difference enabled them to be crowned champions ahead of runners-up Fulham with similar points but a greater goal differential.

After finishing mid-table with a mid-table finish in Division Two the following season, Deehan quit to become Steve Bruce's assistant at Sheffield United. He was replaced by Ray Mathias, who returned for his third time in the role of Wigan Athletic manager. Mathias team was awarded the Football League Trophy in 1999 and beat Millwall 1-1 in Wembley Stadium. The following season, the Latics were in the Division Two play-offs, losing the aggregate match 2-1 against Manchester City. Mathias was dismissed and was substituted with John Benson. He guided the team towards the very top in Division Two in his first six months in charge, however, they failed to get into the play-offs. In the final game in the history of Division Two play-off final to be played at the former Wembley Stadium, Wigan lost 3-1 after extra time, losing to Gillingham.

Benson made the move 'upstairs' the position as director of football in summer of 2000, after the former Arsenal director Bruce Rioch took the manager's post in the year 2000-01. Rioch was plagued by serious injuries, and after an unsatisfactory and difficult start to the season was dismissed by Arsenal in the month of February. He was replaced temporarily by the club's stalwart Colin Greenall, before the surprising selection by Steve Bruce for the final eight games of the season. Bruce's arrival brought renewed energy for Wigan Athletic performances, but they ultimately fell in the play-offs with this time Reading and Bruce was transferred to Crystal Palace.

At the end of summer 2001 then Latics forward Paul Jewell took over as manager following a disappointing stint in charge at Sheffield Wednesday. The first season under his management was not without controversy, and included an embarrassing loss against league-less Canvey Island during the FA Cup first round, but the club ultimately finished with a mid-table finish. His second year in charge was much more productive. Wigan Athletic went on a run to the quarterfinals of the League Cup, beating Premier League opponents West Brom, Manchester City and Fulham on the way to. Wigan Athletic won the Division Two championship in 2002-03, with 100 points and was fueled by the goals scored by then-record PS1.2 million acquisition Nathan Ellington, with a streak of 10 consecutive victories throughout the season. The team was only defeated four times during the entire season. Wigan Athletic secured promotion to the second division in the English Football League for the first time in their history.

After their first fixture at the Division One, Wigan Athletic confounded expectations by going without a loss for the next 17 games. They were atop the division in November 2003. The team's performance was not great. Wigan Athletic win only three of their final 10 games, finishing 7th in Division One and a late goal from West Ham's Brian Deane in the final game of the season was enough to see the Latics lose their play-off spots to the the eventual winners of the play-offs Crystal Palace.

Looking to improve on their poor finish In an attempt to improve on their performance, the Latics did better than 2003-04 when they were unbeaten for all 17 of their games in the season 2004-05. Alongside Sunderland and Ipswich The Latics were in the promotion race throughout the season. At the end of the season Sunderland had already taken the title. Wigan had to at least draw against Reading and Reading - who also needed to win in order to finish in sixth position - in order for them to knock off Ipswich to earn the last promotion spot automatically. A 3-1 win in front of home crowd in the JJB Stadium resulted in Wigan Athletic promotion to the highest division in English football , for only the second time over their long history.

The club's very first Premier League game was a sold-out match in JJB Stadium. JJB Stadium against holders Chelsea and was a 1-0 loss after an injury-time winner scored by Hernan Crespo. An impressive run followed in November and, by the end of November, Wigan had finished second on the table. A good run in the league was paired with a similarly impressive performance at the Football League Cup, with Wigan getting their first major cup final after beating Arsenal with away goals at the quarter-final stage. In the final match, Wigan lost 4-0 to the neighbours Manchester United. Wigan Athletic eventually finished the season with a 10th-place finish and is still the club's top place in the league. The defender Pascal Chimbonda was also included in the 2005-06 PFA Team of the Season. He capped off his season with a selection to be part of the France team that will be playing in the World Cup in 2006. FIFA World Cup.

The season ended and Wigan had to let go of numerous players who had impressed during their debut season in the Premier League, such as Jimmy Bullard, Jason Roberts and Stephane Henchoz. The club also brought new players in, including Emile Heskey Denny Landzaat, Chris Kirkland and Antonio Valencia. After a slow start to the 2006-07 campaign, Wigan suffered eight consecutive losses in December, and was 15th in the early months of March. In the last day of the season Wigan won an away victory of 2-1 over Sheffield United, which kept them in the top spot in the face of their rivals. On the following morning, Paul Jewell unexpectedly resigned as manager. His deputy Chris Hutchings was appointed as his successor.

The Wigan's 3rd Premier League campaign saw changes in the team which included Titus Bramble, Mario Melchiot, Jason Koumas and Marcus Bent among the new players, and Melchiot was appointed the new captain of the club. The 2007-08 season started off well for Wigan and saw Emile Heskey called up into the England squad, becoming being the only Wigan player to play for England while a full part at the club. But he fractured his foot shortly after his England call-up, and was in a shambles for around six weeks. The team's position in the league declined, and on the after a string of six consecutive defeats Wigan was relegated to the zone. The decision was taken by Whelan to dismiss Hutchings on November 5, 2007 after 12 games as manager, and then reinstate Bruce who helped the club avoid relegation.

At the end of summer 2008, Bruce agreed to sign Lee Cattermole from Middlesbrough for PS3.5 million. Then, Bruce let Egyptian striker Amr Zaki was signed on for a one-year loan. Zaki has scored more than 10 Premier League goals by February 2009, when Wigan was seventh on the table with 35 points in 25 matches. In January, two of their key first team players, Wilson Palacios and Emile Heskey, who were transferred to Tottenham as well as Aston Villa respectively. Despite these departures, Wigan ended the season 11th with 45 points. This was their second-highest finishing to date during the Premier League. On June 3, Bruce went on to leave Wigan for the second time , this time to assume the vacant directorship at Sunderland. July also saw the departure of another crucial first team player Antonio Valencia to Manchester United. Prior to the 2009-10 season getting in full swing, Cattermole left for Sunderland.

Wigan hired Roberto Martinez, then manager of Swansea City, as manager prior to the 2009-10 Premier League season. He was previously a player for Wigan from 1995 until 2001. On the 26th of September Wigan scored the first three points in their history against the "Big four" team after defeating Chelsea 3-1. The goals came of Titus Bramble, Hugo Rodallega and Paul Scharner. The team's final surge included a 1-0 victory over Liverpool as well as a 3-1 victory against Arsenal which was the one which was a game that saw Wigan come back from two goals behind with ten minutes left to win in injury-time - helped the team again avert being relegated. In particular, having not defeated one players from the "Big four" during the season prior to their victory against Chelsea (and having only one victory against one of the four in cup competitions), Wigan ended the season with a win over three of them in their home stadium. Despite this but also two defeats of 8 goals that were gruesome with a first 9-1 loss in Tottenham during November and then an 8-0 loss against Chelsea on the last game of the year the match that resulted in their opponents being named Premier League champions.

For the season 2010-11, Wigan dropped to lowest of the league at mid-February after a 4-0 loss against Manchester United. However, despite being at the foot of the table teams for most during the campaign, they were able to maintain the Premier League status on the final date of their season beating Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium thanks to a goal scored by Hugo Rodallega. On May 7, 2012, they simultaneously regained the Premier League status and relegated Blackburn Rovers with a 1-0 victory at Ewood Park.

In 2013, following a win over Everton in the quarter-finals, as well as Millwall in the semi-finals Wigan made it to finals in the FA Cup Final for the first time in their history. In the final match, held in Wembley Stadium, Wigan beat Manchester City 1-0, with a goal from Ben Watson scored in injury time. Wigan's very first major trophy also secured Wigan a place at the stage where they will play in group competition in the Europa League. After their defeat of 4-1 to Arsenal the next day, Wigan Athletic ended their eight-year run of playing in the Premier League and became the first team to be knocked out and also win the FA Cup in the same season. On June 5, it was revealed that Martinez had quit Wigan and was signed by Everton with a four-year agreement.

Owen Coyle became the new manager of Wigan Athletic when Martinez left to join Everton. The team was defeated by Manchester United in the Community Shield. Coyle quit by mutual consent 2 December 2013 following an inexperienced start to the season then was replaced Uwe Rosler. On December 12, in his first game, Wigan were eliminated from the Europa League group stage after losing to Maribor. On March 9, 2014, Wigan defeated Manchester City in the 6th round of the FA Cup to reach the semi-finals in Wembley again for the 2nd consecutive year. They played Arsenal and were defeated 4-4 on penalties following the normal clock and additional time, which resulted in a draw of 1-1. In the 5th place finish at the Championship, Wigan lost their play-off semi-final against Queens Park Rangers.

Rosler was dismissed in November 2014 when his club being in the bottom relegation zone He then replaced with Malky Mackay. Whelan was removed as chairman on March 3rd 2015, retaining the position of owner, but handed over control of the club to grandson David Sharpe. In the next month was a time of uncertainty, as Wigan at risk of being relegated in League One, Mackay was fired and was replaced by the former Wigan Captain Gary Caldwell, yet the team was relegated. being relegated. The team's roster was changed dramatically and included the signing that included Will Grigg from Brentford and Reece James from Manchester United. The club lost just once in 23 games during the second period of the season. The team took the title and Grigg was leading the league in scoring with 25 goals.

In October of 2016 after a disappointing beginning to the season, Caldwell was fired as manager. He was then replaced with Manchester United coach Warren Joyce. The results were not improving under Joyce who was fired on March 17, 2017. Wigan were then relegated into League One in April and the interim director Graham Barrow left, ending an eight-year partnership for the team. Paul Cook, who had recently won League Two with Portsmouth, was appointed Wigan manager in June of 2017.

Wigan participated during the season 2017-18 that was part of League One in which they placed first, which led to their being promoted back to Championship. Their promotion was secured with an 4-0 win over Fleetwood Town. The 2017-18 campaign in the FA Cup, Wigan reached the quarterfinals but were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Southampton F.C. in a 2-0 loss. The most notable thing is that Wigan defeated Manchester City in the Fifth Round Proper at home, beating them 1-0 thanks to Will Grigg scoring in the end of the game in the 79th minute. In the final stages of the season, it was revealed that the Whelan family had reached an agreement to sell the stadium, club along with training and stadium facilities to Hong Hong Kong-based International Entertainment Corporation (IEC) in an PS22m deal. The 2nd of November, 2018, IEC got shareholder approval to conclude the purchase of the football club ending the 23 years of family ownership. In a letter addressed to supporters, chairman David Sharpe confirmed that he together alongside Matthew Sharpe and non-executive director Garry Cook would resign from the board once they have completed the ownership change.

In the season of 2018-19, Wigan finished 18th in the Championship with 52 points. far from the zone of relegation.

On the 4th of June, 2020 IEC has sold the largest portion of Wigan Athletic shareholdings to Hong the Hong Kong-based Next Leader Fund; the sale was officially ratified and approved by shareholders of IEC and IEC, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the EFL. On July 1, 2020 the club, which was fourteenth place in the Championship and eight points clear of the drop, during a time of delay due to the COVID-19 virus announced that it was going into administration because the Next Leader Fund had refused to make investments in the promised funds. Paul Stanley, Gerald Krasner and Dean Watson from Begbies Traynor were appointed co-administrators. The insolvency resulted in Wigan with a 12 point deduction and the penalty would be applied at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season , if Wigan's performance was not in the top three in 46 games. On July 2, 2020, administrators declared that they would look into how the club ended in administration just one month after the change of owners. A private discussion about Wigan's circumstances involving EFL Chairman Rick Parry was secretly filmed in the midst of speculation about placing bets on Wigan being dropped which was said to be the most scandalous sporting incident in modern times. Wigan Member of Parliament Lisa Nandy and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wrote a joint letter to Parry asking for inquiry into the takeover of the club. Players were not compensated and there was speculation of staff members being laid off and players being sold according to them. Wigan's supporters' group has also demanded an investigation as well as financial assistance from the EFL and supporters, with the support of Nandy then launched an online petition to start a debate in parliament regarding the owners' test and directors' tests.

On July 4, Wigan, previously unbeaten in nine matches, fell 3-1 at Brentford. The next day 7 July percent of the staff who were not playing were dismissed by administrators. Then, Wigan Warriors expressed interest in purchasing the club (a move that was later supported from the Wigan city council). On the 10th of July the midfielder Jensen Weir was set to be transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion for PS500,000 and add-ons to help Wigan with its financial difficulties; England Under-16 international midfielder Alfie Devine later went to Tottenham. Bids had to be submitted by 21 July. On Tuesday, July 22 (the day of Wigan's last match during the regular season), Krasner said administrators had received five bids and had identified a preferred bidder. They wanted to complete the sale before July 31. On the 24th of July, discussions about the preferred bidder fell apart and administrators started discussions with other parties that continued until early August.

In the meantime, on July 7, 2020, the club made an appeal against the 12-point deduction that was imposed by the EFL to enter administration. On July 14, Wigan recorded their biggest League win, defeating Hull City 8-0. In addition, other results, meant that Wigan could not make it to the relegation zone, and the 12-point deduction was taken into effect at the end in the present season. The appeal of Wigan against the deduction in points, which was heard on the 31st of July was expected to cost somewhere between PS400,000-PS500,000. Wigan played 1-1 with Fulham during their last match of the season. 12 points deduction put Wigan to the bottom of the table which means that the club will be at the bottom of League One if its appeal was unsuccessful. On August 4 the club's relegation was confirmed. Then, following the resignation of the manager Paul Cook, Leam Richardson was appointed interim manager.

On the 17th of August, 2020 it was reported the fact that Au Yeung Wai Kay, the owner of the club, had on June 23, inquired Begbies Traynor to put the club in administration prior to his acquisition. Begbies Traynor denied the report that was compiled through an unofficial commission insisting that administration was just one of various scenarios being that were discussed. The commission claimed Kay was "not willing to talk" to Wigan officials regarding his meeting with Begbies Traynor who then offered "either fraudulent or false" assurances of the future funding. The administrator is still trying for a purchaser If no agreement could be reached before the 31st of August, Begbies Traynor said it will be necessary to determine whether the club could be financially supported through the 2020-21 season that is scheduled to begin on the 12th of September 2020. The 20th of August Kay was believed to be waiving the PS36m debt that was owed to the club by attempt to speed up the sale. Wigan supporters started a fund-raising initiative that initially raised PS500,000 to secure Wigan's future, after that, they raised PS200,000 more. Administrators were confident that they could have a deal before the deadline, however, they afterward, they revised their view.

On September 9, 2020, with the club's status scheduled to be discussed during the EFL session, club's administrators were "quietly hopeful" regarding Wigan being permitted to begin the EFL season, even though they were not owned by a club. They chose John Sheridan as the club's new manager, who took charge when Wigan were beaten in their first League game in the season, 2-0, against Ipswich Town. On the 21st of September, administrators informed that the bids needed to be at least PS3 million in order to ensure the sale, since Wigan had an "considerable obligation" in relation to HM Revenue and Customs, due to player wages, as well as having to cover the cost of August's unsuccessful appeal of the deduction of points.

On September 30 the club's administrators reported that they had signed an arrangement with an unknown buyer from Spain to buy the club and they were working on the paperwork needed to get EFL approval. In the beginning of November the the former Wigan Manager Roberto Martinez was reported to assist in an Spanish bid. On November 13, after three victories in 15 Wigan games Manager Sheridan was dismissed to take over Swindon Town's position as manager. On November 20, additional time was given to the potential new owners to finish their purchase. In early December, when Wigan at the bottom in League One, it emerged that an owner from the Spanish consortium was in disqualification condition. Wigan's administrators needed to make another application with the EFL on behalf of Felipe Moreno, owner of Spanish LaLiga 2 team Leganes. On January 5, 2021 the Moreno take-over bid failed The administrators started talking to other bidders. The first meeting took place on January 15, 11 parties reportedly interested in purchasing the club. In early March 2021, administrators were already engaged in discussions with a consortium called Phoenix 2021 Ltd, led by an Bahrain businessman named Talal Mubarak Al-Hammad. the takeover was approved on March 15 subject to EFL approval and the completion of documents. The proposed deal would see Al-Hammad will become chairman as well Mal Brannigan (previously involved with Dundalk and Dundee United) would be the chief executive. EFL acceptance of the deal was approved on March 30th, 2021. Then, in May of this year, the previous administrators paid back PS171,000 of the money that supporters had raised to ensure the club's continued existence before it entered administration. The club concluded the season of 2020-21 in 20th position, which is one point higher than the relegation positions.

Wigan Athletic won League One in 2021-22 and was promoted into the Championship.

Wigan Athletic's Stadium is 25138-capacity DW Stadium, part of the Robin Park complex in Wigan. It has served as the home of the club since 1999-2000. Wigan Athletic owns the stadium but leases the facility to the team of rugby league Wigan Warriors. The stadium was constructed at a cost of PS30 million to build. In the past, home games took place at Springfield Park, the former home of Wigan Borough, which was destroyed in June 1999. it is now the location of the development of a housing project. The record attendance at DW Stadium (then known as the JJB Stadium) for Wigan Athletic is 25,133 , for an encounter in the match against Manchester United on 11 May 2008, the last game of the 2007-08 season.

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 was scheduled to play at close Woodhouse Stadium (formerly Wigan Municipal Stadium which is now gone) as construction work was underway. In the year 1990, Kenyon submitted his second plan that would cost PS3mand hold 12 to 15000 fans and would require moving the pitch closer in proximity to the park. The plans never made it beyond the initial planning stage. The chairman who succeeded him, Stephen Gage, spent much in 1993 and 1994 trying move Latics to a new stadium. Latics to the former Robin Park Stadium (now demolished) until his plans were rejected through Wigan Council when the local council proposed plans for their own stadium, which would include Wigan Warriors. Gage accepted defeat when he decided to sell his Latics to Dave Whelan on 27 February 1995 for PS1m.

Designs for JJB Stadium was first announced in 1997. Contracts for the stadium were signed in the latter part of 1997 and construction started immediately. The original plan was for the stadium to be constructed for the two clubs Wigan Athletic and Orrell R.U.F.C. As the grants only were available to multi-purpose stadiums at the time. Wigan Warriors did not figure in the calculation until Whelan bought the league club a year later, following lengthy discussions between the director of the league club. The new all-seater stadium officially inaugurated on August 4, 1999. The stadium's opening was celebrated with the hosting of a friendly match between Wigan and their neighbours Manchester United, who were at the time the reigning European Champions, with Alex Ferguson inaugurating the stadium. But, Wigan Athletic hosted Morecambe one day earlier on the 1st of August, as a rehearsal to prepare for the opening ceremony with Manchester United. The game took place during an intense electrical storm as well as torrential rain. Despite this there were 4,020 fans in attendance and the game ended with an uncontested draw. The first football game that was played in a competitive manner took place on August 7, 1999, when Wigan Athletic facing Scunthorpe United in a Division 2 game. Simon Haworth scored twice, which included the first goal of competitive play at the new stadium when Wigan Athletic defeated Scunthorpe United 3-1.

On March 7, 2005, Greater Manchester Police announced that it would no longer police Wigan Athletic matches at the stadium beginning on 2 April. This left Wigan Athletic facing the prospect of playing their home matches on the Premier League in an empty stadium, and they had to pay the amount due to the police. The club challenged the payment before the court and prevailed and the claim is expected to bring in about PS37,000.

On the 25th of March 2009, It was revealed on the 25th of March 2009 that Wigan Athletic would change the stadium's name changing it to The DW Stadium, after the chairman Dave Whelan's business venture, DW Sports Fitness. In 2013-2014, for Europa League fixtures held at the stadium, it was named The Wigan Athletic Stadium.

Wigan Athletic Official Supporters Club (formerly called Wigan Athletic Supporters Travel Club) is the official supporters' club for Wigan Athletic Football Club. The supporters club is non-profit organization that is run by volunteers. They meet prior to home games inside the South Stand Bar.

The Latics their most loud supporters are found on the East Stand of the DW Stadium which can house the capacity of 8,206 fans. South Stand of the ground is the family stand.

An old-fashioned song that is sung by the fans of Wigan is "You are My Sunshine". More recently, "I'm a Believer" is a popular song. Hokey cokey "We Made This Town" as well as "Gold" are just a few tunes that were modified by Wigan fans.

The club also has a non-official fanzine called The Mudhutter that is published every 5 to 6 weeks throughout the season.

Based on a series of incidents that occurred at Latics matches in which smoke bombs were utilized to deter supporters (resulting in 17 ban orders in the wake of one match) Numerous club statements were made and the presence of police was more frequent at certain games. Information obtained from the UK Football Policing Unit found that Wigan Athletic along with Everton and Manchester United had the highest number of incidents that involved explosives.

In Wigan's first appearance in the Championship witnessed an average attendance of more than 1,200. This does do not take into account Europa League, Community Shield, League Cup and FA Cup matches, in which the crowds were in greater numbers.

In 2013 the club sold all their 25,000 allocation to their FA Cup Final and sold tickets to 20,000 to tickets for the FA Cup semi-final. The total was 5,500 tickets were as well sold out for an FA Community Shield in the same year.

In 2014, a large number of fans participated in a walk for charity starting from Wigan to Bolton to raise money for Wigan's local foundation Joseph's Goal. Joseph became Wigan's Mascot during 2013, when Wigan was in the FA Cup Final, led by Emmerson Boyce, captain of Wigan.

When it comes to Boxing Day, over the decades, many fans have opted to go to Wigan Athletic's game dressed in fancy attire. This is particularly true of away games on this day, when the crowd is often referred to as the "Banana Army'. But it was Boxing Day in 2014 a boycott of the team's match with Leeds United was ordered by certain fans due to the cost of tickets for the game in Elland Road. A total of 750 away supporters were present at the game.

In the 2014-15 season in the 2014-15 season, a Fan Advisory Board (FAB) was created by the club to enable fans who support Wigan Athletic to have a more input on any issue they might have. The board meets each month for up to six weeks , with the first meeting taking place in November 2014.

In August of 2019 the club announced the giant pie, named Crusty will be the new team mascot for this season. Crusty The Pie was chosen after a contest in which over 90% of primary school students were able to submit their ideas, with more than half of the submissions choosing the idea of a pie.

Since the admission of Wigan Athletic to the Football League in 1978, the club has forged various rivalries, mostly against Bolton Wanderers, the club's main derby game.

One rivalry that has erupted in recent times has been one with Manchester City, since the first time they played at the Second Division in 1998, the season during which City was able to make it to their 1999 Division Two play-off final through the "Hand of Goat". Wigan played City at 2013. FA Cup Final and beat City by 1-0. Since that time, City have failed to beat Wigan in the tournament; losing to them 2-1 to the Etihad in the 2013-14 FA Cup Quarter-Final and, in February 2018, the team lost by 1-0 to third-tier Wigan defeating the eventual Premier League champions City with an Will Grigg goal.

Wigan also has nearby rivalries that include Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers, Oldham Athletic, Blackpool and Rochdale.

The club's longest , and not so long-standing rivalries was with the nearby Lancashire located club Chorley however both clubs haven't played in a league match since 1971, when they were both in the Northern Premier League. The last time Wigan played Chorley was in the first round of the FA Cup in 2020, with non-league Chorley beating an administration-stricken Wigan 3-2 after extra-time.

Wigan's win in 2013. FA Cup Final qualified them to play European soccer for the very first time, securing them an automatic spot into the first group phase of 2013-14's UEFA Europa League.

Season	Competition	Round	Opponents	Home	Away	Group position
2013–14	UEFA Europa League	Group stage	Maribor	3–1	1–2	4th

Detail of the players as below mentioned.

As of 17 March 2022

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ENG Jamie Jones 3 DF  ENG Tom Pearce 4 MF  ENG Tom Naylor 5 DF  ENG Jack Whatmough 6 MF  JAM Jordan Cousins 7 MF  WAL Gwion Edwards 8 MF  ENG Max Power (vice-captain) 9 FW  ENG Charlie Wyke 10 FW  IRL Will Keane 11 MF  IRL James McClean 12 GK  ENG Ben Amos 14 FW  NIR Jordan Jones

No. Pos. Nation Player 15 DF  SCO Jason Kerr 16 DF  JAM Curtis Tilt 17 MF  IRL Jamie McGrath 18 MF  SCO Graeme Shinnie 19 FW  ENG Callum Lang 21 DF  ENG Joe Bennett 27 DF  ZIM Tendayi Darikwa (captain) 28 FW  NIR Josh Magennis 30 MF  NOR Thelo Aasgaard 34 DF  SCO Luke Robinson 39 FW  ENG Stephen Humphrys

As of 8 February 2022

No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
31	DF	ENG	James Carragher
35	DF	ENG	Kieran Lloyd
36	MF	WAL	Scott Smith
38	MF	ENG	Harry McHugh
40	GK	ENG	Sam Tickle
42	MF	IRL	Babajide Adeeko
43	MF	ENG	Chris Sze
44	DF	ENG	Charlie Hughes
50	GK	ENG	Owen Mooney

As of 25 June 2021

Wigan Athletic Football Club is an elite football club based within Wigan, Greater Manchester. They currently play within the Sky Bet Championship.

Below are a listing of famous footballers who been part of Wigan Athletic F.C. Every player who has had 100 or more first-team appearances with Wigan Athletic can be found below. There are players who have made fewer appearances who hold an official club record or who have been awarded the club's Player of Year award.

The Wigan Athletic official Wigan Athletic website.

Period	Manager
1932–37	Charlie Spencer
1946–47	Jimmy Milne
1949–52	Bob Pryde
1952–54	Ted Goodier
1954–55	Walter Crook
1955–56	Ron Suart
1956	Billy Cook
1957	Sam Barkas
1957–58	Trevor Hitchen
1958–59	Malcolm Barrass
1959	Jimmy Shirley
1959–60	Pat Murphy
1960	Allenby Chilton
1961–63	Johnny Ball
1963–66	Allan Brown
1966–67	Alf Craig
1967–68	Harry Leyland
1968	Alan Saunders
1968–70	Ian McNeill
1970–72	Gordon Milne
1972–74	Les Rigby
1974–76	Brian Tiler
1976–81	Ian McNeill
1981–83	Larry Lloyd
1983–85	Harry McNally
1985–86	Bryan Hamilton
1986–89	Ray Mathias
1989–93	Bryan Hamilton
1993	Dave Philpotts
1993–94	Kenny Swain
1994–95	Graham Barrow
1995–98	John Deehan
1998–99	Ray Mathias
1999–00	John Benson
2000–01	Bruce Rioch
2001	Steve Bruce
2001–07	Paul Jewell
2007	Chris Hutchings
2007–09	Steve Bruce
2009–13	Roberto Martínez
2013	Owen Coyle
2013–14	Uwe Rösler
2014–15	Malky Mackay
2015–16	Gary Caldwell
2016–17	Warren Joyce
2017–20	Paul Cook
2020	John Sheridan
2021–	Leam Richardson

Wigan Athletic Football Club was founded in 1932 . It joined to the Football League in 1978. The team was within the Premier League for the first time in 2005-2006. The table outlines the team's accomplishments in all the competitions of the first team and also lists the top goal scorer for each of the seasons they played.

Football League Championship (English second tier)

• Runners-up: 2004–05

Football League Second Division/EFL League One (English third tier)

• Winners: 2002–03, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2021–22

Football League Third Division (English fourth tier)

• Winners: 1996–97
• 3rd – Promoted: 1981–82

Northern Premier League (English fifth tier)

• Winners: 1970–71, 1974–75
• Runners-up: 1968–69, 1969–70, 1977–78

Cheshire League

• Winners: 1933–34, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1964–65

Northern Floodlit League

• Winners: 1966–67

Lancashire Combination

• Winners: 1947–48, 1950–51, 1952–53, 1953–54
• Runners-up: 1949–50, 1959–60

FA Cup

• Winners: 2012–13

League Cup

• Runners-up: 2005–06

FA Community Shield

• Runners-up: 2013

Football League Trophy

• Winners: 1984–85, 1998–99

FA Trophy

• Runners-up: 1972–73

Northern Premier League Shield

• Winners: 1972–73, 1973–74, 1975–76

Northern Premier League Challenge Cup

• Winners: 1971–72

Wigan Athletic Football Club was an elite football club based within Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club was established in 1932, before joining to the Football League in 1978. Wigan Athletic currently compete in the third level in English football, which is the EFL League One.

• Highest league position: 10th in the Premier League (2006)
• Record League victory: 8–0 vs Hull City (Championship, 14 July 2020)
• Record attendance at DW Stadium: 25,133 v Manchester United, Premier League (11 May 2008)
• Most League appearances: 317, Kevin Langley (1981–1986, 1990–1994)
• Most League goals scored: total, 70, Andy Liddell (1998–2003)
• Most League goals scored, season: 31, Graeme Jones (1996–97)
• Record consecutive league appearances: 123, Jimmy Bullard (January 2003 – November 2005)
• Record transfer fee paid: Mauro Boselli, £6.5 million, from Estudiantes, August 2010
• Record transfer fee received: Antonio Valencia, £16 million, to Manchester United, June 2009