A Look Into Histories

A LOOK INTO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY ONE

WIGAN FC – FIRST GAME IN THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The annual re-election process was getting very tight indeed when it came to the F A AGM in June 1978 and they only allowed two clubs other than the four at the bottom of Division 4. They were Bath City, champions of the Southern League and Wigan Athletic from the Northern Premier League, who, in fact, had only been runners up to Boston United by six points. York City, Rochdale and Hartlepool were re-elected and Wigan Athletic drew with Southport both with 26 votes so a second vote was held with Wigan Athletic victors to the tune of 29 votes to Southport’s 26. Bath City managed 23 votes.

Our Match Programme is for the very first home game that Wigan Athletic played in the Football League, a second leg League Cup tie with Tranmere Rovers on Wednesday 16th August 1978 whom they welcomed in their first page. Manager Ian McNeill had more to say, there was a photo of the 77-78 team, A map of fourth division locations stretching from Torquay in the south to Hartlepool in the North but with most in the Lancashire and Yorkshire region, Rochdale and Stockport at 26 miles being the closest. The Evening Post scribe and Wigan Observer added their bits as did a very proud Arthur Horrocks the Chairman, line-ups in the middle pages a full fixture list and Referee history plus all the usual adverts and all for 15p.

Having drawn 1-1 away from home they won 2-1 in front of 8,512 spectators. On the Saturday after, 9,227 turned up for their first league game with Grimsby Town and that attendance was only bettered on one occasion, 9,437 v Barnsley on March 3rd. The club finished in 6th place, just two wins off promotion so it was a fine season and justification for their new status.