Wigan profile
At one time Wigan was best known for George Orwell's Road to Wigan Pier but now the town has a Premiership football club and the borough council thinks that it is 'on the verge of a new era.' How long it lasts remains to be seen, but manager Paul Jewell kept another unfashionable northern club, Bradford City, up in their first year in the Premiership.
It's quite something for a former non-league club in egg chasing country to get to the Premiership, although there is no doubt that the £300m fortune of chairman Dave Whelan and his JJB sportswear company have had something to do with it. When he took over as chairman in February 1995, only 1,452 turned out at the crumbling Springfield Park for a 2-0 win over Hartlepool. Last season the gate at the 25,000 capacity JJB stadium averaged 11,571.
At one time the town was represented in the Football League by Wigan Borough, but they had to resign from the competition in 1931. Wigan Athletic was formed in 1932 with the hope of an early return to the Football League. They made 34 unsuccessful applications to be admitted before achieving it in 1978 with 29 votes, leading to the expulsion of Southport. They got into Division 2 in 1997-8 and arrived in the then Division 1 in 2003-4. They had the best positive goal difference in the Championship last season, a mean defence conceding only 35 goals and being promoted as runners up to Sunderland.
From what I saw of them on television at the weekend, 6ft 4" keeper Michael Pollitt looked quite useful. He was signed in the summer from Rotherham for £200,000 and has a reputation as a shot stopper.
What is less clear is their ability to score goals in the Premiership. No Wigan player has ever scored more than three goals in a match and they had some wide and wasteful shots on Sunday. You don't get many chances to score in the Premiership and you have to use them. What no one can doubt is the spirit of their squad.
The usual cloud of pessimism has started to settle above the Addickted with phrases like 'banana skin' being used. However, Charlton players seem to be on form at the moment: note Rommedahl's score and assist for Denmark. If there is a doubt it is about the central defence, but the Herminator played well in this role against the Mackems and I question whether they will be much tested by the Lactics. I am confident of a win for the Addicks.
It's quite something for a former non-league club in egg chasing country to get to the Premiership, although there is no doubt that the £300m fortune of chairman Dave Whelan and his JJB sportswear company have had something to do with it. When he took over as chairman in February 1995, only 1,452 turned out at the crumbling Springfield Park for a 2-0 win over Hartlepool. Last season the gate at the 25,000 capacity JJB stadium averaged 11,571.
At one time the town was represented in the Football League by Wigan Borough, but they had to resign from the competition in 1931. Wigan Athletic was formed in 1932 with the hope of an early return to the Football League. They made 34 unsuccessful applications to be admitted before achieving it in 1978 with 29 votes, leading to the expulsion of Southport. They got into Division 2 in 1997-8 and arrived in the then Division 1 in 2003-4. They had the best positive goal difference in the Championship last season, a mean defence conceding only 35 goals and being promoted as runners up to Sunderland.
From what I saw of them on television at the weekend, 6ft 4" keeper Michael Pollitt looked quite useful. He was signed in the summer from Rotherham for £200,000 and has a reputation as a shot stopper.
What is less clear is their ability to score goals in the Premiership. No Wigan player has ever scored more than three goals in a match and they had some wide and wasteful shots on Sunday. You don't get many chances to score in the Premiership and you have to use them. What no one can doubt is the spirit of their squad.
The usual cloud of pessimism has started to settle above the Addickted with phrases like 'banana skin' being used. However, Charlton players seem to be on form at the moment: note Rommedahl's score and assist for Denmark. If there is a doubt it is about the central defence, but the Herminator played well in this role against the Mackems and I question whether they will be much tested by the Lactics. I am confident of a win for the Addicks.
posted by Wyn Grant at 7:22 AM
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