1978–79 Wigan Athletic F.C. season

Wigan Athletic F.C.
1978–79 season
Chairman Arthur Horrocks
Manager Ian McNeill
Football League Division Four 6th
FA Cup First Round
League Cup Second Round
Top goalscorer League: Peter Houghton (13)
All: Peter Houghton (14)
Highest home attendance 9,427 (vs Barnsley, 3 March 1979)
Lowest home attendance 4,459 (vs Scunthorpe United, 30 September 1978)
Home colours
1979–80 →

The 1978–79 season was the 41st season in the history of Wigan Athletic F.C. and their first as a professional club in the Football League. After finishing 2nd in the Northern Premier League during the previous season, the club was nominated to apply for Football League status, and were elected into the league to replace Southport. After a poor start, the club exceeded expectations in the league, and towards the end of the season, a second consecutive promotion seemed possible. The club eventually fell short, finishing the season in 6th place with a total of 55 points.

Wigan entered the FA Cup in the first round, but were knocked out by Bury following a replay. The club also entered the League Cup for the first time, winning against Tranmere Rovers before being defeated in the second round by Luton Town. The club's first signing as a member of the Football League was Ian Purdie, who along with Tommy Gore and Jeff Wright, went on to play every league game during the club's first season. Peter Houghton was the team's top goalscorer with a total of 13 league goals (14 in all competitions).

Background

In the 1977–78 season, Wigan competed in the Northern Premier League, and secured a second-place finish in the last game of the season with a 1–0 win against Matlock Town. Under normal circumstances, league winners Boston United would have applied for Football League status, but the League Management Committee had decided that their ground was not up to the required standards.[1] As a result, runners-up Wigan became the Northern Premier League's nomination to apply for Football League status.

At the time, the only way a team could be promoted into the Football League was if their application received more votes than one of the bottom four teams of the Football League in an annual election system. In practice, this process was usually a formality, and very few teams were promoted – Wigan's application to join the league had been rejected on 34 previous occasions. The vote took place on 2 June 1978.[2] In the first poll, York City, Rochdale and Hartlepool United were all re-elected, Southport and Wigan tied, and Bath City, the Southern League nomination, received the fewest votes and were eliminated. A revote took place to determine whether Southport or Wigan would be elected into the Football League. Wigan Athletic received 29 votes to Southport's 20, confirming that Wigan would replace Southport in the Fourth Division next season. It is believed that Wigan's strong performance in the FA Cup, where they reached the third round, earned them the support they needed to be elected into the Football League.[3]

Match results

Legend

Win Draw Loss

League

On 19 August 1978, Wigan Athletic played their first Football League game against Hereford United at Edgar Street, captained by the club's appearance record holder Ian Gillibrand.[4] The match finished 0–0. Their first home League game was against Grimsby Town ended with a 3–0 defeat. Wigan were awarded a penalty with the scoreline at 2–0, but was missed by Ian Purdie.[5] A defeat against Reading followed. On 2 September, in the club's fourth game of the season against Newport County, Joe Hinnigan became Wigan's first ever League goal scorer, but the team went on to lose the match 3–2. After losing 2–1 away at Wimbledon, the club's fourth consecutive defeat, Wigan found themselves at the bottom of the table.[6] The club recorded its first League victory in the next match against Rochdale, winning the match 3–0 following the dismissal of Rochdale defender Bob Scott.[7]

In October 1978, Wigan played a friendly against the Zambian national team, coached by former Latics manager Brian Tiler.

On 13 April 1979, Wigan came back to beat Port Vale 5–3 after being three goals down with 25 minutes remaining.[8]

Source:[9]

GameDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNotes
119 August 1978Hereford UnitedAway0–05,674
223 August 1978Grimsby TownHome0–39,227
326 August 1978ReadingAway0–24,788
42 September 1978Newport CountyHome2–35,319Hinnigan, Purdie
59 September 1978WimbledonAway1–23,217Corrigan
613 September 1978RochdaleHome3–05,746Wright, Corrigan, Hinnigan
716 September 1978Bradford CityHome1–37,090Purdie
823 September 1978York CityAway1–03,307Gore
926 September 1978PortsmouthAway0–113,902
1030 September 1978Scunthorpe UnitedHome1–04,459Brownbill
117 October 1978Huddersfield TownAway1–15,150Brownbill
1214 October 1978Doncaster RoversHome1–05,788Ward
1318 October 1978Halifax TownHome1–05,216Hinnigan
1421 October 1978BarnsleyAway0–09,841
1528 October 1978Northampton TownHome2–06,264Purdie (2, 1 pen.)
163 November 1978Stockport CountyAway1–08,357Hinnigan
1710 November 1978Newport CountyAway1–24,142Houghton
1818 November 1978ReadingHome3–05,858Houghton (2), Ward
199 December 1978DarlingtonAway1–11,967Moore
2016 December 1978Halifax TownAway2–12,437Moore, Purdie
2126 December 1978Crewe AlexandraHome1–07,586Houghton
2230 December 1978AldershotHome3–27,289Moore, Houghton (2)
239 January 1979Port ValeAway1–23,744Wright (pen.)
243 February 1979PortsmouthHome2–08,289Wright, Corrigan
2514 February 1979WimbledonHome1–26,704Purdie (pen.)
2617 February 1979Huddersfield TownHome2–17,420Ward (2)
2724 February 1979Doncaster RoversAway1–04,612Wright
2828 February 1979York CityHome1–15,896Houghton
293 March 1979BarnsleyHome1–19,427Wright
3010 March 1979Northampton TownAway4–22,275Brownbill (2), Purdie, Corrigan
3114 March 1979Torquay UnitedHome3–15,722Moore (2), Hinnigan
3217 March 1979Stockport CountyHome2–07,610Wright, Smart
3319 March 1979RochdaleAway2–03,621Purdie, Moore
3424 March 1979Grimsby TownAway1–38,252Wigginton (o.g.)
3528 March 1979Hereford UnitedHome0–04,876
3631 March 1979BournemouthHome1–05,527Houghton
373 April 1979Hartlepool UnitedAway1–12,081Houghton
387 April 1979Torquay UnitedAway1–12,969Houghton
3913 April 1979Port ValeHome5–38,452Houghton (3), Brownbill, Moore
4014 April 1979Crewe AlexandraAway1–14,604Purdie (pen.)
4116 April 1979Hartlepool UnitedHome2–28,217Wright, Purdie
4221 April 1979AldershotAway0–15,466
4328 April 1979DarlingtonHome2–26,153Moore, Brownbill
441 May 1979Scunthorpe UnitedAway1–01,582Gore
455 May 1979BournemouthAway1–23,063Purdie
467 May 1979Bradford CityAway1–13,748Moore

FA Cup

Main article: 1978–79 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNotes
First25 November 1978BuryHome2–210,142Gore, Houghton
First (replay)29 November 1978BuryAway1–49,339Moore

League Cup

As a newly promoted Football League club, Wigan Athletic were also entered into the League Cup for the first time in their history, and were drawn in the First round against Third Division side Tranmere Rovers. The first leg of the tie was played at Prenton Park, and was Wigan's first competitive fixture as a League club. The match finished 1–1, with Tommy Gore scoring a late equaliser with an effort from long range.[10] Wigan progressed to the next round after winning the return leg 2–1. In the Second Round, Wigan played Luton Town of the Second Division at Kenilworth Road, but despite producing a strong performance they were ultimately defeated 2–0.

RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersNotes
First (1st leg)12 August 1978Tranmere RoversAway1–14,902Gore
First (2nd leg)16 August 1978Tranmere RoversHome2–18,512Corrigan (2)
Wigan won 3–2 on aggregate
Second29 August 1978Luton TownAway0–26,618

Final league table

PosClubPldHomeAwayPts
WDLGFGAWDLGFGA
1Reading (C) (P)4619314987106272765
2Grimsby Town (P)46155351231148312661
3Wimbledon (P)4618325020788282661
4Barnsley (P)4615534723986261961
5Aldershot46165238144127253357
6Wigan Athletic4614544024788232455
7Portsmouth46137335127511273652
8Newport County4612563928959272752
9Huddersfield Town46138232155315253847
10York City46116633247511183147
11Torquay United46144538245414204146
12Scunthorpe United46123833305810213045
13Hartlepool United46712435286611223844
14Hereford United46128335183515183543
15Bradford City46115738266413244243
16Port Vale46810529286413284242
17Stockport County46115733213713253940
18Bournemouth46116634193515132939
19Northampton Town46124740303515244639
20Rochdale46114825264514223839
21Darlington4688725213713244537
22Doncaster Rovers4688725225315255137
23Halifax Town46751124322318154026
24Crewe Alexandra46371324413713194926

Player statistics

Note: Numbers in brackets are appearances as a substitute.
Source:[11]

Nat.Pos.Player AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
League FA Cup League Cup Total
England GK Brown, JohnJohn Brown 42 0 2 0 3 0 47 0
England FW Brownbill, DerekDerek Brownbill 20 (10) 6 0 (1) 0 0 0 20 (11) 6
England MF Corrigan, FrankFrank Corrigan 45 4 2 0 3 2 50 6
England MF Crompton, AlanAlan Crompton 7 (6) 0 0 0 2 0 9 (6) 0
England DF Curtis, JohnJohn Curtis 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0
England DF Davids, NeilNeil Davids 10 (2) 0 0 0 1 (2) 0 11 (4) 0
England DF Fretwell, DavidDavid Fretwell 33 0 2 0 0 0 35 0
England MF Gay, GeoffGeoff Gay 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
England DF Gillibrand, IanIan Gillibrand 7 0 0 0 3 0 10 0
England MF Gore, TommyTommy Gore 46 2 2 1 3 1 51 4
England GK Grew, MarkMark Grew 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
England DF Hinnigan, JoeJoe Hinnigan 39 5 2 0 2 0 43 5
England FW Houghton, PeterPeter Houghton 23 (3) 13 2 1 3 0 28 (3) 14
England FW Moore, MickMick Moore 40 (1) 9 2 1 0 0 42 (1) 10
Scotland MF Purdie, IanIan Purdie 46 11 2 0 3 0 51 11
England MF Seddon, IanIan Seddon 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
England DF Smart, KevinKevin Smart 40 1 2 0 1 0 43 1
Northern Ireland DF Ward, NoelNoel Ward 44 4 2 0 2 0 48 4
Scotland FW Wilkie, JohnJohn Wilkie 3 (1) 0 0 0 3 0 6 (1) 0
England MF Worswick, MickyMicky Worswick 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0
England MF Wright, JeffJeff Wright 46 7 2 0 3 0 51 7

Transfers

In

Player Pos From Fee Date
Alan Crompton MF Blackburn Rovers Summer 1978
Neil Davids DF Swansea City Summer 1978
Geoff Gay MF Southport Summer 1978
Mick Moore FW Port Vale Summer 1978
Ian Purdie MF Motherwell Summer 1978
Ian Seddon MF Rochdale Summer 1978
Kevin Smart DF Plymouth Argyle Summer 1978
Derek Brownbill FW Cleveland Cobras September 1978
Dave Fretwell DF California Sunshine October 1978

Out

Player Pos To Fee Date
Geoff Gay MF Macclesfield Town 1978
Micky Worswick FW Chorley 1978
Ian Gillibrand DF Retired End of season
John Wilkie FW Retired End of season

Loans in

Player Pos From Date Duration
Mark Grew GK West Bromwich Albion December 1978 One month
John Curtis DF Blackburn Rovers March 1979 End of season

References

General

Specific

  1. ↑ Cherry. The League: At Last. p. 27.
  2. ↑ Cherry. The League: At Last. p. 28.
  3. ↑ Cherry. The League: At Last. p. 26.
  4. ↑ Cherry. The League: At Last. p. 30.
  5. ↑ Cherry. The League: At Last. p. 31.
  6. ↑ Cherry. The League: At Last. p. 133.
  7. ↑ "Wigan break duck". The Times. London, England. 14 September 1978. p. 8. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  8. ↑ Cherry. The League: At Last. p. 68.
  9. ↑ "Wigan Athletic Results 1978 - 1979". Cockney Latic. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  10. ↑ Roberts, John. "It can't be said Wigan was agog . . . one woman was reading a Bagley novel". Sporting Intelligence. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  11. ↑ "The English National Football Archive". Soccerdata. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
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