Wigan Football Roots : Wigan Amateurs FC

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The years from 1908 to 1920 were dead years with regards to association football being played in the town, although there were still two local teams in the Borough. Both Ashton Town and Bryn Central played in the Lancashire Combination ‘B’ Division, indeed Ashton Town produced two future Manchester United players, Joe Schofield and Wright. WIGAN_AMATEURS_FC

The Wigan Amateurs who in their short lifetime, played at Whitley, Gidlow, Standish and Hindley also turned out for several games at Springfield Park. Not much is known about this club or even the precise date/s that they called Springfield Park home but it is believed to have been from 1908 onwards when there was no professional association football being played there. In season 1909/10 they won the Lancashire Amateur Cup when they beat the Old Xaverians 2-1 at Bloomfield Road.

They also reached the Final of the Amateur Cup again the following season 1910/11 and their opponents were Broughton. The Final was played at Old Trafford and ended in a 1-1 draw. The replay also ended in a 1-1 draw and two extra periods were played, the first lasted thirty minutes and the second lasted for a further twenty still the teams were deadlocked. It was decided that the Cup would be shared right then and there and so it was all over. Except that it wasn’t.

The powers that be were not happy with this state of affairs and demanded that the Final should be played again. Wigan Amateurs won the game 3-0 at Walkden and after three games and 320 minutes of football the Final was won. They were members of the Lancashire League and this League was, in those days, split into two sections, the Liverpool Section and the Manchester Section. At the end of the season the winners of each section played for a beautiful trophy and the Amateurs were to meet Manchester South End who had been unbeaten in the League all season. The Amateurs won 2-1.

Shortly afterwards the club amalgamated with the Wigan Grammar School Old Boys.  Whether or not the decision was made in the specified meeting depicted in photograph number one is unclear. although it is highly likely.  The second photograph is of the Amateur Cup winning team of 1909/10.

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