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. 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. 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.

Match results

Legend WinDrawLoss

Friendlies +DateOpponentVenueResult3 August 1978SpVgg ErkenschwickHome2–011 October 1978Zambia national teamHome2–16 November 1978DundeeHome2–2

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. 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. 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. 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.

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.

+ Fourth Division match detailsGameDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers119 August 1978Hereford UnitedAway0–05,674223 August 1978Grimsby TownHome0–39,227326 August 1978ReadingAway0–24,78842 September 1978Newport CountyHome2–35,319Hinnigan, Purdie59 September 1978WimbledonAway1–23,217Corrigan613 September 1978RochdaleHome3–05,746Wright, Corrigan, Hinnigan716 September 1978Bradford CityHome1–37,090Purdie823 September 1978York CityAway1–03,307Gore926 September 1978PortsmouthAway0–113,9021030 September 1978Scunthorpe UnitedHome1–04,459Brownbill117 October 1978Huddersfield TownAway1–15,150Brownbill1214 October 1978Doncaster RoversHome1–05,788Ward1318 October 1978Halifax TownHome1–05,216Hinnigan1421 October 1978BarnsleyAway0–09,8411528 October 1978Northampton TownHome2–06,264Purdie (2, 1 pen.)163 November 1978Stockport CountyAway1–08,357Hinnigan1710 November 1978Newport CountyAway1–24,142Houghton1818 November 1978ReadingHome3–05,858Houghton (2), Ward199 December 1978DarlingtonAway1–11,967Moore2016 December 1978Halifax TownAway2–12,437Moore, Purdie2126 December 1978Crewe AlexandraHome1–07,586Houghton2230 December 1978AldershotHome3–27,289Moore, Houghton (2)239 January 1979Port ValeAway1–23,744Wright (pen.)243 February 1979PortsmouthHome2–08,289Wright, Corrigan2514 February 1979WimbledonHome1–26,704Purdie (pen.)2617 February 1979Huddersfield TownHome2–17,420Ward (2)2724 February 1979Doncaster RoversAway1–04,612Wright2828 February 1979York CityHome1–15,896Houghton293 March 1979BarnsleyHome1–19,427Wright3010 March 1979Northampton TownAway4–22,275Brownbill (2), Purdie, Corrigan3114 March 1979Torquay UnitedHome3–15,722Moore (2), Hinnigan3217 March 1979Stockport CountyHome2–07,610Wright, Smart3319 March 1979RochdaleAway2–03,621Purdie, Moore3424 March 1979Grimsby TownAway1–38,252Wigginton (o.g.)3528 March 1979Hereford UnitedHome0–04,8763631 March 1979BournemouthHome1–05,527Houghton373 April 1979Hartlepool UnitedAway1–12,081Houghton387 April 1979Torquay UnitedAway1–12,969Houghton3913 April 1979Port ValeHome5–38,452Houghton (3), Brownbill, Moore4014 April 1979Crewe AlexandraAway1–14,604Purdie (pen.)4116 April 1979Hartlepool UnitedHome2–28,217Wright, Purdie4221 April 1979AldershotAway0–15,4664328 April 1979DarlingtonHome2–26,153Moore, Brownbill441 May 1979Scunthorpe UnitedAway1–01,582Gore455 May 1979BournemouthAway1–23,063Purdie467 May 1979Bradford CityAway1–13,748Moore

FA Cup

+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersFirst25 November 1978BuryHome2–210,142Gore, HoughtonFirst (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. 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. +RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersFirst (1st leg)12 August 1978Tranmere RoversAway1–14,902GoreFirst (2nd leg)16 August 1978Tranmere RoversHome2–18,512Corrigan (2)Wigan won 3–2 on aggregateSecond29 August 1978Luton TownAway0–26,618

Final league table

Player statistics Note: Numbers in brackets are appearances as a substitute. Source: Nat.Pos.PlayerAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotal GK 42 0 2 0 3 0 47 0 FW 20 (10) 6 0 (1) 0 0 0 20 (11) 6 MF 45 4 2 0 3 2 50 6 MF 7 (6) 0 0 0 2 0 9 (6) 0 DF 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 DF 10 (2) 0 0 0 1 (2) 0 11 (4) 0 DF 33 0 2 0 0 0 35 0 MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 DF 7 0 0 0 3 0 10 0 MF 46 2 2 1 3 1 51 4 GK 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 DF 39 5 2 0 2 0 43 5 FW 23 (3) 13 2 1 3 0 28 (3) 14 FW 40 (1) 9 2 1 0 0 42 (1) 10 MF 46 11 2 0 3 0 51 11 MF 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 DF 40 1 2 0 1 0 43 1 DF 44 4 2 0 2 0 48 4 FW 3 (1) 0 0 0 3 0 6 (1) 0 MF 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 MF 46 7 2 0 3 0 51 7

Transfers

In PlayerPosPrevious clubDate Alan Crompton MF Blackburn Rovers July 1978 Neil Davids DF Swansea City July 1978 Ian Purdie MF Motherwell July 1978 Kevin Smart DF Plymouth Argyle July 1978 Ian Seddon MF Rochdale July 1978 Geoff Gay MF Southport July 1978 Mick Moore FW Port Vale September 1978 Derek Brownbill FW Cleveland Cobras September 1978 Dave Fretwell DF California Sunshine September 1978

Out PlayerPosToDate 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 PlayerPosFromDateDuration Mark Grew GK West Bromwich Albion December 1978 One month John Curtis DF Blackburn Rovers March 1979 End of season

References General

Wigan Athletic Results 1978 - 1979

Specific