Springfield Park (Wigan)
Encyclopedia
Springfield Park was a multi-purpose stadium
in Wigan
, England
. It was the home ground of Wigan Athletic F.C.
until the club moved to the new JJB Stadium
(now DW Stadium) after the 1999 season. At its largest, the stadium held 40,000. In its 102 year existence the ground only saw 32 years as a football league venue, 10 years for Wigan Borough FC and 21 years for Wigan Athletic FC, before it was demolished to make way for a housing estate in 1999.
The stadium had previously been home to Wigan County, Wigan United, Wigan Town, and Wigan Borough as well as Wigan
and Springfield Borough
rugby league sides. It was also used for horse trotting
, cycling and athletics.
Springfield Park was designed by architect R.T. Johnson and built in 1897 at a cost of £16,000. It was owned by The Wigan Trotting and Athletic Grounds Company Ltd. The first professional match at the stadium took place in September 1897 when Wigan County played Burton Swifts in a friendly match.
before their liquidation and extinction three years after their 1897 formation. Wigan United were formed in 1901, competing for two seasons in the Lancashire Combination
league. After being drawn away to Stalybridge
in the third round of the Rawcliffe Cup, they declined to play due to a waterlogged pitch. However, the referee ruled otherwise, leaving Stalybridge to kick off, dribble and place the ball into the net. Wigan Town would be the third attempt to establish football in Wigan in 1905 after United folded, but it too would fail to survive for more than three years.
After a period of inactivity at Springfield Park due to the First World War, Wigan Borough F.C.
were established in 1921 and became one of the founder members of the Football League Third Division North
. They won their first game, against Nelson, 2–1 in front of 9,000 spectators. The club's best performance was in 1928–29 when they reached the Third round of the FA Cup
. This was to be the largest attendance ever recorded at Springfield Park, with 30,611 spectators watching a 3–1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday
.
Wigan Borough resigned from the football league during the 1931-32
season. Shortly after Borough went out of business, a new club, Wigan Athletic F.C.
, was formed and continued to play their home games at Springfield Park. After lengthy negotiations, Wigan Athletic purchased the ground from Woodhouse Lane dog track for £2,800 with the proviso that greyhound racing never take place there.
During the 1952–53 season, the main stand was razed to the ground by fire, resulting in major fundraising efforts for the construction of a new stand. The following season, a record crowd of 27,526 watched Wigan Athletic beat Hereford United 4–1. To this day, it is the largest attendance ever recorded between two non-league clubs excluding Wembley finals.
October 19, 1966 marked the first floodlit match at Springfield Park, when Wigan Athletic played Crewe Alexandra. This was a full year before floodlights were installed at Central Park
.
In October 1978, Zambia
–coached by Brian Tiler
, himself an ex-Latics manager– became the first national team to play at Springfield Park. Wigan won the game 2–1.
Wigan Athletic F.C.
moved to the new JJB Stadium
after the 1999 season. The final competitive goal to be scored at the stadium was by Manchester City's Paul Dickov
.
The only other rugby league team to play at the ground was Springfield Borough
who played at Springfield Park for one season in 1987/88. A continuation of Springfield Borough still play under the guise of Blackpool Panthers in Rugby League's Championship 1.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
in Wigan
Wigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was the home ground of Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
until the club moved to the new JJB Stadium
JJB Stadium
The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....
(now DW Stadium) after the 1999 season. At its largest, the stadium held 40,000. In its 102 year existence the ground only saw 32 years as a football league venue, 10 years for Wigan Borough FC and 21 years for Wigan Athletic FC, before it was demolished to make way for a housing estate in 1999.
The stadium had previously been home to Wigan County, Wigan United, Wigan Town, and Wigan Borough as well as Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
and Springfield Borough
Blackpool Borough
Blackpool Borough was a rugby league club based in Blackpool, Lancashire.The team wore tangerine, black and white jerseys.-Blackpool Borough:...
rugby league sides. It was also used for horse trotting
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
, cycling and athletics.
Springfield Park was designed by architect R.T. Johnson and built in 1897 at a cost of £16,000. It was owned by The Wigan Trotting and Athletic Grounds Company Ltd. The first professional match at the stadium took place in September 1897 when Wigan County played Burton Swifts in a friendly match.
Football
Wigan County were the first team to play at Springfield Park. Their greatest event was a 1–0 loss at the hands of Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
before their liquidation and extinction three years after their 1897 formation. Wigan United were formed in 1901, competing for two seasons in the Lancashire Combination
Lancashire Combination
The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...
league. After being drawn away to Stalybridge
Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
Stalybridge Celtic are an English full time professional football club from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester in North West England. The club, which plays its home matches at Bower Fold, is currently in the Conference North in the sixth tier of the English football league system...
in the third round of the Rawcliffe Cup, they declined to play due to a waterlogged pitch. However, the referee ruled otherwise, leaving Stalybridge to kick off, dribble and place the ball into the net. Wigan Town would be the third attempt to establish football in Wigan in 1905 after United folded, but it too would fail to survive for more than three years.
After a period of inactivity at Springfield Park due to the First World War, Wigan Borough F.C.
Wigan Borough F.C.
Wigan Borough Football Club was an English football club from the town of Wigan, Lancashire. It was a fourth attempt at establishing football in Wigan, their forerunners Wigan County, Wigan United and Wigan Town all having fallen into liquidation previously....
were established in 1921 and became one of the founder members of the Football League Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
. They won their first game, against Nelson, 2–1 in front of 9,000 spectators. The club's best performance was in 1928–29 when they reached the Third round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. This was to be the largest attendance ever recorded at Springfield Park, with 30,611 spectators watching a 3–1 loss to Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
.
Wigan Borough resigned from the football league during the 1931-32
1931-32 in English football
The 1931–32 season was the 57th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
season. Shortly after Borough went out of business, a new club, Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
, was formed and continued to play their home games at Springfield Park. After lengthy negotiations, Wigan Athletic purchased the ground from Woodhouse Lane dog track for £2,800 with the proviso that greyhound racing never take place there.
During the 1952–53 season, the main stand was razed to the ground by fire, resulting in major fundraising efforts for the construction of a new stand. The following season, a record crowd of 27,526 watched Wigan Athletic beat Hereford United 4–1. To this day, it is the largest attendance ever recorded between two non-league clubs excluding Wembley finals.
October 19, 1966 marked the first floodlit match at Springfield Park, when Wigan Athletic played Crewe Alexandra. This was a full year before floodlights were installed at Central Park
Central Park (Wigan)
Central Park was a rugby league stadium in Wigan, England. It was the home of Wigan RLFC before the club moved to the JJB Stadium in 1999. Its final capacity was 18,000.-History:...
.
In October 1978, Zambia
Zambia national football team
The Zambia national football team represents the country of Zambia in the sport of association football and is governed by the Football Association of Zambia. Before independence they were known as the Northern Rhodesia national football team. The side is nicknamed Chipolopolo as copper is one of...
–coached by Brian Tiler
Brian Tiler
Brian Tiler was an English footballer. Tiler, a central defender, began his career at his hometown club Rotherham United where he made his debut in 1962-63...
, himself an ex-Latics manager– became the first national team to play at Springfield Park. Wigan won the game 2–1.
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
moved to the new JJB Stadium
JJB Stadium
The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....
after the 1999 season. The final competitive goal to be scored at the stadium was by Manchester City's Paul Dickov
Paul Dickov
Paul Dickov is a retired Scottish footballer, turned manager who is currently in charge of League One side Oldham Athletic...
.
Football League
- Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
, 26 December 1983. Division 3: 10,045 - Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle F.C.Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
, 19 April 1986. Division 3: 9,485 - BarnsleyBarnsley F.C.Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
, 3 March 1979. Division 4: 9,427
Other
- Hereford UnitedHereford United F.C.Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
, 1953–54. FA Cup Round 2: 27,526 - Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, 1953–54. FA Cup Round 3: 26,500 - MillwallMillwall F.C.Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, 1934–35. FA Cup Round 3: 25,304
Rugby League
Wigan rugby league team became sub-tenants of Springfield Park (which they shared with Wigan United who had playing preference) playing their first game there on 14 September 1901. A crowd of 4,123 saw them beat Morecambe 12–0. Wigan rugby league team's record crowd at Springfield was 10,111 when they beat Widnes on 19 March 1902. The last game was on 28 April 1902 when Wigan beat the Rest of Lancashire Senior Competition. Wigan then relocated to Central Park.The only other rugby league team to play at the ground was Springfield Borough
Blackpool Borough
Blackpool Borough was a rugby league club based in Blackpool, Lancashire.The team wore tangerine, black and white jerseys.-Blackpool Borough:...
who played at Springfield Park for one season in 1987/88. A continuation of Springfield Borough still play under the guise of Blackpool Panthers in Rugby League's Championship 1.