Do you support Wigan Athletic? If so, you are aware of how crucial local rivalries are to the game. Wigan has a lengthy history of bitter rivalries with teams like Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End, and others. We’ll examine Wigan Athletic’s biggest and most significant rivalry in more detail in this post. We’ll also look at a few of the less well-known rivalries that have grown over time.
Prepare to learn more about the origins of Wigan Athletic’s most intense rivalries.
Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers has long been Wigan’s main competitor, and the two teams have had an intense rivalry for years! The two teams, who are only a few miles apart, have produced some of the most memorable games in the region’s football history. The fierce rivalry, which has long been a part of the local football scene, has been experienced by fans of both teams.
The two sides have faced off in competitions including the FA Cup, League Cup, and English Premier League, and their games are always exciting and passionate. When the two teams compete, the rivalry heats up, and it has grown to be one of the most recognisable in English football. Everyone, from the supporters to the players, is devoted to their team and always gives their best effort when the two teams compete.
Preston North End
Since Preston North End and Wigan have been bitter rivals for so long, each game will be ignited by their fierce competition. Since their first meeting in 1888, more than 100 times have passed between the two clubs, with Preston narrowly leading in victories. With Preston’s three previous League One championships and Wigan’s 2013 FA Cup victory, both teams have enjoyed a significant amount of success.
Local pride is constantly at stake in these fierce and passionate matches between them. Some of the most thrilling football in the North West is played because of the intense animosity between the supporters of the two clubs. Despite their conflicts, the clubs’ shared past has fostered mutual respect, with the two sides frequently cooperating when necessary.
Blackburn Rovers
The first game between Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers was played in 1895, beginning a long-standing rivalry between the two teams. Since the two teams’ first encounter in 1921, Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers have been rivals. Due to the fact that both clubs have been vying for promotion and relegation inside the same division, this has been a particularly heated rivalry. The rivalry has been marked by a number of stunning goals and contentious incidents over the years.
Both teams have competed for local bragging rights, and the match is frequently referred to as “The Lancashire Derby.” In cup tournaments, the two sides have also engaged in a number of exciting matches, including the 2006 FA Cup Final. Fans anxiously anticipate the matchup between the two clubs because of the ongoing rivalry between them.
Blackpool
Another Lancashire team that Blackburn Rovers has a long-standing rivalry with is Blackpool. Over the years, this rivalry has been exciting and dramatic. With their own heated rivalry with the Seasiders, Wigan Athletic has also joined in on the fun. Since the 1960s, there have been over 90 encounters between the two teams, with Wigan typically winning.
The two teams have faced off in competitions for promotion and relegation, and their games are frequently contentious affairs. The most noteworthy contest between the two teams took place in 2013, when Wigan triumphed 5-3 in front of nearly 20,000 spectators. This season, both teams will be attempting to intensify their rivalry, so fans can expect another exciting game.
Rochdale
Another Lancashire club that has engaged in conflict with Blackburn Rovers on occasion is Rochdale, with both teams vying for the upper hand in their neighbourhood derby. It’s a rivalry that dates back to the early 1900s, although Wigan Athletic has also faced off against Rochdale on occasion. Over the years, there has been a heated competition between the two sides, with each side hoping to prevail.
In the most recent meetings between the two teams, Wigan has held the advantage, winning two of the three. Both teams were unable to come out on top in the most recent match, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate. When these two teams compete, the energy is always high, and the fans create an environment that is difficult to equal. It’s a rivalry that will undoubtedly last for many years to come as both teams compete to win this Lancashire derby.
Other notable rivalries involving Wigan Athletic
The main rivalries between Wigan Athletic and Rochdale may be well known to you, but did you realise that they also have other noteworthy rivals? One of these is with Burnley, with whom they have a longstanding rivalry from their time competing in the Third Division North. Another rivalry is that with Oldham Athletic, which was established in the middle of the 2000s as a result of several contentious games. These two rivalries have been fierce, which makes Wigan Athletic games even more thrilling!
Burnley
With the first encounter between the two teams occuring in 1946, Burnley is Wigan Athletic’s longest-running adversary. Since then, the two teams have competed against one another multiple times in the English Football League, with Burnley coming out on top 3-2 in the inaugural game. The two teams have competed against one another in a number of divisions, with Wigan Athletic holding a modest advantage in wins over their opponents.
With the first encounter between the two teams occurring in 1946, Burnley is Wigan Athletic’s longest-running adversary. Since then, the two teams have competed against one another multiple times in the English Football League, with Burnley coming out on top 3-2 in the inaugural game. The two teams have competed against one another in a number of divisions, with Wigan Athletic holding a modest advantage in wins over their opponents.
Oldham Athletic
Another fierce competitor of Wigan Athletic in the North West is Oldham Athletic, and their competitive games frequently have an exciting atmosphere. The two teams have been competing against one another since the late 1800s, with Oldham winning the inaugural game in 1892. Even though the rivalry has always been fierce, the intensity of the games between the two clubs didn’t truly pick up until the early 2000s.
Since then, the battles have developed into some of the most thrilling in the area, with fervent supporters generating an electrifying environment. Both teams have had recent seasons of success, with Oldham even making it to the playoffs in the 2018–19 campaign. Both sets of fans are always looking out to the next game between their clubs since these games have become the stuff of legends.
Conclusion
You are aware of the greatest rivalries between Wigan Athletic and teams like Preston North End, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, and even Rochdale. Wigan Athletic have continuously maintained a competitive attitude regardless of the teams they face. Wigan Athletic has participated in several club rivalries that have characterized the game over the years. Therefore, you can be sure that Wigan Athletic will always play their best game no matter who they face.
