The fifth club to play football at Springfield Park following the building of the ground in 1897, Wigan Athletic were formed in 1932 following the demise of Wigan Borough. The old club were forced to resign from the Third Division North of the Football League on the 26th October 1931, when the directors expressed their inability to meet their present and future commitments to the club.
Even with the voluntary liquidation of Wigan Borough the town's die-hard football enthusiasts were planning the rebirth of a town team.
A public meeting was held at the Queen's Hall presided over by the then Mayor of Wigan, Councillor W A Hipwood, who called on the town to keep up the reputation of producing the finest sportsmen by keeping intact an Association Football team as well as the Rugby League team.
A committee was elected and a new club was formed to be called Wigan Athletic. Springfield Park was purchased for the sum of £2,850 from the owners of the Woodhouse Lane dog track, with the club gaining election to the Cheshire League.
The 1934-35 season besides collecting their second Cheshire League championship saw the first of what became many incredible F.A. Cup runs. Carlisle United were beaten 6-1 in the first round at Brunton Park, a record victory that still stands for a non-league side over football League opposition.
With the end of the war in 1945, Wigan Athletic were elected into the Lancashire Combination, with the Latics proving themselves to be formidable opponents, this consistency almost rewarded in 1950 with Football League status, losing out on a third poll vote to Scunthorpe United.
Despite this bitter disappointment, Latics continued to knock on the League's door, backing their demands by holding almost a monopolistic grip on the Lancashire Combination Championship title.
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