Wigan Athletic Football Club have officially revealed the launch of their first-ever women’s team which is set to be formed ahead of the 2024/25 season.
A landmark moment in the EFL club’s history and another positive step forward for women’s sport here in Greater Manchester, Wigan‘s first-ever professional women’s team was finally announced on Thursday, 7 March.
The club’s registration was fully approved by the Lancashire FA this week and their place within the female footballing pyramid and league participation is set to be confirmed soon.
As per a statement on the Latcis website, the club say they are “currently working on securing a regular home for the Women’s team to play their fixtures on a Sunday and trials for the squad will be held in May ahead of the 2024/25 season.”
We are proud to confirm the launch of our first official Wigan Athletic Women’s Team ahead of the 2024/25 campaign. 💙
The demand for more development in the women’s game continues to grow.
While more details on player trials and full league confirmation are set to follow in due course, the club say they are looking to “create a female focus group with anyone who is involved in the women’s game, including local grassroots football teams playing a big part as they lend their experience, help us shape the offer and build on the great work which already goes on across the borough.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The press release goes on to add that “the long-term vision is to offer a structured team that falls under the official Wigan Athletic brand and forms part of our historic Football Club”, with an aim to develop younger age groups in the future” and build a professional environment and infrastructure for the future.
Speaking on the confirmation, chairman Ben Goodburn said: “We are thrilled to launch the Club’s first official Wigan Athletic Women’s team.Since we took ownership [having been bought by entrepreneur and Wigan Warriors owner, Mike Danson] enhancing football opportunities for women and girls in the town has been a key priority of ours.“
ADVERTISEMENT
“We will help provide the team with the resources, support and governance it needs to grow, and we are confident this investment will not only help the team but women’s football in the borough.”
Sporting Director Gregor Rioch said of the next chapter for local side: “This is groundbreaking news for us at Wigan Athletic Football Club… The women’s game has progressed rapidly over the past 10 years and it’s really important we develop our own and give more opportunities to women and girls in the area. “The North West is a hotbed of football and Wigan as a borough is well-versed with women and girls football teams at different clubs who are doing an amazing job, and we see this as a great opportunity for Wigan Athletic to start from a fresh and enhance the offer.”
With Genna Banks on board as Head of Safeguarding, she added: “Outside of work I have been part of a really successful grassroots rugby club and it is great to be involved in supporting the Football Club in developing a women’s and girls section.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s really important we continue the great work of the local grassroots clubs and make sure the girls in our town have the opportunity to represent their home town Club. I’m sure the grassroots clubs will work with us to help build on the offer. All clubs want their girls to go on and play for the best and we are hoping we can provide that in the future.” Hear, hear!
Featured Images — Dan Harmond (via Flickr)/Wigan Athletic
Sport
Details released of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners while Mayor
Emily Sergeant
Details of Andy Burnham’s meetings with Manchester City owners during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester have been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed on the situation a little first, Manchester City was found guilty back in September all of its charges related to the Premier League’s financial rules over a nine-season period, and on top of that, was also found guilty of the majority of charges in relation to its failure to co-operate with the League’s investigation.
According to the Premier League, the independent Commission found that Manchester City had arranged so-called ‘sham’ commercial deals with a number of its sponsors.
These were part of a disguised funding scheme – with those sponsors only required to pay a portion of the relevant sponsorship fees.
The remainder was then funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club.
The Commission also concluded, as quoted by the Premier League, that the club had ‘made concerted efforts to stop and frustrate the Premier League investigation’.
Within the past week or so, it has since come to light that now-Prime Minister Andy Burnham had dealings with Manchester City during his tenure as Greater Manchester Mayor, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has now issued a public statement, giving details on the matter and what these ‘dealings’ entailed.
A spokesperson for GMCA confirmed that Burnham had a ‘formal meeting’ with Man City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, back in October 2021.
The statement reads in full: “In October 2021, Andy Burnham, in his role as Mayor of Greater Manchester, had a formal meeting with Khaldoon Al Mubarak at the UK Government’s Global Investment Summit arranged by the Department for International Trade.
“In his capacity as Mayor, he was a guest of Manchester City FC at home matches on a small number of occasions, including attending Vincent Kompany’s testimonial match in September 2019, where he met the Chairman informally in the stands. These have been declared in the usual way.
“Also during his time as Mayor, representatives of Greater Manchester sporting clubs would routinely join business delegations as part of Mayoral international visits.
“This included representatives from Manchester United travelling to Austin and Dublin, Lancashire Cricket Club joining a delegation to India, and Manchester City FC staff supporting visits to China and Japan.”
Featured Image – Lauren Hurley / Number 10 Downing Street (Press Image via Flickr)
Sport
Multiple arrests made for ‘tragedy chanting’ and police officer assault as Man City defeated Liverpool
Emily Sergeant
Multiple people were arrested over the weekend as Manchester City defeated Liverpool in a Premier League clash.
Merseyside Police have confirmed that a total of 10 people were arrested during the policing operation at Liverpool’s home ground of Anfield as they hosted Manchester City on Sunday 11 October.
One man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police constable, five were on suspicion of tragedy chanting, one on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, two for affray, and one on suspicion of throwing items onto the pitch.
Police are now appealing to the public, and are particularly looking to speak to witnesses of the assault of the officer.
At around 6:35pm, as fans left the stadium, a police officer sustained a ‘serious facial injury’ during the arrest of a man on Anfield Road, and was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment but is now recovering at home.
Investigating officers are now conducting enquiries, speaking to witnesses, and analysing CCTV and camera phone footage.
Chief Inspector Leanne Hobin said it’s ‘extremely disappointing’ that an officer has sustained a serious injury while carrying out their duty.
“I hope the arrests send a clear message and act as a deterrent to others,” Chief Inspector Hobin continued. “Anyone who engages in this abhorrent behaviour risks ending up in custody and getting a criminal record.
“Despite the actions of a few, the overwhelming majority of the 60,000 fans in attendance behaved well and I want to thank them for their co-operation.”
Manchester City ended up defeated Liverpool 3-0 during the Premier League clash at Anfield.
Danny Jones -
7th March 2024 
