Wigan Athletic’s academy teams will enter the Category Two fixture programme this season, as work is finalised to ensure the academy’s progression to the next level under the EPPP (Elite Player Performance Plan), implemented by the Premier League.

Wigan Athletic’s academy teams will enter the Category Two fixture programme this season
Latics’ U23 side kick-off campaign at Colchester United today (Monday 12^th) whilst U18s travel to Millwall on Saturday.
Wigan Athletic Chief Executive Jonathan Jackson: “This is a great opportunity for our young players and coaches to challenge themselves at a higher level after dominating Category Three last season.”

Wigan Athletic’s academy will feature in the Category Two fixture programme this season. Academy facilities have been enhanced to ensure the club will fulfil the requirements of a Category Two academy under the EPPP (Elite Player Performance Plan), implemented by the Premier League.

Latics’ under-18 and under-23 sides will kick off their campaigns in the week commencing Monday 12^th August, with the under-23s facing a trip to Colchester United on Monday (12^th) and the under-18s travelling to Millwall on Saturday 17^th August.

As a result of entering the under-23s fixture programme, Latics will host five U23 matches at the DW Stadium over the course of the 2019-20 season. Full details of these fixtures will be announced in due course.

Wigan Athletic Chief Executive Jonathan Jackson is delighted that the club have been afforded the opportunity to play at Category Two level for the 2019-20 season:

“This is a great opportunity for our young players and coaches to challenge themselves at a higher level after dominating Category Three last season,” Jonathan explained.

“It has been our ambition for several years to operate a Category Two academy, something we have aspired to without the required facilities being available to us.

“The opportunity to progress this ambition has been developed in recent months and we are delighted to be competing at a higher level this season.”

Latics academy enter category two fixture programme