- The Long Read - Lee McCulloch
- Throughout the off-season, we'll bring you Long Reads of different players from different eras to talk about their time with our Club
- Former Scotland international Lee McCulloch kicks us off to discuss all things from his move down from Scotland, to our rise to the Premier League, to how he still loves Latics
When Lee McCulloch arrived at Wigan Athletic in March 2001, little did he know about the fairytale journey that he was about to go on.
He signed for Latics from Motherwell FC for a club record at the time, on the same day as his Steelman teammate Steve McMillan. The former Scotland international started his career at Motherwell, graduating from their youth system.
After recovering from a broken ankle suffered during a loan spell with Carluke Rovers, McCulloch had an early experience of European football in the 1995-96 UEFA Cup under Alex McLeish and went on to score 27 goals in 147 appearances for Motherwell.
After netting 12 and then nine goals in consecutive seasons for Motherwell, along with some standout performances, admirers began to take notice of McCulloch, with chairman Dave Whelan being able to overcome competitors and land the Scotsman's signature.
At the time, Latics were plying their trade in the third tier of English football, but were strongly ambitious, and saw the young 23-year-old forward as part of their long-term plans and vision.
It was the first move away from home for McCulloch, and by his own admission, it took him time to settle into the local area, as he scored three times in 10 appearances during his first taste of English football in the second half of the 2000-01 campaign.
"On a personal level, it’s where I would say the football world found me," he said.
"I was a raw boy coming down from Motherwell living with my parents, and I lived in Warrington. It was daunting because I didn't have a clue about cooking and fending for myself, but it was a real eye-opener but it made me grow up a little bit faster.
"The ambition of the club sold me. I was taken down in the helicopter which was really special. I was shown the Stadium, and Dave Whelan spoke about his ambition and where he wants the Club to be in the next four to five years. There were other clubs interested, but Wigan was the place I wanted to be.
"It took me about six months to bed into a different style of football, a different club and a different environment. I think I started well in my first couple of games and then I found it difficult in the first few months. When the new manager came in, it gave me a new lease of life."
Paul Jewell arrived at the DW Stadium in June 2001, with McCulloch initially playing under Colin Greenall and Steve Bruce. Upon first meeting with Jewell, the Scotsman knew that his new manager could bring out the best of him.
"When Paul came in, everything seemed to click. The good thing about him was his honesty. He said he needed more from me, and asked what had been going wrong. I explained that I was still finding my feet and he said he can see me in other positions.
"He asked me if I would be happy about it, and being the person I am, I said I would play anywhere he asks me to play. I think he liked my work rate, aggression, and how I was versatile."
It sadly wasn't the first season that Latics or Jewell would've hoped for in 2001-02, as they finished 10th in the Second Division. It was somewhat a disappointing campaign as Latics had previously finished in the top six for the last three seasons.
In the following summer, there was a large overhaul in the squad as Jewell looked to build a team capable of promotion. Latics were bolstered by the arrivals of popular midfielder Jimmy Bullard and experienced defender Nicky Eaden, while Leighton Baines broke into the first team from the academy as a promising 17-year-old.
The pre-season that followed in the summer of 2002 was absolutely gruelling, but it proved to pay real dividends, as Latics went on to win the Second Division with 100 points, which still stands as the Club's highest ever points tally in the Football League.
McCulloch, who scored six times in 38 league appearances, could feel that something special was on the horizon at the time, as he remembered the record-breaking campaign.
"Pre-season was deadly. Paul said he will make no apologies for how hard it was going to be. I think naturally, there was a couple of moans when you're doing it, but there was not one player in the dressing room that didn't get through it.
"We pulled each other through it, and we must've been the fittest team in the league which can go a long way to success.
"We had the togetherness, and that season was a real memorable one. It was the first time where I thought I'd found my feet and was actually giving the Club something back for signing me.
"I felt I was really adding to the team, the Club and the community, and that was one of my most favourite seasons.
"The togetherness that came from when Paul came in, I've never experienced anything like that in my life. We were calling ourselves the Band of Brothers, and we would have done anything for each other.
"From going from where we were, to how we performed in that season, I think that was us winning in itself. The culture and environment changed in such a short space of time.
"The big moment was lifting the trophy. To be privileged enough to lift any trophy, it's a phenomenal experience but to give the Club and community something to celebrate was special.
"We definitely felt something was happening. We were on a high, and we took it into the next season. The recruitment was fantastic, we kicked on, and the togetherness got stronger which is a credit to everyone.
"We knew we were close to getting the optimum success."
In the following season, Wigan was playing in Division One for the first time in their history, and after losing their first game of the season, they took the league by storm by going unbeaten for the next 17 games and sat pretty at the top of the table in November.
A frustrating finish saw Latics win only three of the last 10 games - and slip out of the play-off positions on the final day courtesy of Brian Deane's last-minute goal for West Ham. It was an encouraging season that ended in utter despair, but McCulloch revealed that the heartbreak was used as the motivation to spur them on to win promotion to the Premiership in the 2004-05 season.
“The season was soul-destroying. It was the first time in that league for us and we had just fallen short but there was still a supreme optimism that we were going to go and better it in the next season.
“From that pre-season, it was just a case of we want this, we need this, this is our drive, desire, our focus and our goal.
“We used that hurt from that Brian Deane header all the way through the following season."
McCulloch played a pivotal part in helping Latics reach the top flight, scoring crucial goals against Stoke City, Preston North End, and of course, the famous opener on that special day against Reading on 8th May 2005.
“I remember the Stoke game so well. It was a last-minute winner, and I went to support a ball up, and it got laid back to me, and I’ve hit it sweet and just seen it go in the corner.
“I remember celebrating with the Wigan fans behind the goal and it was a massive result for us as it helped us kick on, keep the momentum going and it was one of my favourite games at the Club.
“The Stoke goal did so much for my confidence and the fans after that really started singing my name. My confidence went through the roof and it was an amazing feeling to get the winner against the rivals that we had."
On securing promotion with a 3-1 victory against Reading, McCulloch spoke about the memories of this momentous day in the Club's history books.
“I think the in lead up to the game, we didn’t train so much, and we had conversations about Reading’s weaknesses and capitalising on our strengths.
“Going into the game, I can’t remember there being nerves. I had lots of my family down, and I knew there were friends and family watching on television.
“I think everyone was desperate for the whistle to go so we could go and give it a real good go. We were at home, we had the fans, and the atmosphere that day was incredible.
“I think Jason Roberts was unplayable, and he set up my goal. I was always taught to get to the back post and across the defender, and I managed to just get a connection on it.
“I think you can tell with the reaction and the celebrations that it was really special. The full JJB erupted that day and it settled any nerves that there might have been.
“We were in complete control of the game from start to finish. The feeling after it, and I didn't feel any nerves, but the relief of hearing the full-time whistle was something that I’ve never felt before.
"The relief that we’ve done it, and we’ve got there. The feeling that we've done it together for the fans, for the Club, for the Chairman. It was something in my life that I’ll never ever forget. It was mad. We didn’t have the energy to celebrate too much.
"I remember sitting with Jason Roberts and the Duke (Nathan Ellington) after the game, reminiscing about the season, and our time since we joined the Club and how different it is and how different it is going to be. It brought us all together. It was a real emotional day from start to finish."
With the Club's first-ever season in the Premier League beckoning, many tipped Latics for a swift departure back to the Championship. It was an unforgivable mistake in McCulloch's eyes, as you should never underestimate the never-say-die attitude of Wigan Athletic.
“The real motivation was everybody had us down to be relegated. I think that’s for people who don’t actually know true Wiganers and the spirit that they’ve got, and the togetherness that the town has.
"I think it was very foolish to do that as we were gathering momentum. We gave other teams respect but we didn’t fear anybody, and that was a big mantra in the dressing room along with the famous one of Believe.
“That was a motivation for us, but it was not like we really needed one, as we played every game like it was a Cup Final as well.
“We didn’t really look back then. It was just a train gathering momentum and we must’ve been horrible to play against and I think that’s the identity of a successful Wigan Athletic team.
“You have flair and you have good players, but I think the basis starts by being very difficult to play against.
“I think it surprised us at the start. We played Chelsea in the first game of the season and Hernan Crespo scored the winner in stoppage time, and we went on a run after that.
“During the run, it surprised us a little bit but we then started finding our Premiership confidence and realising we were difficult to play against and we could pick up points and win games with the players and the manager that we had.
“I think that was the surprise at the start, but as we developed, we actually believed we were Premiership players and a Premiership club because we felt comfortable amongst the big boys."
Latics confounded expectations to go on a nine-match unbeaten run early in the season, and eventually finish 10th, whilst also making their first-ever appearance in a major cup final.
McCulloch, who was a 62nd-minute substitute in the 2006 Carling Cup Final defeat against Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium, remembered a special personal memory of his when he was watching the Semi-Final in hospital.
“I had a hernia operation and I missed the Semi-Final at Arsenal and I remember watching it in my bed right after the operation.
“I was watching it, and I got really emotional watching the game. I remember when big Jay scored, and Jimmy Bullard was shouting down the camera, 'that was for you Jig'.
“It was live on television and I had a little bubble up. I shed a few tears in my bed watching it. After that, all the boys phoned and texted me saying they did it for me which was a special moment.
“My focus then as soon as I left the hospital was to try and get fit for the final. I was told by the surgeon that the record days for getting back was 21, and I did it in 24 days.
“I feel lucky that I made the bench because I didn’t have much game time before that. I managed to get the last half an hour, and although the game didn’t go the way we wanted it to go, the following that day from the fans albeit playing against Manchester United, who were full of stars.
“The fans that day were something I won’t forget. I was warming up behind the goals, and the full support singing my name, was a special moment personally.
“As a team, we were disappointed after the game as we felt we didn’t give a proper account of ourselves."
After the major success of the Club's first season in the Premiership, their second season was extremely difficult in 2006-07. They travelled to Sheffield United needing a win to avoid relegation, as goals from Paul Scharner and David Unsworth was enough to keep Latics up.
"Paul guarded us well from the pressure but we knew what we had to do. We needed to win, and even a draw wouldn’t have been enough.
“Away from home, that’s big pressure in itself with what’s at stake for the Club, the fans, and the chairman, as well as ourselves.
“We went there and took the lead through Paul Scharner. I actually enjoyed that game, and I should’ve scored when my shot was cleared off the line. I remember John Stead scoring with a brave header, and that was tense, then David Unsworth stepped up with a penalty and we were in the driving seat. It was a real edgy game.
“They only needed a goal and I’ve gone for a tackle and got a second yellow card. I just wanted the world to swallow me up and that’s probably the lowest I’ve ever been in my footballing life seeing the referee pull a red card out.
“I felt like I had let everybody down, but I watched the game in the tunnel on the television, and we managed to see it through.
“After the game, I apologised personally to every player, manager, and member of staff, and went to celebrate with the fans.
“Everybody seemed to say 'let it go', and be just happy we survived, but I felt that guilt certainly that night.
"We had to win that day, so it was against the odds again, for Wigan to come up triumphant.
"The togetherness transcended from the stands onto the pitch, with the away fans who sang their hearts out all afternoon."
McCulloch left to join his boyhood team Glasgow Rangers in the following season, but the now 43-year-old still holds Latics in the highest regard and will be forever thankful for the incredible journey he was a part of.
"It was a tremendous time in my career. I know the club and I still follow the club.
“Coming from the old League Two to the Premiership was a tremendous journey to be on. I made some real friends at the club that I’m still in touch with, and I still lookout for the club’s results and what’s happening at Wigan Athletic.
“It’s incredible to have played a part in the Club’s history and contributed to the highest ever Football League points tally and highest-ever finish in the Premier League. It's something that I'll tell my grandkids about with pride.
“It’s my life. It’s something that you can look back on, reminisce about, and always think that you’ve been a success at such an amazing Club that took me in from being a boy and transformed my life.
“They helped put me on the football map with the success the team gave and meeting tremendous people, and seeing a community come together and experiencing the atmosphere of a full JJB or the away support.
“The atmosphere the fans made and the noise they made was tremendous. The songs they sang is something that I’ll never forget. It brings back real memories and a lot of my favourite ones in my football career.
“Thank you to all the fans for their unbelievable support. Please always keep believing.
"We’ve been through an awful lot, and we’re still smiling and wanting to progress. The togetherness shown through the administration is a real sign of strength and Wigan is in my opinion, one of the best club’s in the world."