Wigan Athletic Heritage Group Chairman, Jeff Rourke, looks back at players and managers who represented both Latics and Manchester United
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- Jeff Rourke looks back at some players and managers who have represented both Latics and Manchester United
- Charlie Spencer, Allenby Chilton, Sir Bobby Charlton, Antonio Valencia, Nick Powell, Will Keane and Ben Amos both had spells at both clubs
Wigan Athletic Heritage Group Chairman, Jeff Rourke, looks back at some players and managers who have represented both Latics and Manchester United…
Charlie Spencer joined Manchester United from Newcastle United in 1928 and was appointed captain. He played 48 games for the Red Devils, and later became the first-ever manager of Wigan Athletic in 1932, winning the Cheshire League three times in four years.
Johnny Ball became the first player to transfer from Latics to Manchester United in February 1948, featuring 23 times for United before joining Bolton Wanderers in 1950. He returned as Latics manager in 1960, spending three years at the helm before emigrating to Australia.
Sammy Lynn was a youth player with Manchester United between 1935 and 1938. He played 13 games for the Red Devils, and later joined Latics from Bradford PA, going on to make over 135 appearances for the Football Club in the 1950s.
Ted Buckle was spotted by Manchester United playing for the Navy during the Second World War, most notably scoring on his debut against Charlton Athletic in January 1947. He made a total of 24 appearances for the Red Devils and spent a sole season at Latics in 1957/58, where he netted 15 times in just 29 games.
Allenby Chilton arrived at Manchester United from Liverpool in 1938 and debuted against Charlton Athletic just as the Second World War started in September 1939. He saw action in the Normandy Landings with the Durham Light Infantry. He helped United win the 1948 FA Cup and the 1951/52 Championship, having been made captain and rated by Matt Busby as his best-ever centre half. Chilton, who made 391 appearances for United, became Latics’ manager in May 1960 for an ultimately short-lived spell.
David Gaskell was born in Wigan and spotted by Manchester United playing for Orrell St Luke's. He became United's first-ever substitute and youngest-ever player in the 1956 Charity Shield at just 16 and 19 days. His league debut was at home against Spurs in November 1957. The zenith of his career came when he played in the 1963 FA Cup Final win over Leicester. After making 120 appearances, he joined Latics in 1968 for the Club’s inaugural season in the Northern Premier League.
England and Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton became a Director of Latics in March 1980. He played a couple of friendlies and was appointed caretaker-manager in April 1983 following Larry Lloyd's dismissal.
Tommy Cavanagh was famously a coach at Manchester United under Tommy Docherty. George Best once bought him a white television for being late for training. He became assistant to Dave Sexton but left in 1981. When Bryan Hamilton returned as Latics' manager, he appointed him as his assistant.
Neil Whitworth was signed by Manchester United for £45,000 in June 1990 after only playing twice for hometown club Wigan Athletic. His United debut came nine months later at Southampton. He was sold to Kilmarnock in September 1994. He returned to Latics on loan in the 1997/98 campaign.
Keith Gillespie was a member of Manchester United's 1992 FA Youth Cup winning side. He scored on his first-team debut against Bury in the FA Cup in January 1993. A successful loan spell with Latics followed as he bagged four goals in 10 games at Springfield Park. He memorably joined Newcastle United in January 1995, as part of the £ 7 million deal which took Andy Cole to Old Trafford.
Gary Walsh signed for hometown club Wigan as an apprentice. Originally a striker, he was playing as a goalkeeper when spotted by a Manchester United scout. Ron Atkinson took him on and he helped United finish runners-up in the 1986 FA Youth Cup. Despite limited first-team opportunities, he still played 63 games for the Red Devils.
Pat McGibbon was signed by Manchester United for £100,000 from Portadown and made his debut in a League Cup tie against York in September 1995. He memorably helped Latics clinch promotion in 1997 with his headed goal against Colchester United.
Roy Carroll joined Manchester United for £2.5m from Latics in 2001 and made his debut at Aston Villa. He came on as a sub in their 2004 FA Cup Final win.
Former Manchester United defender Steve Bruce was twice appointed Latics manager – a short spell in 2000 and then between 2007 and 2009 when he memorably led Latics to an 11th-place finish.
Antonio Valencia joined Manchester United for £16m from Latics in 2009 and debuted as a sub in the 2009 Community Shield. He spent 10 incredible years at Old Trafford, amassing 339 games and scoring 25 goals. His 241 PL appearances is a record for a South American player.
Nick Powell joined Manchester United from Crewe in 2012 for £6m and made a dream Premier League debut against Latics, scoring his only Red Devils goal in a 4-0 win. His first loan spell at Latics saw him score Wigan's first-ever European goal against Maribor in October 2013. Powell was a teammate at Latics with Will Keane in 2013/14, who broke through the Academy at Manchester United, and went over to score a half-century of goals for Wigan Athletic.