All at Wigan Athletic Football Club are deeply saddened at the passing of former player Roy Wilkinson at the age of 83.
Roy Joseph Wilkinson was born in Hindley Green, Wigan on Wednesday, 17 September 1941 and he attended St. John's Primary School, Hindley Green and Hindley & Abram Grammar School.
Roy began his football career playing for with Moss Lane FC, Platt Bridge before he joined Bolton Wanderers as a wing-half in July 1960. He made his first team debut in a home game against Jimmy Milne's Preston North End (1-1) in April 1961. He played two further first team games the following season against Ipswich Town at home (0-0) and at Sheffield Wednesday (2-4).
He was to sign for Allan Brown's Wigan Athletic in 1964 and he made his league debut on Saturday, 22 August 1964 in a Cheshire League home 2-1 win over Runcorn (crowd 3,668).
He scored his first Latics goal in a home 2-1 win over Burscough in the LNLSC semi-final on Wednesday, 24 March 1965.
Roy, a full-time professional, helped Latics win the Cheshire League, Cheshire League Cup, Lancs Junior Cup, Lancs Floodlit Cup. Liverpool Non-League Senior Cup, Northern Floodlit League and Northern Floodlit League Cup. Latics were also twice Cheshire League runners-up.
He was a member of the side that knocked out League side Doncaster Rovers out of the FA Cup after a replay and he also played against Manchester City in the Official Opening of the Floodlights in 1966. His two other goals were at home against Ashton United (9-1) in the Lancs Floodlit Cup and away at Buxton (2-1) in a Cheshire League game.
His last game for Latics was on Wednesday, 15 April 1968 in a 4-1 defeat at Macclesfield Town, who finished champions with Latics finishing in a very disappointing eighth position.
He had played under managers Allan Brown, Alf Craig, Harry Leyland and Alan Sanders. After playing 208 (127 league) games and scoring 3 (1 league) goals, Roy left the club and joined Runcorn along with Roy Lace.
On Saturday, 17 August 1968, both Roys played for the Linnets at Springfield Park in the newly formed Northern Premier League in a game which Latics won 3-1 with 5,055 in attendance. Roy was later to play for Rossendale United, Netherfield and Skelmersdale United.
After retiring from football, the PFA helped him in a new career and he studied with the Open University and at Edgehill College to become a school teacher. He was to teach PE and History at Meols Cop High School,Tarleton High School & Formby Range High School.
His hobbies were golf and travel and he lived in Southport. On retiring from teaching, he became a Director at Hesketh Golf Club and later for The Southport Golf Travel Company.
On Thursday, 13 March 2025, it was announced that he had sadly died at the age of 83.
He has a son named Gary and a daughter named Tina. He has four grandchildren (Dayle, Joe, Sam and Amy) and two great-grandchildren (Cailyn and Callum).
We send our condolences to Roy’s friends and family at this truly sad time. Rest in peace, Roy and thanks for all the memories.