Springfield Park (Wigan)

Springfield Park

The Town End at Springfield Park in 1982
Location	Wigan
Owner	The Wigan Trotting and Athletic Grounds Company Ltd. (1896–1899) The Royal London Friendly Society. (1899–) Wigan Athletic (1932–1999)
Capacity	40,000 (maximum)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Opened	1897
Closed	1999
Demolished	1999
Construction cost	£16,000
Architect	Richardson Thomas Johnson
Builder	Winnard and Weston
Tenants
Wigan Athletic (1932–1999) Wigan County (1897–1900) Wigan United (1901–1903) & (1919–1920) Wigan Town (1905–1908) Wigan Borough (1920–1932) Wigan Warriors (1901–1902) Springfield Borough (1987–1988)

Springfield Park was a multi-purpose stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester. It was the home ground of Wigan Athletic F.C. until the club moved to the new JJB Stadium (now DW Stadium) after the 1998–99 season. At its largest, the stadium held 40,000. In its 102-year existence the ground only saw 32 years as a Football League venue, 11 years for Wigan Borough F.C. and 21 years for Wigan Athletic FC, before it was demolished to make way for a housing estate in 1999.

The stadium had previously been home to Wigan County, Wigan United, Wigan Town, and Wigan Borough (previously Wigan United and Wigan Association) as well as Wigan and Springfield Borough rugby league sides. It was also used for horse trotting, as a track cycling velodrome, for wrestling and for athletics.

Springfield Park was designed by architect Richardson Thomas Johnson and built in 1897 at a cost of £16,000. It was owned by The Wigan Trotting and Athletic Grounds Company Ltd. The first professional football match at the stadium took place in September 1897 when Wigan County played Burton Swifts in a friendly match.^[1]