Wigan Athletic

Daily Mirror,  Friday14th April 1972

Top non-league club Wigan are to apply for membership of the Scottish League. Wigan, Northern Premier League champions, linked to Scotland by the M6 motorway, have made thirty-three unsuccessful applications to join the Football League. Last night the directors — encouraged by reports from north of the border — decided to go ahead with a bid to fill a vacancy in the Scottish Second Division next season. The board's decision follows last month's England v Scotland amateur international, staged at Wigan. A club spokesman said: " The Scottish representatives were impressed. Extensive inquiries have been made, and we shall be putting forward an application for membership of the Scottish League."

Liverpool Echo, Saturday 22nd April 1972

Wigan Athletic startled everyone by their decision to apply for Scottish League membership — but it's no gimmick. Wigan are still desperately anxious to get on in the football world and this ambition, combined with a sense of frustration over a continued failure to make the Football League grade, makes them see Scotland as a possible outlet. That disillusion exists at Springfield Park over the club's League chances is shown by long-serving director Tom Hitchen who declares: "Nobody will get into the League unless a club folds up. They all back each other, so What chances has a club like Wigan or Hereford ?"

However, the Torbay Express and South Devon Echo of the same day reported that:

The Scottish League management Committee have rejected applications from Wigan Athletic and South Shields to join the Second Division of the Scottish League.