adamjacky123

Originally posted by wer at 2005-8-23 02:27 PM:

無可能羅致

有嫁~!!

adamjacky123

Skoko Begins Wigan Adventure

Australian midfield ace Josip Skoko is officially starting life as a Wigan Athletic player.

The 28 year old, who's made 40 appearances for Australia, finally arrived in the country last night (Monday 23rd August), flying into Manchester airport.

The former Hajdjuk Split and Racing Genk star is training with his new team mates for the first time this morning.

Skoko has signed a two-year contract with Latics and is now in line to make his debut against Sunderland at the weekend.

He had hoped to have featured against Charlton but hopes were dashed when the British embassy refused to issue the work permit to him in the Netherlands while he was at the Socceroo training camp.

Skoko has been forced to travel to Croatia to pick up the permit and then head to Turkey to clear things at previous club Genclerbirligi before arriving in England.

Club officials at Wigan Athletic have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to sort out the work permit and visa.

Football Secretary Stuart Hayton said: "Josip (Skoko) is the first Wigan Athletic player ever to require a work permit so it's been an interesting experience getting to grips with that process. It's been a steep learning curve for us but I'm delighted we've managed to sort out all the difficulties and secure a very talented player for the club. I would also like to express my thanks to the Wigan MP Neil Turner and David Davis from the FA, both of whom gave us great help during the visa application process."

On behalf of everyone at Wigan Athletic, a big G-DAY to Josip Skoko as he begins life as a Wigan Athletic player!

penp319

睇完以下一段關於 Dave Whelan 資料, 好希望Wigan今屆可以留班, 這位班主真係對足球充滿熱誠, 上月亦已辭去JJB Sports的Chairman職務, 令自己可以更多時間去照顧Wigan.

Dave Whelan was born in Bradford on 24 November 1936. He signed for Blackburn Rovers from Wigan Boys Club in December 1953, and made his debut for the Rovers in 1956 against West Ham at Ewood Park. Two years of National Service however delayed him really making his mark in the first team.

Blackburn at the time were a Second Division team, but in 1957-58 they gained promotion to the First Division, conceding only 18 goals at Ewood Park. The following season saw mid-table consolidation, but in 1959-60 Rovers struggled in the League, finishing 17th - albeit just behind Everton and Manchester City, and ahead of relegated Leeds United.


But it was in the FA Cup that Rovers made their name that season, reaching the Final on Saturday May 7th. The programme notes for right-back Dave Whelan say: "Bradford-born, he joined Rovers in the 1958-59 season from a Wigan junior club. Strong in the tackle with a wonderful recovery, he was singled out by Matt Busby eighteen months ago as "one of the most improved players of the season". Already spotted by the F.A. for representative matches. Height 5 ft. 8 in., weight 11 st. 6 lb."

Rovers were unsettled for the big day when centre-forward Derek Dougan asked for a transfer on the eve of the big match. The game itself started inauspiciously for Rovers, and in the 41st minute a low centre by Barry Stobart was deflected into his own net by Blackburn's left half Mick McGrath.



But worse was to come for young Whelan. Just two minutes later, and two minutes from half-time Norman Deeley, Wolves' outside-right pushed the ball forward and went after it when Whelan came in "low and hard, but fair" (Deeley's own words). Deeley's right shin met Whelan's left shin and the crack was audible. Dave Whelan was carried off, and actually waved to Deeley on his way off to indicate the Wolves player was not to blame.

However, at 23, Dave Whelan's top-level career was effectively over. It was a year before he could play again, and then cracked his leg in the same spot against Sheffield Wednesday. He played 115 times for Crewe Alexandra between 1963 and 1966. In so doing, he played in all four divisions of the League - an experience that shouldn't be taken lightly. But fate took Dave Whelan in another direction, a very succesful direction.

With the £400 compensation he received following his injury he bought a small grocery business operating from Blackburn Market. By 1978 Whelans Discount Stores were being sold to the supermarket chain, Morrisons, for £1.5 million.

David Whelan is not a man who likes to be idle, and he bought a small sports store in Wigan for £7,400. The store had a slightly unusual history. It was founded in 1903 by a rugby player by the name of J J Broughton. He sold the company on to a gentleman named J J Braddock, who later sold it on to J J Bradburn. The initials of all these three being the same led to the store being locally always called "JJB", a name that Dave Whelan kept when he acquired the business.

The business in 1978 specialised in fishing items, its lead range being maggots! Whelan transformed the business, and through the 1980s a programme of expansion targetting towns with a population of over 50,000 led to 119 outlets and a flotation in 1994 at a value of £64.5 million.

The company is now the biggest sports retailers in the country, having acquired Sports Division in 1998. By 2002 the company's net profit was £64.8 million, and made a further acquisition of T J Hughes that year. There are now 430 stores, predominantly in the UK.

In February 1995 David Whelan turned his eye towards his primary love, football, and he took over as Chairman of a then struggling Wigan Athletic. For his first game a "crowd" of 1,452 turned up at Springfield Park. From the time of his arrival things have looked rosy for the Latics. He was instrumental in innovatively bringing three Spaniards, Jesus Seba, Roberto Martinez and Isidro Diaz to the club, when lower Division teams just didn't do such things. His investment secured promotion to the Second Division and now in 2003 to the First. He has invested heavily in providing the public of Wigan, including the supporters of the town's rugby team who he helped rescue from financial ruin, with a stadium fit for high level sport.

The supporters of Latics owe a lot to David Whelan. He is a hard businessman, and sometimes that tempers attitudes towards him and militates against an excess of sycophancy. But he loves Wigan, and he loves his football team. Without him, at best Wigan would be playing in the Nationwide Conference now. At worst we would have gone the way of Wigan County, Wigan Town, Wigan Borough etc etc, into the "History" page of a website like this.

David Whelan has confirmed that he is quitting as chairman of Britain’s biggest sports retailer, JJB Sports.
  
Whelan, who established the chain in 1971, will stay on as an executive director but says he wants to spend more time with his football club Wigan Athletic, which he is chairman of.

JJB, which is 39 per cent held by Whelan’s family, has reported a 9.4 per cent slump in same-store sales for the 22-week period ended 3 July.

亨九利

幻想美麗, 現實殘酷.........:cool:

jublio

wonderful informative passage, thank you

adamjacky123

                  Jewell Confirms Approach For Stars

Wigan Athletic boss Paul Jewell has confirmed he's made bids for three players in the last couple of days.

However, the Latics chief believes the deals are now unlikely to come off and has moved on to new targets.

Wigan Athletic have had bids rejected in the last 48 hours for Norwich City's Dean Ashton, Fatih Tekke from Turkish side Trabzonspor and Dean Windass from Bradford City.

Paul Jewell said: "The money is not burning a hole in my pocket. Far from it, the work going on behind the scenes to sign new players is frantic and tireless. We are pursuing new targets and working through a list.

"To put supporters in the picture we made an offer for Dean Windass yesterday (Wednesday 24th August) but I don't think that will happen now. Dean would have been a great player to have in our squad, but I can understand Bradford not wanting to see their best player and I can understand Dean wanting to stay where he's guaranteed to play every week. Norwich have told us Dean Ashton is not for sale at any price, we made one bid of £5 million for him. As for Tekke, that was another substantial bid but his club don't need to sell and don't want to sell. I got the impression they would get in too much trouble with their fans if they let him leave, so that one isn't going to happen.

"I have got a couple of deals on the go as we speak (Thursday 25th August) but I'm not going to name names as it could put the deals in jeopardy. Let's put it this way, I wouldn't be spending any time at home this weekend."

Paul Jewell also spoke of the difficulties of working within the transfer window for the first time.

He said: "This is a new situation for us to be in, it comes with progressing so quickly I guess. I know the clock is ticking to the 31st of August and I'm aware we need to strengthen ahead of that. To be honest I'm not a big fan of the transfer window, in fact I'd quite like to throw a brick through it at the moment.

"Chasing players abroad adds it's difficulties and I can tell you I've covered some miles in the past few weeks. We've been to Norway, Denmark, Bulgaria, Poland, Germany and other far flung places. We should get Alan Whicker on board."

The Wigan Athletic chief also emphasised the courage and commitment the club has shown to competing in the Premiership with the bids that have been made.

Paul Jewell said: "The Chairman has shown throughout the summer he is prepared to put his hand in his pocket to get the players I want. Every bid I have made, many of which haven't come out in the press by the way, has been serious and the money we have offered to both clubs and players has been serious. Anyone who questions our commitment clearly has no idea about what goes on here."

將會購入三名新人......已經去左好多度找........大約係甘

加油呀 !827 Wigan|-|Sunderland

[ Last edited by adamjacky123 on 2005-8-26 at 02:31 PM ]

lookityourself

Originally posted by penp319 at 2005-8-25 04:35 PM:
睇完以下一段關於 Dave Whelan 資料, ...

佢係以前d 勁人黎ga 都係
英超前瞻介紹過
佢都非常有料下

adamjacky123

A Jason Roberts penalty in the first minute helped Latics secure their first win in the Premiership.

This match was seen as a chance for either Latics or Sunderland to get their first points of the season, and was also seen by some quarters as a relegation six-pointer despite the fact it is still August.

Striker Lee McCulloch was passed fit to enable Paul Jewell to have two strikers up front in attack, but new signing Josip Skoko was not named in the squad.

The match couldn't have started any better for Latics, when a penalty was awarded by referee Steve Bennett within fifteen seconds when Jason Roberts was tripped by Gary Breen. The Grenedan international coolly slotted the ball past 'keeper Kelvin Davis into the bottom corner of the net to give Latics their first goal of the Premiership season.

But Sunderland piled the pressure on immediately and they saw an inswinging Dean Whitehead corner cleared away by Arjan De Zeeuw to defuse any danger of a Sunderland equaliser.

In the 21st minute, Jimmy Bullard tested Kelvin Davis with a long range shot from thirty yards, before the Black Cats went on the counter attack and Mike Pollitt was called into action to divert a Jon Stead shot out for a corner.

Ten minutes later, and Latics went close to doubling their lead. Leighton Baines' cross from the left flank was perfect for Frenchman Pascal Chimbonda, and the former Bastia player nodded the ball just over the bar from six yards.

Sunderland almost got back on level terms with only five minutes before the interval when Dean Whitehead's low drive from just outside the box gave Latics fans a fright, but Pollitt was equal to it and made the save.

Half-Time: Latics 1 - 0 Sunderland

It didn't take long after the restart for Latics to show their intent on getting all three points to kick-start our season in the top flight. Ryan Taylor's cross in the 48th minute was met by Jimmy Bullard, who headed the ball towards the far post, but it was cleared by Black Cat's skipper Gary Breen.

In the 60th minute, former Cardiff midfielder Graham Kavanagh tried to catch Kelvin Davis by surprise with a long range dipping volley, but the former Ipswich shot stopper easily got hold of the ball.

Moments later, Jon Stead had a glorious opportunity to equalise for Mick McCarthy's men as he ran into free space inside the penalty area, but Latics 'keeper Mike Pollitt did well to come out and grab the ball away from the strikers feet.

Damien Francis battled to win the ball in midfield, and the former Norwich man sent a ball through to Jason Roberts, but the striker sent the ball high over the crossbar from twenty yards.

With just under twenty minutes to go, Jason Roberts had a decent chance that could have doubled the lead. The Grenedan held the ball up well inside a packed penalty area and timed his shot well which saw the ball go through Sunderland's defence, but Kelvin Davis had a good view and managed to easily save the effort.

Just minutes later, Sunderland were desperate to salvage a point for themselves too. But Dean Whitehead's corner was well cleared by Pascal Chimbonda at the far post.

Alan Mahon almost confirmed the result in spectacular fashion as his deflected long range shot from thirty yards, only to see the ball bounce off the inside of the post!

But after a tense three minutes of stoppage time, referee Steve Bennett blew his whistle to give Latics their first ever Premiership win.

Full-Time: Latics 1 - 0 Sunderland

Latics Starting Line-Up: Pollitt, Chimbonda, De Zeeuw (c), Henchoz (Jackson 86), Baines, Taylor, Bullard, Francis, McCulloch, Roberts, Kavanagh (Mahon 70).

Unused Substitutes: Walsh, McMillan, Johansson.

Latics Goalscorers: Roberts (1 pen).

Sunderland Starting Line-Up: Davis, Nosworthy, Stubbs, Breen, Arca, Whitehead, Miller, Welsh (Woods 62), Elliot, Stead (Gray 62), Le Tallec.

Unused Substitutes: Alnwick, Caldwell, Robinson.

Sunderland Goalscorers: N/A.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)

adamjacky123

韋根 (主場)       1 : 0           新特蘭

羅拔斯 (2' pen)   

韋根

Michael Pollitt
Pascal Chimbonda
軒索斯
迪施奧
Leighton Baines
Ryan Taylor
Graham Kavanagh
Damien Francis
Jimmy Bullard
羅拔斯
Lee McCulloch

新特蘭

Kelvin Davis
Nyron Nosworthy
史杜夫
比連
艾卡
T米拿
拿泰歷
Dean Whitehead
Stephen Elliott
史迪
Andrew Welsh


後備名單

韋根


Stephen McMillan
Matt Jackson
Andreas Johansson
Gary Walsh
馬漢


新特蘭

Carl Robinson
Steven Caldwell
Ben Alnwick
Andy Gray
Martin Woods



-- 換人情況 --


Lee McCulloch (39')
Pascal Chimbonda (40')

黃牌
比連 (21')

-- 紅牌 --

adamjacky123

韋根贏波開齊~