Played for Both Bristol Rovers and Wigan Athletic

This week, Adam Pendlebury takes a look at the player connections between the Latics and Saturday's opponents Bristol Rovers

 

2002-2005 / 1999-2002	Nathan Ellington
2004-2006 / 1998-2000	Jason Roberts
1994-1995 / 2002-2004	Paul Tait
2011-2012 / 2015 (loan)	Adam Dawson
Youth-2016 / 2015-2016 (loan)	Lee Nicholls
1981-1982 / 1982 (loan)	Les Bradd
1981-1983 / 1967-1969	Larry Lloyd
1996-1998 / 1996 (loan)	Steve Morgan
2000-2001 / 1999	Gino Padula
2009-2010 (loan) / Youth-2005	Scott Sinclair

 

The players above have all played for the Tics and the Pirates. Lloyd and Bradd provide us with 80s magic, but most of the list are from the post-Whelan era. Steve Morgan did not really excel at Wigan but did score a wonderful goal v Hull City at Springfield Park in 1996.

Another who did not reach his full potential at the Tics is Goalkeeper Lee Nicholls. His career started well with some solid performances under Owen Coyle in Europe and in the Championship, but unfortunately he is probably remembered most for a terrible blooper in the crucial home tie v Zulte-Waregem.

Nicholls was released in 2016 after a loan spell with the Pirates. Later he joined Huddersfield where his performances significantly improved, culminating in him being named in the Championship team of the year 21/22.

That brings me to the most formidable strike partnership in Wigan Athletic’s history, Jason Roberts and Nathan Ellington.

Both had phenomenal goalscoring records at Bristol Rovers, but it was at the Latics where they both really made their names.

Ellington scored 65 goals whilst Roberts bagged 43, averaging almost a goal every other game.

It was the beautiful partnership and the telepathy of the two players that drove the Latics to the Premier League in 2005. In the final game of the season and the one that that carried us to promotion against Reading it was fitting that both players played their part and were on the scoresheet.

I find it difficult to separate the two in terms of what they gave to the Latics but scoring a 1^st minute goal on his debut away at local rivals Preston North End, plus his scoring of our first Premier League goal against Sunderland, gives Mr Jason Roberts the edge.

Adam Pendlebury

 

Grab a listen to the latest PWU Latics podcast featuring a preview of the Bristol Rovers game.