The Gas face off against The Latics at home
Matt Taylor and his Bristol Rovers team will welcome Wigan Athletic to The Memorial Ground for a clash that is sure to whet the appetite, hoping for a repeat of last season's home game against The Latics - a pretty special 4-1 win!
Wigan boss Shaun Maloney hailed his youthful team after they defied an eight-point deduction to finish in the top half of League One. Going into this season, the North West club will be bolstered after England U-21 goalkeeper Sam Tickled signed a new long-term deal and they completed the signings of Brentford midfielder Michael Olakigbe and Liverpool defender Calvin Ramsay on loan as well as Dion Rankine on a permanent from Chelsea.
Bristol Rovers history:
Founded in 1883, Bristol Rovers FC have experienced various successes and challenges over the years, from cup runs to ground moves. Rovers enjoyed their most fruitful period in the mid-20th century, including reaching the quarterfinals of the FA Cup in 1950 and securing various promotions.
The most significant of these successes came in 1952 when Rovers won the Third Division (South) title. In subsequent decades, Rovers fluctuated between different tiers of the football pyramid. The club moved to the Memorial Stadium in 1996, which has been its home since.
The club - whose supporters are known as ‘Gas Heads’ - climbed back up the Football League in the 2000s, but were disastrously relegated to non-league in 2014. However, this acted as nothing more than a reset and today the club sit in EFL League One and are managed by Matt Taylor.