Steve Wignall
Encyclopedia
Steven Leslie "Steve" Wignall (born 17 September 1954) is an English
former professional football manager and player. During his playing career, Wignall, who played as a central defender
, made over 600 appearances in the Football League
.
, Wignall played professionally for Doncaster Rovers
, Colchester United
, Brentford
and Aldershot
, making a total of 639 appearances in the Football League
. He retired as a player in 1991, barely a year before the club went out of business.
, before assisting Ian McDonald. After Aldershot went out of business in 1992, a new club, Aldershot Town
was formed, and Wignall became their first ever manager, wining back to back promotions before former club Colchester United
signed him in January 1995. During his time at Colchester he led the club to promotion via the play off in 1997/98 and to the final of the Football League Trophy the year before. He stayed as manager until January 1999 when he resigned believing he had taken the club as far as he could. Wignall has also managed Stevenage Borough
, Doncaster Rovers
and Southend United
. Also, he worked as a first team coach and assistant at Wivenhoe Town from 2005 before leaving club due to financial reasons in January 2008.
In 2009, Steve published his autobiography titled You Can Have Chips.
Colchester United
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former professional football manager and player. During his playing career, Wignall, who played as a central defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, made over 600 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
Playing career
Born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Wignall played professionally for Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
, Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
, Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
and Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
, making a total of 639 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He retired as a player in 1991, barely a year before the club went out of business.
Coaching career
After his retirement from playing he joined the coaching staff at AldershotAldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
, before assisting Ian McDonald. After Aldershot went out of business in 1992, a new club, Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
was formed, and Wignall became their first ever manager, wining back to back promotions before former club Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
signed him in January 1995. During his time at Colchester he led the club to promotion via the play off in 1997/98 and to the final of the Football League Trophy the year before. He stayed as manager until January 1999 when he resigned believing he had taken the club as far as he could. Wignall has also managed Stevenage Borough
Stevenage Borough F.C.
Stevenage Football Club is an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club currently participate in League One, the third tier of English football, having won promotion from League Two in the 2010–11 season...
, Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
and Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. Also, he worked as a first team coach and assistant at Wivenhoe Town from 2005 before leaving club due to financial reasons in January 2008.
In 2009, Steve published his autobiography titled You Can Have Chips.
As a manager
Aldershot TownAldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
- Isthmian LeagueIsthmian LeagueThe Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
Division Three:- Winners: 1992–93
- Isthmian LeagueIsthmian LeagueThe Isthmian League is a regional football league covering London and South East England featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs. It is sponsored by Ryman, and therefore officially known as the Ryman League. It was founded in 1905 by amateur clubs in the London area...
Division Two:- 3rd Place: 1993–94
Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
- Runners-up 1996–971996–97 Colchester United F.C. seasonThe 1996–97 season was Colchester United's fifth consecutive season in the fourth tier of English football. They finished as runners-up in the Auto Windscreens Shield after losing 4-3 on penalties to Carlisle United.-Season Review:...
- Runners-up 1996–97
- Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third DivisionThe Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
- Playoff Winners 1997–981997–98 Colchester United F.C. seasonThe 1997–98 season was Colchester United's sixth consecutive season in fourth tier of English football. The season ended in success with Colchester achieving promotion after beating Torquay United 1–0 at Wembley Stadium in the Playoff final.-Season Review:...
- Playoff Winners 1997–98