The first public appearance of the club was an exhibition match between the Probables (made up of local men) and the Possibles (players from further afield, brought together by Mr Dale, a committee member) on Christmas Day 1905, which attracted 8,000 to Springfield Park, suggesting that there was a potential strong following for the association game in a rugby league stronghold.

In January 1907 the club was suspended "sine die" for "supposed wrong treatment of certain players" which amounted to unpaid wages to three members of the playing staff.

Scotsman, James Harold was appointed manager in February 1907[6] and he arranged friendly matches at Springfield Park with Preston North End, Sheffield United, Stoke, Birmingham, and Aston Villa, all First Division clubs at the time.

[8] Early results were good until James Harold left in October 1907 from which point the club went into freefall with huge defeats including 12–0 against Colne, 8–0 versus Nelson and 10–1 against Haslingden after the new year.

[12] On 21 May 1908, it was announced that Wigan Town had not applied for re-election to the Lancashire Combination after finishing next to bottom of the league that season.