The Community Shield is the traditional curtain opener to the Premier League season and this weekend it will feature a battle between two sides from Greater Manchester.
Premiership champions Manchester United will take on relegated FA Cup winners Wigan this Sunday and it will be the first time that a club from outside the top division has featured in the fixture since 1980.
United, who have won the Community Shield 19 times, will be led out for the first time by new manager David Moyes after Sir Alex Ferguson’s surprise retirement in May.
Although the competition carries little weight, Moyes will be anxious for victory after a tumultuous start to his Old Trafford reign.
“Of course I will be trying to make the Community Shield the first trophy of many,” said Moyes.
“But if we win it’s really something that will have been earned by Sir Alex.
“It’s because of his good work in the Premier League last season that we’re in the Community Shield.”
Standing in his way are Wigan who, under the new management of Owen Coyle, will be looking for a positive early season result to boost them in their quest for promotion.
With Roberto Martinez leaving Wigan for Moyes’ former club Everton, Coyle’s footballing philosophy will face a baptism of fire against the champions of England.
However, the Wigan manager has been splashing the cash on the youthful Premier League talent like James Mclean and he will be hoping that the arrival of 11 players will provide the impetus for glory.
Latics fans will be hoping that, at the very least, Coyle will bring a defensive solidity that was lacking under Martinez.
While Wigan fans may be optimistic about the possibility of returning to the Premier League they must be less hopeful about their chances at Wembley.
The Latics have only managed to beat United once in 17 attempts and have lost the other 16.
The Reds comfortably won both league meetings between the sides last season, scoring eight goals and keeping two clean sheets in the process.
However, while the game appears to be a mismatch, Wigan’s last visit to Wembley was their heroic FA Cup triumph against Manchester City that allowed them to qualify for fixture.
While some see the game as a ‘glorified friendly’ the Football Association donate any proceeds from the day to community-based initiatives and charities around the country.
The fixture was first played in the 1908–09 season, replacing the Sheriff of London Charity Shield.
Image courtesy of Seth Whales, with thanks.
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