Wigan Is Now A Football Town...

It's official: Wigan is now a footballing town.

The slow, painful demise of rugby league has manifested itself in the scenes of folk queuing for FA Cup final tickets.

FA Cup final! Wigan Athletic? Who'd have thought it?
Marvellous stuff.

The pitiful attendance of 7,500 at the Wigan v Leigh Challenge Cup game, only confirms this fact. A game that would once command over 15,000, was watched by nearly half that...A sad indictment on the faltering game of 'tick rugby' S.L.

How very sad.

were did the people in the que leave their bandwagons do you think

As a neutral, I think that the argument will only be valid as long as Latics are in the Premier League. I feel that the crowds will drift away if Latics are relegated, not immediately but over 2/3 seasons.

Historically, Wigan folk have only followed a winning team irrespective of the sport.

Plus a game against Leigh is hardly a big draw, didn't Latics get a tiny crowd in recent years for a Carling /F.A. Cup game?

@0years

The main thing i've noticed after watching both teams play at Wembley is the number of youngsters who watch the Latics compared to RL.

Wigan RL like a number of social clubs in the area seems to be dying out due to the age of the member.Wigan Athletic have done an excellent job in claiming most of the towns youth from being armchair fans of our bigger neighbours.

Well done to Mr Jackson and his team at Latics for this.

'Historically, Wigan folk have only followed a winning team irrespective of the sport.'

You are from Wigan and a City fan???

are you an armchair fan................or did you go to goodison

he mustav gone for his dinner

'Historically, Wigan folk have only followed a winning team irrespective of the sport.'

You are from Wigan and a City fan???


Jay, my comment was an observation not a criticism. When I was a kid in the late 60's City were winning things so I jumped on the bandwagon (then the wheels fell off), as most utd/liverpool/leeds fans of my age did because Latics were not successful/glamorous enough. Now they are. So the comment you make about kids is a very pertinant one. I said a few years ago that Latics need at least 10 years in the Premier so that kids can grow up with "glory".

When I see Wigan (not Latics) on T.V. though there seems to be hoards of kids.

As it happens, I went to the Good Friday game, first time in yonks, and was struck by the sheer amount of cherry and white clad youngsters in attendance.

It gives them a laugh, so fair do's to jarvo and jay for their contrived attempts to wind up the Rugby fraternity. Hardly Morecambe and Wise, but, hey, god loves a trier, bless.

I see the Doctor has changed Jarvo's medicines again. He will settle down once he gets used to them. He may even stick to writing poetry then. With a bit of luck his beloved Wolves fate should be sealed this weekend and they will be in Footballs third tier next season.

Shall I state the obvious, there isn't a city, town or village where football isn't the dominant sport. Whether those residents support their hometown club, or if they even have one, isn't the issue, the vast majority will follow a football team they call their own.

With regards to Wigan, the crossover between Latics and the Warriors, in terms of fans, is minima. I've heard it's in the hundreds (based on match going fans on the database).

If you look at Latics these past two decades, the club started to establish itself and grow significantly long before many cared to take notice. The jump from 1.5k, to over 10k, regulars took place before we reached the Premier League. Promotion to the top flight saw the biggest single jump in support, but further steps forward have been gradual.

In fact any Latics regular will tell you, the first season in the Premier League attracted many one season wonders, curious to see top flight football. These soon dropped away, and so did our attendances, but more recently you see Latics regulars bringing their kids, which in-turn is spreading the word amongst their friends, as a result we now see an increasingly large number of youngsters coming to Latics games.

Take other clubs who Latics will be looking to as good examples, baring complete mismanagement, which disenfranched your fans, it's possible to grow year on year whether your in the Premier League or Championship. I think that applies to Latics more than most, given how young the club is in terms of football league history.

As many of you on here may know, Jarvo and I are old mates.

Irrespective of this I am a proud Warrior, and a season ticket holder for many years.

The only reason Jarvo doesn't like rugby is because he was dropped on his head as a child and the brain damage has proved to be irreversible. This is why he supports Wolves and drinks lager

Historically, Wigan folk have only followed a winning team irrespective of the sport.

Just like Siddy

If latics fans had to pay for their tickets the attendances wouldn't be so big
I was given 4 tickets for the match tomorrow

got aany spare?

I gave em away to my kids

your not much of a traveller wally,you get homesick for the bar, when you go to the toilet in the norley

Peter same old story I was given 4 tickets, can I ask from who?As we run junior Latics under 11s we have to apply for free tickets for the kids wait in anticipation thankyou

How do you get 4 tickets Peter

@piso

The facts are on the last data given by the WiganRL club itself,the average age of a WiganRL fan is 48!!

Another fact is that Wigan Athletic have the highest percentage of junior season ticket holder in the country.

Also Wigan Athleti'cs home crowds are pretty consistent.Compare the Saints attendance to the 6000 or so that turned up a week or two earlier against London.

Jarves,myself and other,just speak the truth on these matters.

@oyears

You followed City because of their initial success.I'd suggest to you that this generation may follow the Latics because of their exploits in the premier league these last eight seasons.

Worth a mention , that when Wigan Rugby where relegated to Division Two for season 1980-81 , quite a few home games drew in crowds around the 3,000 mark , with 3,146 being the lowest !

@wiganrover

Great point.

Wigan Athletic have a consistent home support.Why so Wigan RL fans only turn out for Warrington and St Helens?Is it because most aren't from Wigan and have to travel in from out of town??.I think so.

it's only the same as you travelling over to Langtree park then jay

Tom , I'm proud to say that I continued supporting the Latic's through these difficult times and even prouder to say that I was at the game on April 30th 1977 , when just 647 people turned out for the NPL visit of Gainsborough Trinity . Great point JenGA ..... the club deserves great credit for the fan base that it has achieved in just over 30 years !

Correct Wigan Rover I have always been a tic supporter in the early days rugby fans used to take the micky out of any one who followed the tics because we were only a non league team and not a danger to them,but like it or not we have come a long way and some rugby fans can't take that.All the best for tomorrow come on you tics

How can an average be around 3,000 with a lowest crowd of 3,146 ?
sorry to be pedantic! but please try to back up lies with decent maths.

Mal75 ..... Where does my post mention " average " ?

22nd February 1981 versus Dewsbury .... Attendance 3,146 ..... Lies !

average attendance for the season was 4774 with the highest crowd being about 8500 against leigh.
Would any of the "so called" latics fans like to enlighten us on the lowest latics crowd for the same season.

No comment on the 6000ish crowd against London broncos..the WiganRL exiles don't like to answer the hard questions..

Empty Seats

THE FA CUP MAGIC

Only 8,199 supporters made it to the DW Stadium for Wigan’s draw with Bournemouth

Wolves will be close to 30,000 tomorrow and we're in a dog fight to stay up.

I wish Latics well against Spurs and I hope they can win their first major trophy.

Wiggin Rugby?
Go and boil yer yeds!

The above discussion demonstrates what I stated earlier, there's little meaningful competition between Latics and the Warriors, for fans at least.

The Warriors have been a top side in their sport for many decades, they're a mature club who's fulfilled the potential their sport offers, now they're trying to maintain that level, not because of competition from football, but RU and the NRL.

At Latics, your talking about a club who wasn't playing league football until the late 70's, didn't have the resources to make an impression on the sport until Whelan arrived, and is competing with the sports biggest clubs on our doorstep.

Despite reaching the Premier League, growth is still dictated largely by how many young fans we can bring through the gates, it mustn't be forgotten we've in the main been involved in relegation battles too. I will say, you'll only see the full potential of Latics (as a club, not necessarily on the field) for another 20 years.

Still no comment on why only 6000 or so turned up for a league fixture vs London.

WiganRL in denial again.

Well said, Jay.

Wigan V London

This Season 11590 crowd....

Darren wasn't there!!AGAIN!

Look on rl forums regarding crowd..

I was there,,,,,

Look on RL forums then and accept your opinion yet again is a lonely one...

dont need to look.... i know how many was on

You want to know how many was on for many latics games..... Not only Man utd false the figures

You don't know !Or disagree with all the WiganRL fans that attended the game!!they count every ST and every ticket they give away wheather they turn up or not!!

sounds just like the Latics and Man Utd..... FACT

Darren's been on the white lightening again.

darren are you still wet between the ears,my dad knew at least three of the wigan board from the 50/60's,then it was two for the taxman and one for us.attendances have been fiddled one way or another since fans had to pay for entrance.

Please, please children...support your own Wigan team by all means but don't denegrate the other...It's just like the "my dad's bigger than your dad " syndrome....bloody grow up...it's gerrin tiresome...

For years I went to both Central Park and Pneumonia Park. Never remember one song from the terraces of CP against the Latics, simply because at the time Wigan RL were Top Dogs. Going to Springfield all you heard was "We only hate Wigan Rugby" and "Only one team in Wigan" which at the time I found laughable. Nowadays at least the Latics fans seem to have grown up and have found other targets for their chants, whereas Wigan RL fans still concentrate on RL opponents more than football "Rivals"

@Bassman

You're a sensible fella and i agree WiganRL people need to grow up.

Mal , lowest attendance at Springfield Park for season 80-81 was 3,370 versus Hereford on Feb 11th .... highest was 9,692 versus PNE in League Cup and highest league gate 6,021 versus Bury on Sept 20th .

Not the only premier league club to do so..... when the truth is out latics will be shown in true blue colours...

man utd

Still no comment on why only 6000 or so turned up for a league fixture vs London.

A bit like you then when people ask you this simple question......did you go to goodison



Jarves,myself and other,just speak the truth on these matters

Awwwwww low life lying troll has to bring others into it, awwww



Another clean post off the master baker, well done

@jay

You followed City because of their initial success.I'd suggest to you that this generation may follow the Latics because of their exploits in the premier league these last eight seasons.

That was exactly my point Jay but I am the kind of "thick and thin" person, I hope the Latics fans are but football fans are usually fickle.

@TOM

Agreed

Wigan may be a football town but Wolverhampton sure as hell isn't

bassman
i hope your comments wernt intended for myself .i am sick and tired of people knocking the latics and warriors.dont know how much nearer you can draw two clubs together ,than they play at the same stadium and have wigan in their names.
my post was intended solely for darren.

Good luck Latics this afternoon against Spurs !!!

Not in the slightest BB......It just seems to be as I posted....we have two great teams in their sports, why folk from Wigan denegrate either of them is beyond me...Jay...you've just proved my point.

Our Warriors can only get better and climb upwards, where they belong...as history shows.

Latics are wonderful and should escape relegation...therefore putting Wigan as a sporting town firmly on the map...GO FOR THE CUP...Latics...

Posted by: baker boy (8357)
got aany spare?

Replied: 26th Apr 2013 at 17:


i thought you was a fan