Is this the end of Wigan Athletic?

Almost two months ago I embarked on a mission to find out once and for all which is the biggest and best supported sports club in Wigan. Everybody knows that Wigan is a town steeped in a tradition of rugby league, a minority sport that is ‘all the rage’ in the town. The fans of the sport revel in their superiority over the little football club, who recently could only muster 25,133 for a Premiership match.

In the interests of fair journalism I decided to go along to see a Wigan Warriors game. Not only that, but the game that I chose was a third round tie of the greatest cup competition that the sport of rugby league can offer. The game also had a European flavor as the Klumps (as they are affectionately known in the miniscule part of Wigan that is Blue) were taking on the French Giants, Catalan Dragons. Having already beaten Whitehaven in the previous round, in a pulsating, nail biting 106-8 encounter, that had you wondering who the eventual winners would be right until the full time ‘hooter’, this game would be much harder.

The crowd turned out in force as you can see. The excitement all around the JJB Stadium was electrifying as the mood was set for this epic cup tie. The hordes of fans were singing and chanting the names of their heroes and the trader selling cherry and red merchandise were doing a roaring trade, thinking that Christmas and their birthday’s had all come at once!




The Klumps had pulled out all the stops with regards to the pre match entertainment and with just ten minutes to kick off the party was in full swing. The West Stand was rocking. Flags and bunting were being waved creating a party atmosphere despite the fact that there was so much riding on the outcome of this game. The ‘live’ draw for the next round of the cup, scheduled for a few days after the game, had pitted the Klumps against Leeds.



When the game got underway the Wigan crowd completely out shouted and out sang the one Catalan fan who had flown over from France. The rest of the massive crowd were all ‘Wiganers’ from Darwen, Horwich, Blackburn, Bolton, Chorley and other neighboring towns steeped in the rugby league tradition. The local fans had found it difficult to get tickets for the game and opted to watch the match at home or in the local pubs in order to ensure that they didn’t miss out on another piece of Wigan history being made.



The fans in the South Stand were making a tremendous noise, the whole stand seemed to be bouncing up and down in unison with the overexcited fans, and when the Klumps took an early lead the euphoria was so great and of such epic proportions that the steward almost had to call for help as a Hillsborough style crush was most definitely on the cards. Thankfully, by a strange quirk of fate, the huge video screen was not damaged.





These pictures just show what the local football club are up against. How do they compete with that? Suggestions on a postcard can be sent to the YOTAC crew and we will ensure that your ideas on how to combat this phenomenal minority sport will be delivered to a quivering Dave Whelan, who must surely be wondering why he sold the Klumps in the first place!