10 things St Helens can do now they're out of the Challenge Cup!

Written by me, designed by Jonny Ashton (@JonnyAshy)

*** This article first appeared in issue 3 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***

Never Watch Alone

I first heard about Never Watch Alone at a Riversiders (Wigan Warriors official supporters club) meeting.  Never Watch Alone is run by Embrace Wigan & Leigh, a Wigan based charity who help people with disabilities and their families that need support, advice and information.  Over the years (since 1999) they have helped thousands of people navigate services and lead an inclusive life.

Never Watch Alone aims to bring the local community together through football and rugby league.  It enables supporters with a learning disability to attend matches alongside their fellow supporters.  As I normally attend Latics games on me todd as me mates are rugby fans, I’m fanatical about sport, I love Latics and I’m a people person I decided to sign up to this very important cause and become a buddy.

Buddying up, as a friend, not a carer, enables me to live out my passion watching Latics at the DW with someone else who also shares the excitement of live football.  I didn’t have any prior experience, none is necessary, all I have is a genuine love of Wigan Athletic.

I was buddied up with Kieran who is a very lovely lad.  I met him, his Dad and Angela Seddon, who is the Never Watch Alone co-ordinator, at Maccie Ds the day before the Liverpool game to get to know him and make sure that we got on before the game the following day.  We got on like a house on fire and arranged to meet for the match.  It was a win-win situation for both of us, Kieran got to attend the game where he wouldn’t normally of got the chance, “to get out of the house” (his words, not mine) and I got to go with somebody.

We watched the 4-0 drubbing of Latics that day but luckily enough it didn’t put Kieran, or myself for that matter, off watching Latics again in the future together.  We arranged to meet again for the home game against Newcastle.  Before the game we organised to meet Dave (a fellow buddy) and Darryl (a fan) at Sharpy’s for some jackbit and to enhance both our social circles.  All four of us had a great time with the main conversation being about the previous weeks quarter final game against Everton and the upcoming semi-final at Wembley!

The Newcastle game was a happier affair than the Liverpool game with Koné scoring in the last minute.  Kieran was over the moon with the result, not just because his team won, but because he was there to witness it live with 22,296 fellow fans.

If you are interested in helping a fellow fan like Kieran or you would like to know more about Never Watch Alone then please contact Angela on 01942 233323 or e-mail a.seddon@embracewiganandleigh.org.uk

Playing Away in Bradford

Wigan Warriors are playing away in Bradford on Sunday 14th April at 3pm, unless Sky have changed the date and time after this zine went to press, against Bradford Bulls at the Provident Stadium.  I can remember the good old days when stadiums never had sponsorship deals and didn’t change their names every 5 minutes but I suppose times change and here is where we are.  I can also remember times when the RFL didn’t have to bail out rugby league teams and rent back their own ground to them.  Scrap the franchises, they aren’t working, and bring back promotion and relegation I say.  I’ll save that argument for another issue, we are playing away in Brat-ford here!

Bradford is famous for the birthplace of the composer Delius (no, I have never heard of him also), the author and playwright J.B. Priestley (I’ve had heard of him, I did An Inspector Calls in English at High School), the novelist John Braine (not hear of him either).  He wrote Room at the Top, he obviously wasn’t at Odsal on the 5th May 1954 when a record 102,569 spectators packed in to watch Halifax v Warrington in a Challenge Cup Final replay.

The Bronte Sisters were born in the village of Thornton, a suburb to the west of Bradford.  They moved on to live at Haworth (north west of Bradford) where they wrote Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, which sounds like our maud when she goes upstairs for some bedroom olympics with yours truly. ;-)

Odsal, as the Bulls home ground was previously called, isn’t a million miles away from the National Media Museum which is FREE!!!  Here you can explore the exciting world of television and learn how it's made in Experience TV. Get behind the camera - or in front of it, and have a go at being a newsreader or a camera operator in our studio.  Even have a go at being a commentator and see if you can do a better job than Eddie and Stevo.

While you are in Bradford you could eat some of the best curry in the UK, they claim.  Bradford has a well-earned reputation for some of the best Asian restaurants in the country. There are many award winning restaurants to choose from including the Aagrah, Omar Khans. Mumtaz and Aakbars.  I doubt any of these restaurants curry would taste as good as the curry I had once in a pie in Wigan.  I kid you not, a curry pie!

Why not visit City Park?  It’ s Bradford's brilliant new high-tech water feature, the largest of its kind in the UK.  City Park has many moods. It can be a cool, tranquil and misty space, a huge, reflective watery mirror, a bubbling, squirting, and splashing fountain display, a brilliantly lit aqueous interactive laser artwork or a thunderous water spout, shooting over 30 metres into the air.  City Park is a great place to relax, meet friends or family and enjoy a breath of fresh air. Enjoy some alfresco dining in the surrounding cafes and restaurants.  City Park is a lot like our own Mesnes Park, but with water and without a statues shoe to rub, sad times.

Bradford district has many real ale houses serving a wide range of guest ales. Try the Symposium Ale & Wine Bar in Idle or Sir Titus Salt in Bradford city centre, a former swimming pool. Also not to be missed is Fanny's (easy now, I’ll do the jokes) Real Ale & Cider House, a popular pub in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Saltaire or try Bar t'at in Ilkley, a comfortable bar serving an excellent selection of real ale and good food.

Another good pub in Bradford is The Top House, just t’other side of the ground.  It can get pretty packed on match days but it’s very local and quite cheap.

The stadium holds a now unused speedway track and the corners of the pitch curve up in the in goal area.  It holds 27,491 fans and has only one roof, no roof for the away supporters, oh I do love playing away!  Da da da daaaaa da da da daaaaa da da da daaaaa da da da daaaaa ....... cherry and white ....... it’s in our blood .......

London Calling

My Verdict from the East Stand

WIGAN WARRIORS 48 - LONDON BRONCOS 18, SUNDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2013

I must admit that I do like Sunday afternoon games.  Maybe it’s because I’m always rushing home from work on Fridays, grabbing some tea, and then going straight to the game feeling tired after a hard week at work.  I also prefer afternoon games rather than night games as I have a young family and I can relax more, the kids don’t complain they are tired and don’t fidget half as much.

Even saying all that I don’t enjoy games as much when the club shuts the north stand and puts the away supporters in the northern side of the east stand.  It leads to a flat atmosphere, the home supporters don’t have any banter with the away supporters as their aren’t very many there at all.  Fans can’t bounce off each other, chant at each other, I don’t like it!

Unfortunately in the first half especially I thought that the referee, Robert Hicks, spoilt the game as a speculate.  In my opinion he set his stall out very early in the contest blowing for a very soft penalty when he could of let the play go.  This meant that every time a player was slightly late getting up after tackling then he would be penalised.  The game descended into a penalty-a-thon, the game didn’t flow at all, it was very stop start.  Hicks would blow for a penalty every set of six it felt like, it wasn’t just Wigan, it was London who were giving away the penalties also.

I wasn’t surprised then when Sam Tomkins was sin binned for back chat on sixteen minutes.  Sam claimed that he had one foot over the dead ball line when he knocked a grubber kick out, and he probably did, which within the new rules would of given Wigan a tap on the twenty.  The referees didn’t agree and gave a drop out.  Sam gave Hicks some verbal abuse and was sent to the sin bin, a correct decision to the letter of the law, which Hicks was certainly playing to today.  It’s just a shame that Hicks didn’t play to the same letter of the law when Sam knocked the ball out.  Anyway, I suppose we all make mistakes, Hicks made a mistake in not giving the tap, Sam made a mistake in abusing him.  Sam needs to clear up that side of his game, I know he wants to win every game but he needs to learn to bite his lip.  I can remember Sam being sin binned for giving back chat when Little Britain's Daffyd, sorry, I mean, when Steve Ganson was the ref.  Ganson was speaking to Tomkins about something or nothing during a game, Tomkins asked him was he upset because St Helens had just lost (as the Saints result had just flashed up on the scoreboard), Ganson mustn’t of liked this as he sin binned Sam.  Thinking about it I suppose we can let Sam off with that one!

In the first half Wigan were dragged into the game that London wanted to play.  We were dragged down to their level.  We were very sloppy with the ball in hand, passes weren’t sticking and kept hitting the deck, and our defence wasn’t the best either.  We weren’t meeting the London players, we kept standing off them and gave them time and space with the ball in hand.

I was glad when the hooter for half time sounded.  The painters and decorators would of been needed in the home dressing room this week after the half time team “talk” that Shaun Wane gave the players I’m sure.  

In the second half Wigan came out and played much better.  Stuart Cummings, The Match Officials Director, (posh name for the boss of referees) must of given an half time talk to Robert Hicks as in the second half he refereed much better and let the game flow.  After all of the penalties given in the first half I was surprised that the ref didn’t give either side a team warning.  In the second half the ref didn’t disappoint, at first glance I thought Hicks had cracked up and was starting to “Gangnam Style” in the middle of the pitch, then I realised that he had in fact put the entire London side on a team warning.  He must of finally grown some balls as when the Broncos infringed again Matt Cook was sent to the sin bin.

The Warriors kept the Broncos scoreless in the second half, winning it 26 - 0, which is a fantastic achievement in this level of Super League.  All in all it wasn’t a bad Wigan display, in the second half at least, and this was without Wigan hitting top gear.  I think they barely needed to get it out of third.

Pat Richards was the sponsors man of the match.  I don’t know which game they were watching but it certainly wasn’t the same game I had just witnessed.  They were probably too busy munching on prawn butties.  I would of given the man of the match to Iain Thornley but then again what do I know?!?  Onwards and upwards Wigan, onwards and upwards!

Wigan Warriors 48	---	London Broncos 18
Tries (9): Iain Thornley 2 Josh Charnley 2 Mike McIlorum Sean O'Loughlin Sam Tomkins Pat Richards Blake Green	---	Tries (3): Liam Colbon Keiran Dixon Chad Randall
Goals: Pat Richards 6/9	---	Goals: Michael Witt 3/3

*** This article first appeared in issue 2 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***

Do you know about the Wigan Warriors Coat of Arms?

Have you ever wondered what all those things mean on the Wigan Warriors coat of arms?  If you have then carry on reading, I’m going to tell you.  If you haven’t then carry on reading, I’m going to tell you anyway.

It’s interesting to note that Wigan didn’t have a coat of arms until 1922 when they were granted one by the College of Arms to the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors of the County Borough of Wigan.  Don’t ask me who all these blokes were but I think you’ll agreed that they did a belting job on producing a coat of arms for Wigan.

The first thing you may notice in the coat of arms is the head of a King.  This isn’t just any old picture of a King, it is in fact modelled on the portrait of King Edward III.  However, as this is Wigan's coat of arms it actually symbolises King Henry I.

Underneath the head of the King is a Royal Lion who is guarding the King.

The red shield containing the picture of a castle and a crown is next.  The castle is a Norman castle and the crown is a medieval royal crown.

Either side of the shield stand two Royal Lions each holding branches, with berries, of the mountain ash tree or Wiggin tree as it’s also known.

The motto “Ancient and Loyal” is in keeping with the coat of arms. Wigan described itself as the "Ancient and Loyal Borough", a title originating in the 1663 charter of King Charles II which described the town as an "ancient borough" and noted its "loyalty to us". 

So next time you put on that famous cherry and white jersey just take a second to remember all the history and meaning behind our famous badge.

*** This article first appeared in issue 2 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***

Playing Away in Huddersfield

On Sunday 17th February 2013 I’m sure you will all know that Wigan Warriors are playing away against Fartown, sorry I mean Hudderfield Giants at the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, no the Galpharm Stadium, sorry what ed it’s now called the John Smith’s Stadium.  Oh I give up but you get the idea.

But what else is there to do in Huddersfield before we watch the Warriors slay the Giants I hear you ask.  Well let me tell you.

Rugby League was born in Huddersfield in 1895 at the George Hotel.  Within the hotel you can visit the Rugby League Heritage Centre which displays rare rugby league memorabilia including shirts, medals, trophies, caps, programmes, pictures and photographs.

Whilst in Huddersfield you can also visit Castle Hill and Victoria Tower.  Castle Hill stands over 900 feet above sea level and houses one of Huddersfield's most noticeable landmarks Victoria Tower.  The tower officially opened in 1899 and is still open to the public on certain days of the year. Castle Hill is worth a visit, particularly on a clear day when the Huddersfield skyline can be seen for miles. There are free spaces to park cars beside the tower and several public footpaths connected to the local countryside.  It’s not exactly the Angel of the North but it’s free!

You could also visit Greenhead Park which is Huddersfield's main park.  It might be a bit cold in February but it’s ideal for picnics, sporting activities and quiet walks.  Facilities include 5-aside football, band stand, basketball and tennis courts, bowling greens, cafe, children's playground, donkey rides, miniature railway, ornamental gardens, paddling pool, public toilets and skate park.  I bet it doesn’t have a statue with a shoe to rub like in our very own Mesnes Park.

Last but by no means least where can you have a good drink in Huddersfield I hear you ask.  Well let me tell you.  

The Rope Walk - This is by far the closest pub to the ground, situated in the UCI cinema complex next to the stadium. There's usually a friendly atmosphere in here. Mainly home fans drink here, but some away fans pop in for a drink as well. This place is perfect for a few drinks before the game or for a meal to calm your nerves. 

Slubbers Arms - Situated just off Bradford Road, this place is great for a nice, peaceful drink before the game. This is a real ale pub, so the beer is of a very high quality. 

Head of Steam - This pub is situated actually in the train station itself, so it nearly always has a few in before the game. It has a friendly atmosphere and away fans are always welcome. 

The Crescent - A bit rough but aren’t all the best pubs.  The pub is situated on Northumberland Street in the town centre. A bit of a walk to the ground but ideal if you are going to the game on the train.

The Peacock - Situated on Leeds Road, within 5 to 10 minutes of the ground, this pub is ideal to go to for a quick drink before the game. They have a large screen TV with Sky Sports available.

The stadium is shared with Huddersfield Town Football Club which holds 24,500 fans under one roof, oh I do love playing away!  Ohhhhhhh, bouncy, bouncy!!!

Down to the Wire

My Verdict from the East Stand

WIGAN WARRIORS 17 - WARRINGTON WOLVES 17, FRIDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2013

Before the game started with the number of forwards we had injured, i.e. Epalahame Lauaki, Harrison Hansen, Chris Tuson and Paul Prescott, I would of happily taken a point against a very strong Warrington side.  However, when the hooter sounded for full time I was gutted that we had drawn, it felt like 1 point dropped rather than 1 point won.

In my opinion Warrington's two first tries shouldn’t of been given.  I don’t know where Phil Bentham got the Wigan knock on from which resulted in the Warrington scrum from which that dog botherer, Joel Monaghan scored from.  An even worse decision was allowing the try from fido’s best friend (again) to stand as it was oblivious that Josh Charnley was taken out in the air by Ryan Atkins in the build up.  Therefore, Wigan scored three perfectly good tries and Warrington only scored one.  Don’t get me started on old saggy tits Briers, on another day that drop goal would of hit the post and bounced out.  Unfortunately for us in this game it hit the post and bounced in.  Hopefully we will get our slice of luck against them in another game but we will win a trophy for it.

I was impressed with the half back partnership of Blake Green and Matty Smith, seeing that was was only the fourth game (two friendlies, two league games) that they have played together in.  However, at some points within the game our kicking was poor.  There is acres of space to kick the ball into but time and again we managed to kick it right down the throat of Brett Hodgson.  Don’t get me wrong Hodgson is a good, experienced fullback but to win massive games like this we need to find the turf.

Don’t forget that Wigan fielded eleven academy products out of their seventeen in this game and none of them looked out of place in both defence and attack.  This is fantastic and it shows that we are really building for the future.  We may not win any trophies this season but in the future we may possibly win them all again. 

Wigan Warriors 17	---	Warrington Wolves 17
Tries (3): Josh Charnley Ben Flower Liam Farrell	---	Tries (3): Joel Monaghan 2 Richie Myler
Goals: Pat Richards 2/4	---	Goals: Brett Hodgson 2/3
Drop Goals: Matty Smith 1	---	Goals: Lee Briers 1

***This article first appeared in issue 1 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***

Hob nobbing it with the big wigs

I was lucky enough to attend the recent Wigan Warriors Pre-Season Dinner and shirt presentation night at the DW Stadium.  It came about as me missus won a pair of tickets at Riversiders, Wigan Warriors official supporters club, not the amateur rugby league team.

I wouldn’t spend the 50 notes, each I hesitate to add, to attend an dinner like this but as it was gratis I thought why not.  I even had to get the moth balls out of me suit.

We stumbled into the south stand bar of the DW and found our names listed on the table plan.  We were on table 21 which was at the back of the venue but still gave a good view of the stand and large screens that had been set up to show videos.  I was a bit disappointed to find out that champagne wasn’t being served on arrival but I suppose you don’t become a successful businessman like Mr. Lenagan by giving away freebies.

Riversiders sponsors the under 19s academy players Ryan Hampshire, George Williams, Lewis Tierney and their under 19s coach Matty Peet so they were all on our table as were other Riversiders members who had won tickets also and their partners.  Once everybody had found their seats our chairman, Mr. Lenagan, gave a few words including thanking the sponsors, a bit of back ground on the money side and provided a few soundbites that everybody at these dinners wants to hear including “We’ve got everything to play for.  We’ve had a few distractions but our pre-season has been the best that I can recall.”  To be fair to him though I think he’s done a cracking job here since he become chairman, turning a profit the last 3 years isn’t bad in this day and age.

Then it was the shirt presentations for the academy players in descending numerical order.  Everybody who had sponsored a player went up on stage in turn to present the player with his playing shirt for the season and had their photo taken.  Me misses had the pleasure of presenting Matty Peet with his (polo) shirt for the upcoming season.

After the academy lads had been presented with their shirts it was time for the jackbit to be served and I was clempt by this time, it was after eight o’clock!!!  On the menu was winter vegetable soup to start, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and carrots for the main and then chocolate truffle cheese cake for afters.  To finish was coffee and mints.  By this time it was 9:30pm and if they thought I was going to be drinking coffee at that time of night then they were very much mistaken, my names Billy, not silly.  But the biggest shock of all was where were the pies, they don’t call us pie eaters for nothing.  I’m not so sure that Ian is from Scholes if he OK’d the menu!

When we were all well and truly stuffed it was time for the first team players to be presented with their playing shirts for the season, the same script as before.  A few of them got interviewed on stage including Sam who said, referring to the players that have departed the club “The media have written us off, I thought I was playing for Widnes.”  Never one to pull any punches is Sam, good luck when you play at the Stobart if the Widnes fans catch hold of your comments.  Sean O’Loughlin was a little more dignified and said that Wigan are “raring to go.”  Shane Wane also said a few words.

Finally there was a raffle where if you choose to you could put 5 quid into an envelope to win one of a number of prizes including signed shirts, various different vouchers and a cuddly toy (I kid you not).  Where I go raffles are normally a pound a strip, I’ve never won anything but luckily the raffle sellers haven’t stripped off either ..... think about it!

And after a few closing words from our chairman that was it.  It was a good night, my wallet was a little bit lighter afterwards, pints at the DW aren’t cheap I think you’ll agree.  We need these types of events to survive as rugby league clubs can’t continue without them.  

***This article first appeared in issue 1 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***

Brief Wigan Rugby League History & Facts

I’m sure that most of you, probably nearly all of you, reading this issue of the new Wigan Rugby League fanzine will be diehard Wigan fans.  Please let me remind you and hopefully inform you of some of the more unusual facts and history about our glorious rugby league club.

The origins of our rugby league club began in November 1872 and was formed by members of Wigan Cricket Club.  The first Wigan rugby club was called Wigan F.C. and played their home matches at Folly Field by Upper Dicconson Street, barely a stones throw about away from Central Park (more about Central Park later in the piece).

In September 1879 after financial problems, does it sound familiar?, Wigan F.C. rebranded themselves as Wigan Wasps.  They played in, now hold your breathe, BLUE and white hooped shirts!!!

In September 1895 Wigan joined a number of other clubs based in the north of England and broke away from the governing body (can’t we break away from the RFL?) which didn’t allow clubs to compensate their players for the time off work required to play rugby.  They formed the Northern Union, contradictory to rumours Stevo wasn’t chairman at that time.

The new version of rugby was an instant hit and in 1901 Wigan moved grounds again to Springfield Park, even before Wigan Athletic ever existed, and they became Lancashire League Champions. The owners of Springfield Park requested a large increase in rent in 1902 so the club moved again!

In 1902 the club purchased a long term lease on a plot of land known locally as ‘Joe Hill’s Field’ as Joe Hill, a local butcher, used the land to graze his animals on.  The land was owned by the Great Central Railway Company and thus Central Park was born!

When Central Park first opened there weren’t any dressing rooms (not sheds Stevo, dressing rooms, we are English, not Australian) so the players had to get changed in the Prince of Wales public house in Greenough Street.

During World War II Central Park was used a training centre for Wigan's own Dads Army, the Home Guard, Air Training Corps and the Territorial Army.  The pitch was used as a drill ground, the soldiers barracks was located under the Douglas Stand, the away dressing room was used as a jail and anti-aircraft guns were stationed on the Kop.

On 27th March 1959 (Good Friday) the visit of St. Helens, in which Wigan won 19 - 14, produced Central Parks all time record attendance of 47,747.  This is still a record for any league game in this country.

In 1996 the Rugby Football League switched the season from winter to summer and rebranded the competition Super League after a lucrative contract from BSkyB owned by Rupert Murdoch, money talks I suppose.  Clubs also rebranded themselves and Wigan Rugby League Football Club changed they name to Wigan Warriors, I know which one I prefer!

The last ever game at Central Park was played on Sunday 5th September 1999 against the old enemy St. Helens, or as I like to call them Stains.  The game was a 18,179 sell out won by Wigan 28 - 20.

Due to financial difficulty (and other factors which I’ll save for another issue) Wigan Warriors moved into a newly built stadium in Newtown in 1999 which they share with Wigan Athletic Football Club.  The first ever game at the JJB Stadium (later to become the DW Stadium) was played on Sunday 19th September 1999 against Castleford Tigers.  Dennis Betts scored Wigan's first try but unfortunately we lost 10 - 14.  

Wigan Warriors is still the most famous and successful rugby league club in the world, winning an unprecedented 19 League Championships and an unparalleled 18 Challenge Cups.

Ancient and Loyal.

***This article first appeared in issue 1 of Cherry & White (a Wigan Warriors Fanzine).  You can follow Cherry & White on twitter @CherryWhiteZine and purchase the fanzine here :- cherrywhite.bigcartel.com ***