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