From the Village of the Damned – Rainford. The only real way out was the train – to watch Liverpool/Everton one week, Wigan the next. In those days there was never a ticket inspector so it was free to get there. That was nearly 30 years ago. As we got older, used to go to the Pier, Maxines, the Bull etc so felt more of an affinity with Wigan, than St Helens where Rainford is.
Is Stephen Fishwick still Lord of Rainford?[/quote]
Sorry – never heard of him. Is he some Mr big peddling sleeping pills to the old folk?[/quote]
He used to live in the big house opposite the Eagle and owned Rainford Service Station. D for Dodgy.
Again, fair point nuneaton. Like you, i too say i live in runcorn but am from wigan originally. The problem i have is whenever i go into a shop or chat to any of the parents or kids in the kids team i coach, no one understands me cos they’re all used to scouse accents – nothing wrong with that garswood before you pick up on that. :) But not many people understand me due to me speaking in a broad wigan accent. Hence, i love coming back to wigan to either watch latics &/or visit family & friends & being able to talk proper.
It is a great thread. I’m amazed at home many non-Wiganer fans we have. I sat next to a Dutch fan last home game. We have truly gone global!
Ive noticed allsorts of nationalities at games, South Americans, Europeans, the lot. A lot are attracted by individual players we have, I think. Maybe some HSV Hamburg fans will visit us, due to Scharner? There always seems to be youth football team groups from Scotland as well.
I’m from Wigan but left 18 years ago when I was 18.
In 1985, when I was 9, a neighbour took me along to my first ever game – a cold Tuesday night FA Cup replay against Runcorn (4-0 win). But it was more an act of defiance against my Bolton and Man U supporting mates (I went to school in Bolton) and the novelty of being the only Wigan supporter in my school, than my love for what I saw that night that made me a Latics fan!
Since leaving Wigan I lived in the midlands for 5 years and been in London the last 13…but the defiance and novelty factor have not left me. I proudly wear my Wigan hat/scarf/shirt/accent around the capital and love the spectrum of looks and comments I receive.
It’s also helped me meet many other exiled London/Southern Latics who I’d never have otherwise met, including several who will be very close mates for life. Not an easy thing to do when you live in London.
Some of them are non-Wiganers with great stories of their own, e.g. the Leicester lad whose dad was a Wiganer and a long suffering Latics fan; the Hereford lad and separately the Putney lad who each basically closed their eyes and stuck a pin in the newspaper!
It is a great thread. I’m amazed at home many non-Wiganer fans we have. I sat next to a Dutch fan last home game. We have truly gone global!
Ive noticed allsorts of nationalities at games, South Americans, Europeans, the lot. A lot are attracted by individual players we have, I think. Maybe some HSV Hamburg fans will visit us, due to Scharner? There always seems to be youth football team groups from Scotland as well.
We really are known across the globe. :)[/quote]
I know some adopted Wigan fans from Denmark and the Netherlands whom we go on holiday with. Very nice people, Meet them in Italy annually. The dutch fella demands a jar of Uncle Joes mint balls every year so we oblige.
Fair point filmoss. But ive lived out of wigan for 9 years now, so technically, am no longer fromwigan.
I was away from Wigan 27 yrs runcorn but i have never been anything else but a Wiganer even keeping my broad accent.If anyone asked me where i lived my reply was always “I live in Nuneaton but im a Wigan lad”.When I returned 27 yrs later it seemed that every 2nd voice I heard was Scouce.Once a Wiganer always a Wiganer.As for the Latics well my old man was an egg who never set foot on a football ground so our insurance man at the time knowing I was mad about football took me to see Liverpool v City at Anfield and i remember the game but it didnt grab me and turn me into a fan of either of them.Shortly after a few of us went to watch a little club club called Wigan play another little club called Burscough and I became immediately hooked with the Latics.The rest is history.[/quote]
Nuneaton, was that the Cup game away at Burscough when, with so many Latic fans packed in at the back of the goal the fence collapsed and the Latics fans all spilled onto the pitch.[/quote]
It was a cup game Horc but it was at dear old Springy and we won 5-2. Oh it was a night game as well.
Enjoyed reading this. I was brought upon Garswood but went to Uni in 77 and haven’t livedin NW since then. Lived in various parts of England and have always been proud to tell people I support the Latics. My daughter is 21 and has caught the bug too. Tried watching Leicester and Forest but would rather watch East Enders. Enjoyed League Cuo thrashing of Forest but one of best days was Graham Kavanagh inspired win at the Walkers.
Good to hear Latics fans are opposing up all over. At away games I’ve sat next to converts from Bath, Wolverhampton and Dublin. Who’dhave thought it ?
have supported wigan ever since there first season in the premier league , just seemed to have a connection from the very first day I watched them live