Quote: manco "Don't think that statement is strictly true, saints have never been relegated they just weren't able to field a team for financial reasons during one season (i think it was in 1916)!'"
Saints first time out of the top flight was the same as Leeds, when at the end of the 1900-01 season saints finished 2nd bottom (widnes bottom) of the Lancashire Section, and Leeds finished 4th bottom of the yorkshire section thus both missing out on gaining entry to the one division northern league.
however when two divisions were formed in the 1902-03 season saints finished 2nd bottom and were relegated. leeds came the other way after promotion from the 2nd dividion and were never again out of the top flight.
Saints gained promotion the following year and in the 1904-05 season finished 2nd bottom but were saved from relegation and becoming a yo-yo team with the introduction of a 31 team division.
and the original poster isnt quite correct there were no league running in 1916-17,&18 due to WWI and Warrington did not compete in the leagues in 1942,43,44 and 1945 due to the amount of players serving in the forces for wwII.
makes me laugh that wigan fans laugh at this fact as its a prouder boast than the one they recently have with Saints when they argue they might not have won anything recently but who has the biggest crowds... ?
