Quote: Orrell Lad "It's about time they grew the f*** up and stopped dragging the name of the club through the dirt. The flags, songs, fundraisers etc were great when they started off, what happened to that?'"
Quote: Orrell Lad "The initial idea from the group seemed to have good intentions and seems to have really added a bit to the DW stadium experience.'"
The original plan around three years ago was to create an atmosphere of colour and noise within the DW (and on the road). As you say fundraising events were organised, bucket collections pre games were started and all monies spent purchased the flags which you see along the top of the South Stand gantry, cherry and white bar scarves and pin badges were sold and all proceeds were used to purchase futher gantry flags including the 'We are Wigan' banner displayed in the West Stand. As momentum grew further fundraising events were organised to raise money for local charities with split proceeds funding enormous flags on poles (World Club Challenge as the teams were led out), proposals were in place to include young Wigan supporters to create their own flag design and for the club to decide a winner, the Brigantes would then fund the flag through the design and manufacture and be hung with other flags in the South Stand - although this idea never got off the ground unfortunately.
A lot of other ideas were put on the table (to include a 'Junior' brigantes - eg Kids aged 10 and under, merchandise to suit all supporters....etc), again ideas which never materialised.
Around the time of the Challenge Cup QF & SF at the Halliwell Jones where the atmosphere peaked on the road, hundreds of Wigan fans waving bar scarves and large flags on the terracing - didn't the BBC even comment on the 'joyous Wigan fans celebrating their victory' well after the final hooter? Even rival supporters on these boards wondering how to imitate such a fanbase!!
I won't wash dirty linen in public and I certainly don't like to name names - probably because 'in hindsight' best intentions were served at the time and 80% of things that have been delivered has been brilliant, but during the off season twelve months ago it was felt that the Brigantes would shift purpose and explore other avenues centred around the improvement of atmosphere during games itself. Around this time, some of the supporters (myself included) who had been actively fundraising for flags became less involved with taking the Brigantes forward (i'm in my forties - maybe twenty years ago under the Popular Stand but not these days, so my decision was to leave it with the younger lads).
Now firstly, some of the 'on terrace' ideas such as home made "2-stick" banners) which were fantastic - some of which were amazing "Mossop the Boxer" and "Tuson" to name just a few. Very impressed with these!!!
Not so sure about the day we had the 'Tin Foil'?, buy hey-ho. Some of the chants, although new to most at the time became firm favourites - some good stuff there.
In general within the DW I think things are handled pretty well - the group themselves behave themselves on a regular basis. There does however seem to be an issue with matches on the road - Smoke bombs, young lads tanked up and fighting between themselves, supporters encouraged not to wear club colours, scarves worn over faces....etc. This is not what being a Rugby League supporter is about, it certainly wasn't what was envisaged two/three years ago round the table in the Anvil.
It's make or break year for The Brigantes this season I feel, how long before away clubs limit Wigan fans tickets or the Wigan club get involved?
Supporter behaviour at away games needs to improve and it's only a small number of tanked up youths giving the rest a bad name. Pack it in!
