What a really touching story. It must have helped you a lot by being able to put it into words.

R.I.P. your mum.

sorry to hear about your loss, it's brought a tear to my eye by just reading it. Just proves rugby league is a whole lot more than a game.

I was in bits reading this and I can only echo what people have said on here. My wife (32) passed away the week before the Rovers game when we clinched the League Leaders shield and along with the guilt of actually being there was the realisation that life has to go on. You naturally reassess whats important in life and realise without family, friends, hobbies and interests there's little else so I've resolved to keep my family and friends close and get myself a Warriors season ticket. The emotion I felt at OT was an indescribable mix of joy and pain. The pain, so I'm told, subsides. I bloody well hope so. Stay strong for your families at times like this, they need you as my baby girl needs me.

Glad the boys did it for you mum mate,

I was only young but my granddad past away in 1992, we went visit him on his death bed just after wigan won the challenge cup in the May, my dad was wearing his wigan Jumper that day and with all the energy my granddad had, he lifted his arm pointed to my dads badge and whispered "cup?" My dad simply replied with "yes dad we won it again." that was one of the last things my dad and his father said to each other before he passed and that story always makes my love for wigan and familty stronger.

It brings out strange emotions this game of ours.

So sorry for your Loss Leyland and the other stories on here I must say it really has brought a tear to my eye and I really have an idea how some of you feel. I lost my brother a number of years ago, he took his own life the same way as our Tez recently. My brother wasn't a Wigan fan but a Cas fan so we were always having a bit of a competition about who would do the best in a season and wind each other up when each team had lost. I must say after our GF win I just looked up and whispered 'I told you you should have supported Wigan'.

Powerful stuff Leyland Warrior, a truly gripping and emotional read - I commend your courage in posting it, as it must of been tremendously difficult.

Condolences to yourself and your family, I sincerely hope you are as well as you can be. We're all behind you on here

100% Warrior.

RIP your mum

At times like this you need your family, and as Wiganers we're an extended part of that. To find positives and a reason to go on despite the massive negatives is a good attitude to have and the reason why you and you little family will get through this.

Thank you so much, the support I've had from fellow rugby fans has been incredibly moving and the realisation that comes with this, [that humanity is far better than the likes of the Daily Mail would have us believe], is reason enough to keep my chin up and adjust to the situation I've found myself in. I really don't want to detract from the OP or the other posters who are recently bereaved I know how I feel but have no idea how others feel as we all have different circumstances and 'coping mechanisms' but one thing I will say is the guilt stage of grief, if it happens to you, is when you need to kick yourself really hard and understand that no amount of 'what if' is going to bring your relative/friend back. The quicker you realise this the quicker your life is back in your own hands rather than being ruled by the past. My thoughts are with you all.

Sorry to hear of your loss.

Also I feel it's worth mentioning that reading the stories above definitely bring a few tears to the eye. It's amazing the depth of feeling that supporting us has on families and how they are closely knitted by the club.

it can go two ways it can either make rugby seem insignificant and pointless (which it is in the grand scheme of things) or force you to reassess things which actually accentuates the positives, the togetherness of the fans, the euphoria etc like players who cry whilst singing the national anthem or Lee Briers winning the Lance Todd trophy grief can also be a great motivator. I can honestly say that Wigan rugby and rugby league fans in general mean more to me now than they ever have done. Anyway thats enough from me, onwards and upwards.

There can be no positives drawn from the above

Leyland Warrior - I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your Mum, I'm glad she held on to see the highs again for the boys.

GP - You know my sadness for your loss as we've discussed it already, still my heart goes out to you and P. Hope you got the disc pal.

To all - As an outsider from these parts I've always been amazed at the feeling of community and family that comes from being a Wigan supporter. It's a choker of Sintellins-at-Old Trafford proportions to see how people pull together in the face of adversity.

WE are Wigan.

Thanks Nick you're a legend and a true friend. Got the disc thanks and hope to see you soon, most appreciated pal.