A lot of people have got what I am saying. I think there is that connection with Wigan. This is why I mentioned that it was friends and their immediate family. I think it is passed down through generations.

My friends who support saints are the same. Mother and father support saints and then go the games. It helps that the noughties were a good time for Saints, i tink.

The missus is from Hereford. Took her to a few games in 2010 and she's hooked. And already got a season ticket for next year. Yet another out of towner

Regarding the 'out of town' fans. There was a fan survey done a few years ago and the results displayed online which showed that a vast majority of our fans were from outside of Wigan. Just looked for it on the new site but can't find it.

Subsequently, I never filled one in and nor did anyone else I go to games with so not sure how accurate it actually is but there you go.

i know people who live in Banbury, the parents are season ticket holders in the east stand and miss about 4-5 home games a year if that. the daughter comes up if she isnt working.

also know wigan fans in Devon and Hull. couple of my FC supporting friends now have Wigan as their "second team" as does one of my friends from Hull KR. even had a Wire fan coming to games who i think is now a secret Wigan fan!

The only true survey is the address you give when you get a season ticket, and I doubt that would show the same. We do have many out of town fans, but thats a good thing. Big clubs in any sport can attract fans from all over the country.

I'm really pleased how many fans we have outside Wigan.

It really makes me laugh when certain fans try to insult us about this. So what they are saying is we are capable of attracting fans from a wider area? How is that ever a bad thing???

I'm in Hull but moving back to Leeds where I lived when I was younger. Went to just over half the games last season and hopefully getting season ticket this year. Just because people don't live in Wigan doesn't mean they're not from Wigan. I've only lived there briefly but my dad's from Hindley and got me into rugby, went to my first game when I was 2 in early 83 and been going ever since. Thats's a good enough reason for me to follow Wigan.

I like this post. I was born and raised 6 miles North Central Park and 2 miles outside the norther most boundary of the town. When I first took an interest in Rugby League Wigan were the natural choice and I have no problem justifying my support of Wigan RL especially given the fact there are plenty of pathetics in the same place. Difference is I KNOW Wigan RL are the only Rugby League team I've ever supported.
I now live in South Warrington and still have no problem justifying my support of the club.

Ooohhh the IRONY of this post!!! Coming from one of their average numskulls who only ever goes on about Wigan RLFC.

I sometimes wonder if that forum is actually real or if it is purposly comical, whatever its a bloody good read and certainly brightens the day!!

Love how they refer to us as chubbies as well, just because our players are not 9 1/2 stone 4ft 6 wet through softies.

Roy Keane the irish 5ft 6 dwarf, 10 stone hard nut!! Have a word!!

This is definitely true! TBH, I've hardly been to any live football matches, but I did go to the Carling Cup equivalent Wembley finals in 89/90 which were held the day after the CC final.
I got the rugby tickets and a friend got the football tickets - he was a Notts Forest fan, living in London. The disparity in the physique of the majority of the footballers in comparison to the rugby players was quite startling. There were a couple of big centre backs/goalkeepers, but so many were what one might call beanpoles or very "puny". This was also the time when Vinny Jones had the reputation of being a tough nut - the consensus was he wouldn't have lasted 2 minutes playing RL.

With regard to Wigan fans who don't live in Wigan, it would be interesting to ascertain how many fans were born in Wigan but have moved away for work or other reasons. Quite a lot, I would suspect. I myself am a born and bred Wiganer who went to secondary school in Ashton but left home aged 18 in 1976. I've always supported my home town rugby club and have introduced numerous mates to the game in the past 30+ years ( including the Notts Forest fan!) wherever I've lived/been working. I used to fly in for the big games when working in Europe in the mid 80's and was always home for Christmas/New Year/Easter. I would never dream of watching Man Utd, Liverpool or even Blackpool FC which is now my local football team.

Me for one.



Exactly. Wembley from 1984 on was a home game for me! I was working in London from 1981 until 1992/3.

Still made treks back up north for big games and as you mentioned was always home for the bank holidays so watched the games then.

As most people know I live in Chester now but my eldest son is an absolute fanatic Wigan fan despite being born and bred in Cheshire. One of my proudest achievements that he is! You should have seen him at the GF.

Dave