How much does it mean to you....?

Whoever is coach of Wigan next year should read this every day, superbly put.

Quote: wiganbud "Why do i put myself through this year after year. Don't get me wrong, i wouldn't change this for the world, but the Wigan versus Saints derbies should carry some sort of government health warning!

The derby game is not just played over 80 minutes on the day. Its not just those memories on the pitch that stand out. It is the entire day, in fact the entire week before! The build up to the big event is in many ways, as big as the match itself.

As soon as the match prior to the derby game finishes, the build up starts. The next game isn't just another League, Cup or playoff game.......it's St Helens!!!!

It is those nights, days even, before the match when you can't sleep for thinking about the game. It is those nights when all dreams are consumed with the events that may or may not occur on derby day. It os the playing of old Wigan/Saints videos or DVD's just to try and calm the nerves. It is the excitement that slowly drains through your body turning confidence to doubt and back again every hour. It is the fact that Wigan are playing Saints and you are going to be there!

The week before the game you lie awake earlier and earlier each night. Finally, as match day dawns you are awake by 4am, slowly watching your bedside alarm clock move on minute by minute. You feel like a child on Christmas Eve waiting for Father Christmas to arrive and being told by your parents that it was now time to get up!

Even though the day is young and it is still dark outside, you sit their dressed ready for the game. Your shirt that has been hanging unwashed on the front of the wardrobe door since the last game, your lucky socks, your scarf, flag, all their waiting to start their journey to the ground.

Your stomach is doing cartwheels! The thought of food is the last thing on your mind.

The planned leaving time is still hours away as you start pacong around the house. You sit down and turn the television on only to find a Childrens TV show on every channel. You can only last ten minutes before the pacing starts again and you start looking at your watch, asking yourself why you couldn't have arranged to leave a couple of hours earlier.

Finally it is time to leave! Just one last chance to check the Sky Box and video has been set to record, at the right time, on the right channel. The car is dressed up like your going to a wedding. A flag drapped along the parcel shelf, car flags hang on the windows and coloured ribbon are tied to your car ariel. If its cherry and white.....then its going with you!

The journey starts well enough, the radio is switched on, to try and catch some team news ahead of the big match. The news and sport soon arrives and the mention of the word Wigan receives a cheer. Both teams have late injury worries with players rated as 50/50. This is when the nerves really start to kick in!

Once at the ground, the nerves disappear as the atmosphere takes over....you grab somethng to eat and a drink or two and head to find your place on the terraces........

This is show time......this is Wigan v Saints!'"