Supporters
Wigan is one of the most well supported British rugby league clubs. During the 2006 season, in which the team was struggling to avoid relegation, the attendances were increasing as fans came to support the club and offer vocal support, many of whom may have not attended on a regular basis previously.
The club averaged 16,016 per home game in 2007. In 2010 Wigan were officially the best supported club in Super League with a higher average attendance than nearest rivals Leeds Rhinos. The club have now been confirmed as the best supported club for the last three seasons of 2010, 2011 and 2012.
As a gesture of thanks, the 2008 season saw the Wigan fans have the squad number 18 dedicated to them, a practice which has since continued each season. Joe Lydon commented “This is a new practice for clubs who recognise the extra special support which loyal fans can provide to their team in both good and bad times. It is particularly apt for Wigan fans".
From early 2008, the Wigan fans have often chanted to the tune of The Entertainer. One of the beginning lines of this particular chant is "We're the Greatest Club in the World".
The fans have their own supporters club, The Riversiders, who meet monthly and often have special guests at the meetings including past and present players, coaching staff and members of the Rugby Football League.
In addition, the supporters have set up a group to improve the atmosphere at both home and away games, known as the Wigan Brigantes. The group started by erecting flags across the South Stand gantry at the DW Stadium, beginning with 12 at the start of the 2010 season and has steadily grown since then. The group's banner has the phrase "Long After Tonight Is All Over" as a nod to the Jimmy Radcliffe song that was a staple of the Wigan Casino club during the Northern Soul era, and to show their rivals that their support will continue well after the final whistle has sounded. This is particularly true of some of Wigan's away games during the 2011 season where their fans have often stayed well over half an hour after the final hooter singing to the tune of "Dale Cavese".
There is also a regular fans' forum meeting with chairman Ian Lenagan and the current head coach to discuss the latest issues concerning the club and the work that is being done behind the scenes. So far every meeting has been a sell out.
Wigan's fans and Wigan people in general are known as 'pie eaters' or 'pies' which is reference to the 1926 General Strike, when Wigan miners were forced to eat 'humble pie' and return to work before miners in other towns, even though they had been on strike before the other towns joined in. Since then the word ‘pie’ has come to mean the pastry rather than the metaphor ‘Humble Pie’.
Supporter Clubs
Riversiders
Brigantes
Notable fans
- Rio Ferdinand. Manchester United defender and former England football Captain is possibly Wigan Warriors' most famous fan at the moment, often tweeting about games he attended and the class of players such as Sam Tomkins and Michael McIlorum.
- Joe Gormley, President of the National Union of Mineworkers 1971–82.
- Will Greenwood MBE, former rugby union international
- Kym Marsh, former popstar and now Coronation Street actress.
- Bradley Wiggins CBE Tour de France Winner and Olympic Gold Medalist
- Kay Burley. Sky News Presenter
- Lee Westwood. Golfer
- Ryan Giggs. Manchester United Midfielder
- Alex Ferguson Manchester United football manager – He attends some training sessions at Wigan
- Wayne Mardle. PDC Dart Player
- Ian Botham former England Cricket star
- Ricky Hatton. Former World Champion Boxer
- Robbie Savage. Ex-football player
Read more about this topic: Wigan Warriors
Famous quotes containing the word supporters:
“The opposition is indispensable. A good statesman, like any other sensible human being, always learns more from his opponents than from his fervent supporters. For his supporters will push him to disaster unless his opponents show him where the dangers are. So if he is wise he will often pray to be delivered from his friends, because they will ruin him. But though it hurts, he ought also to pray never to be left without opponents; for they keep him on the path of reason and good sense.”
—Walter Lippmann (1889–1974)
“No Government can be long secure without a formidable Opposition. It reduces their supporters to that tractable number which can be managed by the joint influences of fruition and hope. It offers vengeance to the discontented, and distinction to the ambitious; and employs the energies of aspiring spirits, who otherwise may prove traitors in a division or assassins in a debate.”
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881)
“No Government can be long secure without a formidable Opposition. It reduces their supporters to that tractable number which can be managed by the joint influences of fruition and hope. It offers vengeance to the discontented, and distinction to the ambitious; and employs the energies of aspiring spirits, who otherwise may prove traitors in a division or assassins in a debate.”
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–1881)