Ah, Wigan: Bastion of the North, a beacon of light shining gloriously through the grit and dirt of the mills and mines; nineteen times league champions, eighteen times cup winners: the country’s finest, ancient and loyal, glorious and great – a working-class hero is something to be.
Hang on a minute… there’s something not right there, allow me to begin again.
Ah, Wigan… well, that’s about it really. Even Kipling himself would be hard-pushed to come over all poetic about the Latics, Lazarus references aside.
If the Rovers have long been viewed as a Premier League imposter, stubbornly denying the bigger city boys of a tenancy at the top-table, then Wigan must be the steadfast squatter; immovable and emotive, they shall not be moved.
When they clambered up in 2005, nobody gave them a chance of staying there. Dave Whelan’s millions or not, times had changed since Uncle Jack and 1992. Two opening defeats, however narrow, did little to dispel that theory - until a run of eight wins from their next nine games propelled Paul Jewell’s charges to second place in the table and twenty-five points from eleven games; relegation was no longer on the menu.
An impressive casserole of a side, blending the pace of Chimbonda and Camara, the menace of Scharner, the athleticism of Roberts and Baines, the experience of Kavanagh and the looks of Bullard - allowed Wigan a team that the Warriors would have been proud of.
Not even a post-winter slide could hinder a journey to a Cup Final - embarrassing Arsenal in the height of Semi-Final Olés at Highbury – and a tenth-placed finish to cap a sterling first season in the top-flight. Not bad for a team that didn’t join the Football League’s ranks until 1978.
As would become the norm, the revolving doors greeted old with new and while the likes of Bullard, Roberts and Chimbonda would predictably head for arenas with less reverb, their places would soon be warmed by internationals in Landzaat, Heskey, Kirkland and future Manchester United wing-ace Antonio Valencia.
Second-season-syndrome has taken many a victim and it almost copped for Wigan too. A final day nail-biter at Bramall Lane will live on in Latics folklore for eternity and while Carlos Tevez and Sean Bean would go on to earn the headlines that day, Wigan’s outstanding achievement in the face of adversity was not to be overlooked. It proved too much for Jewell however, resigning the following day and handing the reigns over to assistant Chris Hutchings.
If there was a feeling of déjà-vu about that moment, then it was reinforced when Hutchings only lasted until November, as had been the exact case at Bradford seven years earlier. Steve Bruce was to follow, heralding in 14 th and 11th place finishes respectively and more comings and goings in the transfer market.
Bruce’s departure to Sunderland saw the arrival of former terrace favourite Roberto Martinez, fresh from cutting his managerial teeth at another former club, Swansea City. Under Martinez, Wigan have been capable of beating Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal only to suffer the likes of a 9-1 humbling at Tottenham and an 8-0 sacrifice at Stamford Bridge.
Last season, it appeared that they had finally outstayed their welcome – demonstrating a similar kind of self-destruction that even the empty seats would shy away from, including an opening day debacle at home to Blackpool (0-4) and another horror-show against Chelsea (0-6).
When West Ham rolled into town in May, the capital-centric media were still hoping to avoid the mop and eggs from their Footballer of the Year award, only to see the league’s ‘best player ‘ and the hapless Hammers undone by the miracle of N’Zogbia’s eleventh-hour solo to condemn the East-enders and keep Wigan’s hopes alive.
Rodallega did the rest at Stoke and the footballing gods proved to be fond of a steaming hot pie once more.
When you’re down there, as both Wigan and Blackburn currently are, then you tend to take solace in the belief that there are three teams worse off than you, and while the JJB / DW Stadium has proved to be a popular journey in victory or defeat, Rovers fans will begrudgingly hope that it’s time for Wigan to finally go in for their tea.
Goals and drama have certainly been served up in the past, too many to mention in fact, and the form guide would suggest more of the same, at either end.
Patience was still on Kean’s side when his team were on the wrong-side of a seven-goal swing in February and this has been a ground where the ashes of another reviled manager were previously scattered, or rather violently discarded, as Paul Ince’s head collapsed onto the chopping board three years ago.
There’s a fondness for Wigan, that travelling Rovers fans hold dear – filling the void of a brief courtship with Oldham in the early nineties, or the promenade fumble with Blackpool last term. Bolton is getting tedious now, yet while there would be short-term rejoicing if the Wanderers bit the dust, we’d secretly miss them in time. Naturally, we don't mention the other lot.
From Stephen Reid’s thunderbolt to Santa coming early, there’s always been plenty of drama in these parts. It’s usually an occasion whereby Rovers take their best away following of the season, whether it be the lynch-mob that called time on Ince or the raptures that greeted Bellamy and McCarthy making it three. The icy streets of Wigan town have routinely been filled with supporters in good voice and spirits, relatively free of trouble and absolutely full of drink. It’s a fixture that most supporters would bypass completely, but for Rovers - it’s one of the first that we look out for.
Local sentiment aside, the discontent continues in Ewood circles and while some supporters have chosen the week ahead of Venky’s one-year anniversary to mark the death of the connection between fans and club, laying floral tributes outside the Jack Walker statue, nobody can argue that the last rites on Kean will be chanted aloud should we fail to convince and take the points.
It’d take more than a victory to turn a few heads, but it will go a long-way in convincing others that there is hope after all. Performances are on the up, the team finally appears settled and it’s now time for results: football’s bread and butter.
The importance of this game cannot be underestimated; defeat is almost unthinkable in the bigger picture, and if Rovers are to climb the table sooner rather than later, then they will have to step on a few heads to get there – starting on Saturday: Wigan or bust. We are the Rovers.
Hang on a minute… there’s something not right there, allow me to begin again.
Ah, Wigan… well, that’s about it really. Even Kipling himself would be hard-pushed to come over all poetic about the Latics, Lazarus references aside.
If the Rovers have long been viewed as a Premier League imposter, stubbornly denying the bigger city boys of a tenancy at the top-table, then Wigan must be the steadfast squatter; immovable and emotive, they shall not be moved.
When they clambered up in 2005, nobody gave them a chance of staying there. Dave Whelan’s millions or not, times had changed since Uncle Jack and 1992. Two opening defeats, however narrow, did little to dispel that theory - until a run of eight wins from their next nine games propelled Paul Jewell’s charges to second place in the table and twenty-five points from eleven games; relegation was no longer on the menu.
An impressive casserole of a side, blending the pace of Chimbonda and Camara, the menace of Scharner, the athleticism of Roberts and Baines, the experience of Kavanagh and the looks of Bullard - allowed Wigan a team that the Warriors would have been proud of.
Not even a post-winter slide could hinder a journey to a Cup Final - embarrassing Arsenal in the height of Semi-Final Olés at Highbury – and a tenth-placed finish to cap a sterling first season in the top-flight. Not bad for a team that didn’t join the Football League’s ranks until 1978.
As would become the norm, the revolving doors greeted old with new and while the likes of Bullard, Roberts and Chimbonda would predictably head for arenas with less reverb, their places would soon be warmed by internationals in Landzaat, Heskey, Kirkland and future Manchester United wing-ace Antonio Valencia.
Second-season-syndrome has taken many a victim and it almost copped for Wigan too. A final day nail-biter at Bramall Lane will live on in Latics folklore for eternity and while Carlos Tevez and Sean Bean would go on to earn the headlines that day, Wigan’s outstanding achievement in the face of adversity was not to be overlooked. It proved too much for Jewell however, resigning the following day and handing the reigns over to assistant Chris Hutchings.
If there was a feeling of déjà-vu about that moment, then it was reinforced when Hutchings only lasted until November, as had been the exact case at Bradford seven years earlier. Steve Bruce was to follow, heralding in 14 th and 11th place finishes respectively and more comings and goings in the transfer market.
Bruce’s departure to Sunderland saw the arrival of former terrace favourite Roberto Martinez, fresh from cutting his managerial teeth at another former club, Swansea City. Under Martinez, Wigan have been capable of beating Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal only to suffer the likes of a 9-1 humbling at Tottenham and an 8-0 sacrifice at Stamford Bridge.
Last season, it appeared that they had finally outstayed their welcome – demonstrating a similar kind of self-destruction that even the empty seats would shy away from, including an opening day debacle at home to Blackpool (0-4) and another horror-show against Chelsea (0-6).
When West Ham rolled into town in May, the capital-centric media were still hoping to avoid the mop and eggs from their Footballer of the Year award, only to see the league’s ‘best player ‘ and the hapless Hammers undone by the miracle of N’Zogbia’s eleventh-hour solo to condemn the East-enders and keep Wigan’s hopes alive.
Rodallega did the rest at Stoke and the footballing gods proved to be fond of a steaming hot pie once more.
When you’re down there, as both Wigan and Blackburn currently are, then you tend to take solace in the belief that there are three teams worse off than you, and while the JJB / DW Stadium has proved to be a popular journey in victory or defeat, Rovers fans will begrudgingly hope that it’s time for Wigan to finally go in for their tea.
Goals and drama have certainly been served up in the past, too many to mention in fact, and the form guide would suggest more of the same, at either end.
Patience was still on Kean’s side when his team were on the wrong-side of a seven-goal swing in February and this has been a ground where the ashes of another reviled manager were previously scattered, or rather violently discarded, as Paul Ince’s head collapsed onto the chopping board three years ago.
There’s a fondness for Wigan, that travelling Rovers fans hold dear – filling the void of a brief courtship with Oldham in the early nineties, or the promenade fumble with Blackpool last term. Bolton is getting tedious now, yet while there would be short-term rejoicing if the Wanderers bit the dust, we’d secretly miss them in time. Naturally, we don't mention the other lot.
From Stephen Reid’s thunderbolt to Santa coming early, there’s always been plenty of drama in these parts. It’s usually an occasion whereby Rovers take their best away following of the season, whether it be the lynch-mob that called time on Ince or the raptures that greeted Bellamy and McCarthy making it three. The icy streets of Wigan town have routinely been filled with supporters in good voice and spirits, relatively free of trouble and absolutely full of drink. It’s a fixture that most supporters would bypass completely, but for Rovers - it’s one of the first that we look out for.
Local sentiment aside, the discontent continues in Ewood circles and while some supporters have chosen the week ahead of Venky’s one-year anniversary to mark the death of the connection between fans and club, laying floral tributes outside the Jack Walker statue, nobody can argue that the last rites on Kean will be chanted aloud should we fail to convince and take the points.
It’d take more than a victory to turn a few heads, but it will go a long-way in convincing others that there is hope after all. Performances are on the up, the team finally appears settled and it’s now time for results: football’s bread and butter.
The importance of this game cannot be underestimated; defeat is almost unthinkable in the bigger picture, and if Rovers are to climb the table sooner rather than later, then they will have to step on a few heads to get there – starting on Saturday: Wigan or bust. We are the Rovers.
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