5 live in Wigan pitch shock

[Jill Halfpenny fan]

Caught 15 mins or so of the Wigan/Blackpool soccer game today.

At one point the commentators (Jimmy Armfield and, I think, John Murray) said the Wigan pitch was in fantastic condition.

They then went on to say that Wigan RL had been playing on it all summer, and where also playing tomorrow.

They even knew it was a potential league leader decider.

Expect next week they'll be covering conference football and Lawrenson will be on to restore normality.

[goldcard]

Caught 15 mins or so of the Wigan/Blackpool soccer game today.

At one point the commentators (Jimmy Armfield and, I think, John Murray) said the Wigan pitch was in fantastic condition.

They then went on to say that Wigan RL had been playing on it all summer, and were also playing tomorrow.

They even knew it was a potential league leader decider.

Expect next week they'll be covering conference football and Lawrenson will be on to restore normality.

No, couldn't have happened.

Smell the coffee, we ruin that pitch every season....

[GazCoops]

Give it a couple of months and they'll be blaming rugby for the pitch been so worn out in the goal mouth and center circle areas.

[paley]

Good to hear

[MrPosh]

Jimmy Armfield is a good man and John Murray is an excellent and very knowledgeable commentator.

[shrek]

Give it a couple of months and they'll be blaming rugby for the pitch been so worn out in the goal mouth and center circle areas.

As always the pitch looks nice csometically at this time of year but has a distinct cheap and nasty look about it, there's a good bit just infront of the Boston/East stand that was visibly moving today and some good chunks were taken out in sliding tackles.

Much to my amusement the bloke behind me was totally bemused as to why one of the groundsman was spending so long off the football pitch at the South Stand end in what would be the ingoal area at the Rugby following some cutting up in the warm up, clearly we have a rugby loving football hating member of the ground staff!

It'll be a quagmire by November the usual bull will be written/commented on by the media and once again nobody will think to mention its built on a marsh!

[Bulletproof]

Like a carpet, a nice pristine bowling green for Blackpool to do one over that Athletic travesty on. Eat that Whelan.

[GazCoops]

A bit of topic but was watching match of the day and thought it was nice to see the famous Wigan walk is not just a rugby league thing.

Edited August 15, 2010 by GazCoops

[Bulletproof]

A bit of topic but was watching match of the day and though it was nice to see the famous Wigan walk is not just a rugby league thing.

It is even better to see the football lot walk out. Wigan's a rugby town. Get rid of 'em.

[deluded pom?]

Wouldn't it be good to see Mo take PNE to the DW and beat Wigan Athletic in front of about 3,000.

Edited August 16, 2010 by deluded pom?

[Millman]

Jimmy Armfield is a good man and John Murray is an excellent and very knowledgeable commentator.

Spot on. Lesser fools in the football media will be along to moan soon.

I noticed tonight that the soccer goal mouths were fenced off during the warm ups.

[terrywebbisgod]

Spot on. Lesser fools in the football media will be along to moan soon.

I noticed tonight that the soccer goal mouths were fenced off during the warm ups.

They normally are.

[Griff9of13]

Don't worry, as soon as one of the big clubs slip up at the pie dome, normal service will be resumed and we will know it was the rugby's fault.

[The Future is League]

Caught 15 mins or so of the Wigan/Blackpool soccer game today.

At one point the commentators (Jimmy Armfield and, I think, John Murray) said the Wigan pitch was in fantastic condition.

They then went on to say that Wigan RL had been playing on it all summer, and where also playing tomorrow.

They even knew it was a potential league leader decider.

Expect next week they'll be covering conference football and Lawrenson will be on to restore normality.

i don't know a lot about John Murray, but he sounds a good man. Jimmy Armfield i have heard in the past talk up Rugby League. i given to believe he is a fan of the game going back many years.

[Li0nhead]

Ok aside from the individuals concerned could it be our message every time football types moan about this finally be getting through. That on shared grounds Rugby (i include both codes for the purpose of this post) chews up the pitch more equally than football which the damage is more concentrated on the two goal mouths. Is that finally getting through to them?

[dallymessenger]

only 16,000 for an opening PL fixture is awful

when they finally get relegated i expect the club to dwindle away fairly quickly

ill enjoy watching wigan get relegated as much as seeing Hull tigers get demoted

[PREPOSTEROUS]

only 16,000 for an opening PL fixture is awful

With 6000 Blackpool fans apparently.

[shrek]

With 6000 Blackpool fans apparently.

Last I read there were 4200 in the away end, which looked about right give or take acouple of hundred with the "sterile" zones they had cordoned off in there, so there was no way there was 1800 delirious sorts in the home end, believe me they'd have stood out a mile.

Still a poor showing from the home turn out and pretty much reflecting the mood around the club currently, despite the cheap price of season tickets sales must be pretty poor, not seen any official figures released and sales on the day seemed quite brisk for one off tickets so it'll be the first of many poor turnouts this season.

[shrek]

only 16,000 for an opening PL fixture is awful

Compared to the big clubs, yep, its awful, taken in context to what crowds were 10/15 years ago its a decent increase in % terms considering the quality of competition right on the door step and its an increase I am sure many in our sport would jump at.

[dallymessenger]

With 6000 Blackpool fans apparently.

thats even funnier

[jannerboyuk]

Compared to the big clubs, yep, its awful, taken in context to what crowds were 10/15 years ago its a decent increase in % terms considering the quality of competition right on the door step and its an increase I am sure many in our sport would jump at.

percentages schementages. its the bloody premier league!

[shrek]

percentages schementages. its the bloody premier league!

But thats irrelevant given the quality alternatives right on the door step. I'd say as an absolute maximum potential the club could hit the 20k mark on a regular basis if it was top 6 and had form for doing reasonably well in the cups, without that current crowds are about as good as they are going to get.

Its nothing to do with it being a so called rugby town, I'd be willing to wager there are more fans of other football clubs living in Wigan than there are Wigan fans, but then people are drawn to success. You only have to analyse the make up of the rugby crowd in Wigan to see that people are attracted from far and wide.

[jannerboyuk]

But thats irrelevant given the quality alternatives right on the door step. I'd say as an absolute maximum potential the club could hit the 20k mark on a regular basis if it was top 6 and had form for doing reasonably well in the cups, without that current crowds are about as good as they are going to get.

Its nothing to do with it being a so called rugby town, I'd be willing to wager there are more fans of other football clubs living in Wigan than there are Wigan fans, but then people are drawn to success. You only have to analyse the make up of the rugby crowd in Wigan to see that people are attracted from far and wide.

quality alternatives that sell out. Fact is that in wigan the easiest way to watch the biggest league on the planet is the dw stadium. and they dont. plenty of people in cardiff and even plymouth follow other teams but if either team got into the prem they would say out. pure and simple

[shrek]

quality alternatives that sell out. Fact is that in wigan the easiest way to watch the biggest league on the planet is the dw stadium. and they dont. plenty of people in cardiff and even plymouth follow other teams but if either team got into the prem they would say out. pure and simple

True, although I believe you could have picked up a United season ticket in the off season just passed with little problem should you have wished. You can also take your pick of any number of pubs and watch your choosen successful side play whilst spending what you'd have spent on the gate on beer as plenty do.

Alternatively you can watch two poor quality teams battle out against each other in a vastly over hyped league or one attempting to hold onto the coat tails of a vastly superior side hoping to cling on and knick one on the break. Either way its not a quality product!

The appeal of setting out the season with a 40 point goal and hoping only two or three players move on each transfer window is very limited! Charles N Zogbia's antics on the eve of this season sum up the attitude of players towards the club!

[jannerboyuk]

True, although I believe you could have picked up a United season ticket in the off season just passed with little problem should you have wished. You can also take your pick of any number of pubs and watch your choosen successful side play whilst spending what you'd have spent on the gate on beer as plenty do.

Alternatively you can watch two poor quality teams battle out against each other in a vastly over hyped league or one attempting to hold onto the coat tails of a vastly superior side hoping to cling on and knick one on the break. Either way its not a quality product!

The appeal of setting out the season with a 40 point goal and hoping only two or three players move on each transfer window is very limited! Charles N Zogbia's antics on the eve of this season sum up the attitude of players towards the club!

oh mate the entire product is a big pile of ######- premier legue or world cup. awful - but people do believe the hype. it still strikes me that a little corner of the world doesnt and surely league, the far better and more honest and breathtaking product, has something to do with that?