Euro 2016 fever is about to hit the borough

New research conducted by Sizzling Pubs, which owns several venues in the area, suggests football fever will be in full swing over the next few weeks as 24 teams battle it out for the title in France.

A whopping 96 per cent of Wiganers are expected to support the England side, although it is not clear which of the other teams will have their isolated pockets of followers across the borough.

The research also suggests the Euros will bring out the inner sports fan in those who would not normally watch, with 48 per cent of Wigan women planning on tuning in this summer compared to the 26 per cent of ladies in the borough who describe themselves as regular sports viewers.

Families will also be coming together to watch the big games in France, with the researchers finding mother-in-laws will get the bunting out for an average of 4.2 separate sporting occasions this summer. Brothers are the family members most keen to cheer on their teams, with 34 per cent planning to support the home nations, ahead of 27 per cent of fathers and fathers-in-law and 24 per cent of sons.

Sizzling Pubs carried out the research as it is looking for the UK’s most avid family of sports fans.

David Thomas, manager at the Poachers Arms in Winstanley, said: “It’s great to see everyone getting involved in supporting our teams and athletes and not following the cliché that only men like sports.

“We are searching for a whole family that comes together to support the country’s top stars.”

To enter the competition, which has a prize of £200 to spend on a meal and £1,000 of sports tickets, share a picture of the whole family in sports kit on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #SizzlingSport