Wigan Athletic: The 12th Man have taken over the board!

Martin Tarbuck:

Three things I’d like to change? Well, let me start by saying that, regardless of what happens on the pitch, off the pitch, the club’s fan engagement is generally second to none.

And that is not an easy feat to accomplish in these times, where everyone has an opinion, and usually a different one at that. I have been fortunate in that I have already discussed the three items below at varying points over the years, and they may not have implemented them, but they have listened. I’m not special in that regard, they will listen to anyone who comes forward with sensible ideas. So here goes. With apologies to anyone who was expecting silly ones. Though you might possibly think these ARE silly ideas. If so, as the editor always says, do your own column. There’s nothing stopping you.

The first one is perhaps the most radical, and I’ve felt this for a long time. We should reduce the capacity of the ground in order to improve the atmosphere. Not necessarily on a permanent basis, but making some structural changes which will improve the lay-out and noise in the ground. This could be taking out or boxing out the front and back six rows of each stand, so the fans are sat in a more compact manner, and it looks better on the telly. Sure there might be a bit of initial humiliation, but it was a good enough concept for Juventus, so why not? It is also a far better solution than simply closing a stand, which is often the cause of much ridicule. Plus having fewer seats might actually increase demand. If this could be teamed up with a safe standing initiative, then all the better. I have approached the club about this, and they make the perfectly valid point that there is no point spending thousands of pounds just to make ourselves feel better. But neither ourselves or the rugby have been packing them in, and nor is it likely to change in the future. In short, and as the away fans frequently like to remind us, our ground is too big for us!

Number two concerns the pre-match atmosphere, and again, the club does quite a lot in this respect already, but I think I’d like to expand it a bit. I’m not going to use that loathsome word FANZONE, but that is essentially what I am talking about. Many of you will remember the ‘meet and greets’ that were superbly arranged by Vital Wigan back when Roberto was in charge. Fans turning up at 1pm to cheer relegation-haunted, confidence-bereft players into the ground when many other club’s fans would be outside booing. To compound this to my first suggestion, the ground will never be a cauldron on the inside unless all 25,000 seats are full, but gathering a few hundred people outside, mobbing our heroes, is a great way of showing how much we do care. I’m as much about the food and drink as football these days, and I know one or two of my friends at Tranmere speak highly of their “glamping tent”. A marquee-type arrangement where fine ales are sampled and food stalls are dishing up great grub. I know we already have a surfeit of lounges, and even a marquee under the North Stand, but I mean a big, outdoor one which can accommodate several hundred, if not a thousand, people in close proximity to the players’ car park, so we can recreate that ‘meet and greet’. Imagine being able to create that half-time atmosphere under the concourse we often have at big away games, and that is what I am talking about. A place to lubricate and warm up our throats and cheer our heroes as they go past, and of course the club gets to make money on the beer and food that fans otherwise might be spending in town. Well, I did warn you it would be a cheesy one! Please drink responsibly.

Finally, and still on the subject of food, we need to talk about the pies at the DW Stadium. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with them. They just aren’t Wigan pies! And what is Wigan famous for? Who said rugby? Pipe down! We are a wonderful welcoming town, and ground, with much to be proud of, but when away fans come, they get served up the same identikit pies they can get up and down the country. We genuinely need to bring back some culinary identity into football catering. They do Balti pies in Birmingham, Cornish Pasties at Plymouth and Scouse Pies at Everton. What’s the point of travelling the country just to eat the same food you can get at home? The Manchester clubs should be serving Betty’s Hotpot, Bury should do black puddings, Middlesbrough should do parmo’s, Newcastle should do stottie cakes, Fleetwood should do cockles and mussels, Chelsea should do sticks of celery...and Wigan should do PIES. OUR PIES!! Obviously the frontrunner would be Galloways, but other bakers are available, and I believe Bowens Pies from nearby Adlington already provide the matchday pastry products for PNE and Manchester City, so it’s not something a smaller bakery can’t provide. Maybe it’s just me, but the result is not the be all and end all for me. I even enjoyed the 9-1 at Tottenham in a perverse way, because I had a grand day out. That’s what I want away fans to get when they come to Wigan. Football has moved on from the Eighties. I want them to feel welcome before and after and have a lovely day. Visiting our town, sampling our fine pubs and pies to the extent that they can forget the fact that they suffered a miserable, depressing defeat at the hands of the mighty Wigan Athletic, helped by our impressive and intimidating home atmosphere [see point 1]. And when we go to their place, I’d like exactly the same treatment. Bar the miserable, depressing defeat of course. The bottom line is we forget the result over time but treat people well, and they will always want to come again! I can still recall a fantastic pie I had at Gillingham 25 years ago, and the massive pasties they used to do at Bristol Rovers. As for the score, I haven’t got a clue! But then, I am just weird.

Caddy from the 5:

When I become supreme leader of the Tics, I’ll be changing these three things: Firstly, straight back to blue and white striped shirts, none of that green malarkey in it, blue shorts and white socks, circa 1978. And all players MUST sport sweet, sweet sideys. Smoking is also allowed on the bench, while asking the crowd for the winner of the 3.25pm at Kempton won’t be frowned upon. Also black boots are standard issue, and drinking 11 pints in the Supporters Club that I’ll build after buying Robin Park is in players’ contracts also. Secondly, and this is an easy one, no surprises here, the lodgers will have seven days to find a new home or you’ll be seeing them burly bailiffs off ‘Can’t Pay, We’ll Take It Away’ chucking them out. Out will go the red seats as well, as well as those pictures of them on the concourses. Yes, I really am that petty. Thirdly, the stadium shall be renamed the Sir Ben Watson Stadium, and gingers will be given free season tickets and free food and drink (not Strongbow, obviously). The West Stand seats will be replaced with cushion seating, tartan blankets and hot cocoa under their seats, the East Stand will have fridges under their seats with chilled cans of their favourite beer inside, and smoking in the toilets will be compulsory instead of on the sly. The South Stand will stay the same...if you go in there, you don’t deserve nice things... away fans will be treated as they were at Springfield Park...no hot water and lukewarm tea. We need to make the SBW stadium *turns to camera* a fortress. Plans are in place for this when I become supreme leader. Until then, it’s time for a social distancing ‘ Bow. Stay alert, Tics.

Paul Middleton:

The three things I would do, were I a director of Latics are as follows: Firstly, make Galloways and Aspalls the only food and drink suppliers in the West Stand, and then make all food and drink free for anybody who lives, oooh, let’s say 10.5 miles from the DW as the crow flies. Purely an arbitrary distance, you understand, included just as an example. But an example that would have to be used. Oh, and a taxi home for whoever lives, again just as an example, 10.5 miles from the DW. As the crow flies. Secondly, start sending daily emails to Roy Keane, asking him whether he wants to buy tickets for future matches, despite him not being on the database. The emails would not have an ‘unsubscribe’ link, and would all include a picture of Mick McCarthy. Thirdly, make rugby fans declare which football team they support, and issue an immediate lifetime stadium ban for anybody who answers anything other than “Latics” or “none”. By way of compensation, anybody banned can apply to have the bean stains removed from the front of their Ellgren shirts for free by the club’s kitman. Just as long as they realise that 30 years of stains is a lot, and we can offer no guarantees. As a bonus fourth option, I’d also propose a free half-time raffle for season-ticket holders, in which the winner gets the room of their choice plastered by Gary Roberts. No cash alternative.

Statto:

Obviously the first thing to do is give the catering contract to Galloway’s for the DW Stadium. A serious one would be installing rail seating in the top half of ES2 as a trial. It’s where most of the noise comes from, and most stand up during the game anyway. Would all depend on cost at the end of the day. Also more dialogue from the owners as to what their aims are, why Wigan Athletic, and what they personally expect to get out of owning a modest English football club. As always, stay safe.

Andy Carey:

So the financial transaction is complete and we’ve been presented with a new list of names who are now on the board of directors. But who are these people and what will they do? Let’s face it we’ve no idea what some “directors” bring to the club, hopefully some direction perhaps? If I were to don the suit jacket and sit around the table in the boardroom here’s what I would be championing for. *Disclaimer: the following is not to be taken too seriously! Firstly a marquee signing – get in the ribs of the chairman and manager to gain favour with the supporters and sign a proven goalscorer. Perhaps one with some international pedigree, maybe a catchy song that could go viral, someone not making an impact at their current club. No idea who but with some thought where there’s a Will there’s a way. Secondly, fill in the corners – high up on the agenda must be expanding the ground. If we want to get back in the stadium we need to maintain social distancing. Contrary to popular belief, our numbers are so great that supporters are unable to safely socially distance. Get the corners filled in, in fact stick that second tier on top of the East Stand and this should be achievable. Thirdly, X Factor – having sat in the JJB/DW for the majority of home games since its construction, I think the club is missing a trick. Each year I’d propose an X Factor style audition for first-team manager, where the current boss fights it out with supporters who put themselves forward with how they could do it better. Let’s see if any of the above are implemented in the close season, wherever that may be...

Sean Livesey:

For so long Wigan Athletic was a settled outfit, Dave Whelan provided a relative era of calm in the boardroom for over 20 years – essentially because a board of directors meant very little to Dave Whelan. As he once famously said ‘Wigan Athletic is a democracy, I will have the final decision’ even when David Sharpe took over the figure of Dave Whelan loomed large.

As a result certain things that would be common place at other clubs – a club shop, decent offerings on the concourse took a bit longer to arrive at the DW. In recent years though we’ve had a lot of developments that have made a big difference to the match day experience. So what three things would I look to change or put in place ahead of our return to the Dave Whelan Stadium – whenever that may be? 1. With such a lack of decent watering holes around Robin Park most Latics supporters in need of liquid refreshment pre and post-match will find themselves in Wigan Town Centre on a match day. As a result that 30 minute walk from The Anvil down to the DW in the depths of winter gets less and less appealing with every season.

Is it beyond us as a club to provide a shuttle service from the bus station down to the stadium? These could leave at regular intervals up to kick-off and back again after the match. In fact why can we not go one step further and begin to lobby Transport For Greater Manchester for funding for a new station in Wigan. Wigan Parkside could be developed as another station on the Manchester to Southport line providing a route to and from the Stadium and making the DW truly accessible for the wider community. 2. There was talk in recent months of a new supporter experience in terms of a new bar for supporters, anyone who went to Fylde in the FA Cup will know that was the gold medal in terms of supporter bars. Let’s see if we can accelerate plans to get something like that open so we don’t need to worry about people staying in the town centre when the weather is poor. Also with our recent improvement in catering within the stadium and our link-up’s with local breweries could we commission a Latics ale to be served both in the supporters bars and concourses. But to raise additional revenue look to sell it in the club shop and even further afield to those Latics fans who don’t live in Wigan anymore but fancy a taste of Wigan Athletic at home. The wish to have Galloways served in the stadium is something I would look to complete – with award winning pie shops and bakeries across the borough such as Galloways and Muffin Man there’s an embarrassment

of pastry riches that we could bring to the DW experience. 3. With our lodging cousins announcing that they would be investigating the opening of a rugby league museum in coming years how about we add another attraction to the burgeoning site that is the Dave Whelan Stadium with a Wigan Athletic museum or indeed exhibition. The possibilities are endless – a gallery of the finest images of the sweet Catalan Prince Jordi Gomez, the FA Cup exhibit with Ben Watson’s header on a permanent loop. Perhaps a real tribute to Springfield Park as we’ve never really maintained one? So much to ponder and I trust Darren, Jonathan, Mr Au Yeung and the rest of the directors will be interested in these ideas as we look to return to the DW Stadium in the near future.