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Wigan Warriors Wiki Information

Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is a professional rugby league football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. Wigan is one of the original twenty two rugby football clubs that founded the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895, following the schism from the Rugby Football Union. The club was the town of Wigan's first rugby football club, founded in 1872 and is currently one of two professional rugby league football clubs within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. The other being local and traditional rivals Leigh Centurions.

The first team currently plays its home matches at the DW Stadium in Wigan and has been doing so since 1999. This followed a period of 97 years of being based at Central Park, Wigan.

The club competes in Europe's engage Super League competition and has been ever-present in Super League since it's inception in 1996. The club's has three squads; the first team squad participates in the Super League competition. The club's reserve team participate in the reserve team championship and the club's academy team participate in the Gillette academy championship.

The club enjoyed a period of sustained success during the mid to late 1980s and early to mid 1990s which included winning the Challenge Cup eight seasons in succession and the League Championship seven seasons in succession.

Wigan have honoured several of the great players who played for the club. These players are honoured, via induction, in the Wigan Rugby League Football Club Hall of Fame.

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History Overview

Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club is one of the most famous and successful sports clubs in the world. The club has grown from humble beginnings into one of the giants of Rugby League.

Late 19th Century

On the 21st November 1872 a sporting legacy was born. Wigan Football Club was founded by members of Wigan Cricket Club following a meeting at the Royal Hotel, Standishgate, Wigan. Wigan F.C. played on Folly Field, near Upper Dicconson Street.

The first match took place on 30 November when members played against each other, in a practice match, at Folly Field. After a series of trial and practice matches, they travelled to Warrington to play their first competitive match on 18 January 1873. The game ended in a draw.

Financial problems and an inability to recruit quality players led to the club amalgamating with Upholland F.C. in 1876. The club became Wigan & District F.C. The club moved and played its home games at the then Wigan Cricket Club at Prescott Street just off of Frog Lane. It is unlikely that the club fulfilled its fixtures in 1877 before finally disbanding at the end of the 1879 cricket season.

On the 22nd September 1879, the club was reformed as Wigan Wasps by many ex-members of the original Wigan Football Club, following a meeting in the Dicconson Arms. The club moved away from Prescott Street back to Folly Field. In 1884, Wigan won its first trophy, the West Lancashire Cup. The club initially played in blue and white hooped jerseys before changing in 1886 to cherry and white hoops. ^[1] In 1888 they hosted and beat a touring New Zealand side.

Wigan were suspended by the RFU for breaking the strict amateur code despite their argument that broken-time payments were necessary to avoid undue hardship for their working class players. In 1895 Wigan joined with other clubs from Yorkshire and Lancashire to found the Northern Union which led eventually to the sport of rugby league. This was a result of the breakaway from the Rugby Football Union. This was when the "Wasps" tag was dropped and the club simply became known as Wigan.

The County Championship was introduced in October 1895 with Cheshire entertaining Lancashire. The Red Rose side contained three players from Wigan: Winstanley (full back) and Unsworth and Brown (forwards).

In 1896/1897 due to the increased number of Northern Union teams the Northern League was abandoned in favour of two County Senior leagues. The second half of the season saw the introduction of the Northern Union Cup (later known as the Rugby League Cup). Wigan reached the third round before being knocked out by St. Helens.

Early 20th Century

In 1900, fourteen clubs resigned from the two county leagues to form a new Northern Rugby League for season 1901-1902. Wigan however remained in the Lancashire Senior Competition.

Wigan became sub-tenants of Springfield Park, which they shared with Wigan United AFC , playing their first game there on 14 September 1901. A crowd of 4,000 saw them beat Morecambe 12-0. During this season Wigan won the Lancashire Senior Competition.

Wigan's record crowd at Springfield was 10,000 when they beat Widnes on 19 March 1902. The last game was on 28 April 1902 when Wigan beat the Rest of Lancashire Senior Competition.

Two meetings were held by Wigan members during the season to discuss the possibility of turning the club into a Limited Company but the idea did not take off.

In the 1905-1906 season they won their first cup, in rugby league, the Lancashire Cup. Between 1906 and 1923 Wigan won the Lancashire League another seven times and the Lancashire Cup another four times. Wigan were the first winners of the Lancashire cup.

Wigan played New Zealand on November 9 1907 and ran out winners by 12 points to 8 in front of a crowd of around 30,000. Great Britain, then known as the Northern Union, played their first ever test against New Zealand on January 25 1908. James "Jim" Leytham, Albert "Bert" Jenkins, and John "Johnny" Thomas of Wigan were in the home side and James "Jim" Leytham scored a try. Albert "Bert" Jenkins, and John "Johnny" Thomas had previously played in the first Welsh game against New Zealand on January 1 1908.

On the 12th May 1921, Wigan became a limited company.

In June 1922 Jim Sullivan joined Wigan from Cardiff RFC when he was only 17. His cash value was put at £750, which was a staggering signing-on fee for an adolescent who had not yet played 13-a-side rugby. His first game was at home against Widnes on 27 August, 1921, and he scored ten points in a 21-0 win. Almost inevitably, Jim Sullivan scored the first points in the first Challenge Cup Final to be played at Wembley Stadium, kicking a penalty after only three minutes of the inaugural Challenge Cup Final against Dewsbury in 1929, in which he led Wigan to a 13-2 victory. Sullivan became player-coach in 1932.

Wigan won their first Challenge Cup in the 1923-1924 season when they beat Oldham 21-4 in Rochdale. In 1933 the Prince of Wales attended Central Park, becoming the first royal to watch a rugby league match.

On October 25 1938 Australian Mr. Harry Sunderland arrived in Wigan to take up the duties of Secretary-Manager at Central Park. On September 28 1939 Harry Sunderland's contract was terminated and he and the club parted company.

The outbreak of World War II disrupted the Rugby League Championship but Wigan continued to play in the Lancashire War League and the Emergency War League.

During the war years the club went through the 1940/41 season unbeaten although they lost the Championship final. They lost the 1944 Challenge Cup Final over two games to Bradford Northern 8-3 but made up for it beating Dewsbury in the Championship Final.

Mid 20th Century

Jim Sullivan's last game, as a player, for Wigan was at Mount Pleasant, Batley, on 23 February 1946. He remained at Central Park for another six seasons as coach.

In 1948 Wigan took part in the first televised rugby league match when their 8-3 Challenge Cup Final victory over Bradford Northern was broadcast to the Midlands. In another first this was the first rugby league match to be attended by the reigning monarch, King George VI, who presented the trophy.

On Saturday 27 October 1951 33,230 spectators saw Wigan beat Leigh 14-6 in the final of the Lancashire Cup at Station Road, Swinton. In 1952 Wigan won their sixth consecutive Lancashire Cup.

Wigan were also featured in the first league match to be broadcast, a clash with Wakefield Trinity at Central Park on 12 January 1952.

In 1953 Wigan signed William ‘Billy’ Boston for £150. 8,000 fans saw Billy Boston début for Wigan in the 'A' team. He would later become one of the most successful and famous Wigan players of all time. Eric Ashton signed for Wigan for £150 in 1955. Wigan went to Wembley six times in the Boston/Ashton era and won three times.

The visit of St. Helens on 27 March 1959 produced Central Park's all time record attendance of 47,747 which is still a record for any rugby league game in Lancashire. Wigan went on to win the game 19-14 after holding off a Saints comeback.

Joe Egan returned to coach Wigan and during his time they won the Championship play-off final in 1960 defeating Wakefield Trinity 21-5, the Challenge Cup in 1958, 1959, 13-9 against Workington Town and 30-13 against Hull respectively before losing in 12-6 to St. Helens in 1961 which was to be his last game in charge.

Wigan continued to have regular success in both league and cup competitions until 1974 when Wigan went 8 seasons without winning any leagues or cups.

Eric Ashton coached Wigan from 1963 to 1973. In 1966, Wigan locked television cameras out of their ground in the belief that they affected attendances. They were fined £500 by the RFL. Wigan beat Oldham 16-13 in the 1966 Lancashire Cup Final. Billy Boston played his last match in the cherry and white, against Wakefield Trinity at the end of April 1968.

Late 20th Century

Wigan celebrated the centenary year of the club in November 1972, with a match against Australia at Central Park, on Saturday 17 November, the result finished as an 18-18 draw.

Wigan pulled off a surprise victory 19-9 over Salford in the Lancashire Cup Final which was played at Wilderspool, Warrington on Saturday 13 October 1973. Cup holders Salford had lost only one match prior to the final, against the touring Australians.

Ted Toohey became coach of Wigan in May 1974 before being sacked in January 1975, this would set the pattern of coaches lasting one or two seasons before being replaced. Joe Coan then took control and lasted until being fired in September 1976. Vince Karalius then took over but was also sacked in September 1979.

Kel Coslett was coach between October 1979 and April 1980. In 1980, Wigan were relegated from the top flight for the first time in the history of the club and Coslett was replaced by George Fairbairn. During the second division season they recorded a record average attendance for the division of 8,198. Wigan won promotion back to the top flight the following season but Fairbairn lasted no longer than May 1981.

Maurice Lindsay came to Wigan in the early 1980s to join directors Jack Robinson, Tom Rathbone and David Bradshaw. Wigan became one of the first teams to go full-time professional in the league, this led to an upsurge in the fortunes of the club.

Between February and October 1987 Wigan won a record 29 games in a row as follows: 20 Division One matches, 3 Premiership Trophy matches, 4 Lancashire Cup matches, 1 Charity Shield final, 1 World Club Challenge final. Wigan defeated Australian club Manly-Warringah 8-2 in front of a crowd of over 38,000 at Central Park for an unofficial World Club Championship. It was the first time a team of Englishmen had beaten a team of Australians at rugby league since 1978. From 1988-1995 Wigan won the Challenge Cup 8 seasons in a row; this period was Wigan’s most successful period to date. They also won the Championship seven times, League Cup four times, Premiership Trophy three times, Charity Shield twice and three World Club Championships.

In 1997, the club was renamed Wigan Warriors. Wigan's dominance came under threat with the new league now fully professional and the introduction of the salary cap and the 20/20 rule. After going out of the Challenge Cup to Salford in 1996 and St Helens in 1997 , they returned to Wembley for the final time in 1998. Still undefeated in the league and the fact coach John Monie had never lost a Cup Tie meant Wigan were huge favourites against the unfancied Sheffield Eagles. But on May 2 1998 the Eagles would go down in rugby league history causing the biggest upset in the competitions history with a 17-8 win.

Wigan won the first Super League Grand Final in 1998 with a 10-4 victory over Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester.

In November 1999, coach Andy Goodway was sacked by Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay after the Warriors' failure to win a trophy for the first time in 15 years. After a buy-out by Dave Whelan, both the Warriors and the town's football team, Wigan Athletic, moved to the JJB Stadium. As part of the rugby league's "on the road" scheme Wigan Warriors met Gateshead Thunder at Tynecastle, Edinburgh. Maurice Lindsay also returned as director. On an emotional day of high drama Wigan's final game at Central Park was against arch rivals St Helens on Sunday 5 September 1999 . Wigan legend Ellery Hanley returned as St Helens coach but a Jason Robinson virtuoso try meant the game was won by Wigan 28-20. The first game at the new stadium was a defeat in a Super League play-off match against Castleford Tigers on 19 September 1999. Frank Endacott joined Wigan Warriors as head coach after the 1999 season and coached them until 2001, when he was sacked.

Early 21st Century

In 2000 Wigan finished top of the Super League and reached the Grand Final for the second time but this time lost to St Helens 29-16. Wigan reached the Grand Final again the year after but lost to Bradford Bulls 37-4 which is still the biggest winning margin in a Super League Grand Final. Wigan wouldn’t win the Challenge Cup again for another 8 seasons until they won it in 2002. In 2002 Wigan won their 18th Challenge Cup when they beat St Helens 21-12 at Murrayfield Stadium.

Wigan coach Stuart Raper was sacked as head coach of the club on 29 July 2003 due to a lack of success ^[2] . He was replaced by assistant coach Mike Gregory and the team improved and reached the Grand Final only to lose to Bradford Bulls 25-12. In 2004 Gregory guided Wigan to the Challenge Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff but Wigan lost to St Helens 32-16. It was Mike Gregory's last match as head coach of Wigan, he travelled to the United States of America to get treatment for an illness that he contracted after an insect bite while in Australia ^[3] . It was revealed that Mike had motor neurone disease and he did not return as Wigan coach; he was not sacked but Wigan allowed his contract to expire and also appointed Ian Millward as head coach. Wigan did not have the success they expected under Ian Millward and in 2006 Wigan were bottom of the league and facing relegation from Super League. Wigan sacked Millward and replaced him with Brian Noble. Brian Noble signed Michael Dobson ^[4] and signed Stuart Fielden from Bradford Bulls for a record fee of £450,000 ^[5] . Wigan avoided relegation in 2006 but still had problems with the salary cap which they had breached in 2005 ^[6] and 2006 ^[7] . Some of the fans blamed Wigan Chairman Maurice Lindsay for the lack of success and salary cap problems at the club. In 2007 Maurice Lindsay announced that he would step down as Wigan Chairman at the end of 2007 ^[8] and later that month Dave Whelan announced he would consider selling the club at the end of the season. Harlequins RL chairman and life long Wigan rugby league fan Ian Lenagan bought the club from Dave Whelan promising to start a new era at Wigan Warriors.

For the 2008 Super League season Wigan signed Andy Coley, Richie Mathers, George Carmont and Karl Pryce brother of St Helens player Leon Pryce. Mathers and Carmont were obtained from NRL where as Coley was obtained from Salford and Karl Pryce returned from a stint in rugby union at Gloucester Rugby. Ex-Bradford player Karl stated "I felt honoured when they came in for me, not least because I'm a big fan". During the 2008 season Wigan also added Cameron Phelps and Tim Smith to their squad. For the 2009 season, Wigan added the signing of ex-Parramatta Eels hooker, Mark Riddell.

Wigan confirmed via the official website that they had been granted charitable status on Wednesday 29 April 2009. This involves the club receiving extra funding to provide rugby league related activities to young people throughout the North West of England.

Wigan confirmed in an official club statement on Tuesday 23rd June 2009 that Gareth Hock tested positive for the primary metabolite of Cocaine; Benzoylecgonine, following an 'A' sample taken. The sample was taken following a match Vs Salford on Friday 5th June 2009. Wigan also confirmed that Gareth Hock faces a potential two year ban from the sport should sample 'B' come back positive. This is the first publicised incident of its kind in the club's history.

Colours, Kits & Sponsorships

Until 1886, the Wigan team played in blue and white hooped jerseys before changing the colours to cherry and white hoops. The colours cherry and white are synonymous with the club. From then, the home kits have consisted of the colours cherry and white in different variations, usually hoops. Over the years the home kits have consisted of a lighter shade of red rather than the cherry colour, however, even when this has been the case, the club has still been known as "the Cherry and Whites".

The Away or Alternate kit colours have usually been blue and white. Some fans assume this is because Wigan originally played in these colours before the switch to the cherry and white hooped kits and it would therefore be appropriate that these colours became the clubs' secondary kit colours. The Away kits have been in different shades of blue over the years, royal blue, navy blue and light blue with varied designs. These designs have sometimes been hooped, one irregular hoop or just a block colour of blue. There have been a few exceptions, with a black and white alternative kit being used in 2001 and a black kit with red piping in 2007.

Wigan have only ever had three main shirt sponsors. From the 1981 season the first sponsor to appear on the shirt was JJB Sports. In 1989 the club had the jersey sponsor Norweb on the front of the home and away jerseys which would remain the club sponsor until 1998 by which time the Norweb company had been merged into United Utilities. The following season Wigan was sponsored by Energi the electrical branch of Norweb. In 2000 Wigan changed their kit sponsor to JJB Sports, the owner of JJB sports Dave Whelan at the time was also the owner of the Wigan Rugby League club. The club was now sponsored by JJB Sports having both moved into the JJB Stadium in 1999. JJB Sports remained the main sponsor of Wigan Warriors despite Dave Whelan selling the club in late 2007 and selling JJB Sports earlier in the same year. It was announced during the 2008 season that JJB would not be renewing the sponsorship contract for the 2009 season. It was announced on 24 January 2009 via the club's e-news facility that the new sponsor would be Meccabingo.com ^[9].

Wigan has had a number of kit manufacturers including Umbro, Puma, Adidas and Nike. When JJB became the shirt sponsor the kit manufacturer was usually an associate of JJB Sports at the time. Wigan’s 2000 kit was made by Adidas who also sponsored the East Stand at the JJB Stadium but when the association with JJB ended, the kits were made by Patrick, Dave Whelan's own clothing company. In 2006 and 2007 the kit manufacturer became JJB Sports itself which meant that the kits had JJB Sports as the main sponsor and as the kit manufacturer. The kit manufacturer changed to KooGa for the 2008 season. KooGa itself though is 48% owned by JJB Sports.

In 2008, Wigan signed a three year deal with KooGa which will mean KooGa will be kit manufacturer for seasons 2009, 2010 and 2011. It was the largest kit deal signed in the club's history and believed to be one of the biggest ever in rugby league history.

In November 2008 Wigan also announced that the club would be producing a limited edition shirt, with £5 from each shirt sale going to Wigan & Leigh Hospice. The limited edition shirt consists of Black & Pink hoops and was worn for one match by the first team which was an away friendly against Warrington on the 28th December 2008. This was the first time ever that the team representing the club has worn this combination of colours. Wigan won the match by 44 points to 4, the first time the first team have won at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

In January 2009 the shirts for the 2009 season were unveiled. The home kit is a return to a darker shade of the colour red which is known as 'cherry' red. The home kit consists of the traditional club colours of cherry and white hoops. The replica shirts which are sold to the fans have full hoops all the way around whilst the players shirts have a white panel on the back so that the name and number can be displayed and viewed easily. The away shirt is blue with one wide irregular white semi-hoop which is across the front of the shirt but does not stretch to the back.

Supporters

Wigan is one of the most well supported British rugby league clubs. During the 2006 season, in which the first team was struggling and battling away from the bottom end of the league table, the attendances were increasing as fans came, who may have not attended on a regular basis previously, to support the club and offer vocal support.

The club averaged 16,039 per home game in 2007. The average attendances which Wigan have enjoyed in recent seasons are second only to Leeds Rhinos.

As a gesture of thanks, the 2008 season saw the Wigan fans have dedicated to them, the number 18 from the squad numbers 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.

There is also a regular fans forum meeting with chairman Ian Lenagan 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. ^[10] Since then the word ‘pie’ has come to mean the pastry rather than the metaphor ‘Humble Pie’.

Stadium(s)

Wigan Football Club played on Folly Field, Upper Dicconson Street. The club played its first match at Folly Field on the 30th November 1872 and remained at the ground for four years. Wigan Football Club went onto become Wigan & District Football Club, the newly named Wigan & District Football Club played its matches at Prescott Street. The club played at Prescott Street until the club disbanded. With the reformation of the Club as Wigan Wasps Football Club, the club returned to Folly Field from 1879-1886 when it moved its matches back to Prescott Street.

Wigan played their home games at Wigan Cricket Club on Prescott Street until 1901 when they moved to Springfield Park which they shared with the town's association soccer club Wigan United A.F.C. The first rugby match at Springfield Park was played on 14 September 1901 and was between Wigan and Morecambe in front of 4,000 spectators. The record rugby attendance for the ground was 10,000 achieved on 19 March 1902 when Wigan beat Widnes. Forty days later Wigan played their last game at Springfield Park when they defeated the Rest of Lancashire Senior Competition. In 1902 Wigan moved to their purpose build rugby ground called Central Park. Wigan played their first game at Central Park against Batley on 6 September 1902 which Wigan won 14-8. Central Park would be the home of Wigan Rugby League until 1999 when they moved to the newly built JJB Stadium. The last match at Central Park was against St Helens on 5 September 1999, a game which Wigan won 28-20 in front of 18,179 supporters. As Wigan developed into one of the most famous rugby league clubs in the world, Central Park also became one of the most famous rugby league venues.

Wigan now play their home games at the 25,000 all-seater DW Stadium (formerly JJB Stadium) at Robin Park, Wigan. Their first game at the JJB Stadium was a Super League play-off match against Castleford Tigers which Wigan lost 14-10. The DW Stadium is shared by both Wigan Warriors Rugby League club and Wigan Athletic Football Club: the football club are soon to become owners but as a guarantee to Wigan Rugby League, the rugby club was given a 50 year lease ^[11] on the stadium so that the club could still use the stadium, as part of a stadium share, when Whelan sold the club in 2007.

Wigan also have a training facility at the small stadium Edge Hall Road in Orrell (now named the Co-Operative Community Stadium) where the first team, reserve team & academy team prepare, train and rehabilitate ahead of and after matches. It is also where the Reserve & Academy sides play their home games.

Honours

World Club Challenge Winners (3 times) : 1987, 1991, 1994.
World Club Challenge Runners-Up: 1992
Super League Grand Final Winners: 1998.
Super League Grand Final Runners-Up (3 times) : 2000, 2001, 2003.
Super League Minor Premiers: 1998, 2000.
Challenge Cup Winners (17 times) : 1923/24, 1928/29, 1947/48, 1950/51, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1964/65, 1984/85, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, 2002.
Challenge Cup Runners-Up (11 times) : 1910/11, 1919/20, 1943/44, 1945/46, 1960/61, 1962/63, 1965/66, 1969/70, 1983/84, 1998, 2004.

Championship Winners (17 times) : 1908/09, 1921/22, 1925/26, 1933/34, 1945/46, 1946/47, 1949/50, 1951/52, 1959/60, 1986/87, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1991/92, 1992/93, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1995/96.
Championship Runners-Up (6 times) : 1909/10, 1910/11, 1911/12, 1912/13, 1923/24, 1970/71.
Lancashire League Winners (18 times) : 1901/02, 1908/09, 1910/11, 1911/12, 1912/13, 1913/14, 1914/15, 1920/21, 1922/23, 1923/24, 1925/26, 1945/46, 1946/47, 1949/50, 1951/52, 1958/59, 1961/62, 1969/70.
Lancashire Cup Winners (21 times) : 1905/06, 1908/09, 1909/10, 1912/13, 1922/23, 1928/29, 1938/39, 1946/47, 1947/48, 1948/49, 1949/50, 1950/51, 1951/52, 1966/67, 1971/72, 1973/74, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1992/93.
Lancashire Cup Runners-Up (14 times) : 1913/14, 1914/15, 1925/26, 1927/28, 1930/31, 1934/35, 1935/36, 1936/37, 1945/46, 1953/54, 1957/58, 1977/78, 1980/81, 1984/85.
Regal Trophy Winners (8 times) : 1982/83, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1988/89, 1989/90, 1992/93, 1994/95, 1995/96.
Regal Trophy Runners-Up: 1993/94.
Premiership Winners (6 times) : 1986/87, 1991/92, 1993/94, 1994/95, 1996, 1997.
Premiership Runners-Up: 1992/93.
Charity Shield Winners (4 times) : 1985/86, 1987/1988, 1991/92, 1995/96.
Charity Shield Runners-Up (4 times) : 1988/89, 1989/90, 1990/91, 1992/93.
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Winners: 1968/69.
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Runners-Up: 1969/70.
Rugby League World 7s Winners: 1991-92.
Middlesex Rugby Union 7s Winners: 1996.
War League Winners: 1943/44.
Lancashire War League Winners: 1940/41.
League Leaders Trophy Winners: 1970/71.
West Lancashire Cup Winners: 1884/85.
BBC Sports Team of the Year: 1994.

Coaching Register

Name	Contract Started	Contract Ended	Notes
Brian Noble	April 2006	Present	-
Ian Millward	May 2005	April 2006	Sacked
Denis Betts	May 2004	May 2005	Resigned
Mike Gregory	July 2003	May 2004	Sick leave
Stuart Raper	May 2001	July 2003	Sacked
Frank Endacott	December 1999	May 2001	Sacked
Andy Goodway	June 1999	December 1999	Sacked
John Monie	November 1997	June 1999	Sacked
Eric Hughes	February 1997	November 1997	Sacked
Graeme West	May 1994	February 1997	Sacked
John Dorahy	June 1993	May 1994	Sacked
John Monie	September 1989	May 1993	Resigned
Graeme Lowe	August 1986	June 1989	Family reasons
Colin Clarke/Alan McInnes	August 1984	May 1986	Left - mutual consent
Alex Murphy	June 1982	August 1984	Sacked
Maurice Bamford	May 1981	May 1982	Resigned
George Fairbairn	April 1980	May 1981	Sold
Kel Coslett	October 1979	April 1980	Left to coach St Helens
Vince Karalius	September 1976	September 1979	Resigned
Joe Coan	January 1975	September 1976	Resigned
Ted Toohey	May 1974	January 1975	Caretaker
Graham Starkey	June 1973	May 1974	Sacked
Eric Ashton	September 1963	May 1973	Resigned
Griff Jenkins	October 1961	September 1963	Resigned
John "Johnny" Lawrenson	September 1961	October 1961	Caretaker
Jim Sullivan	July 1961	September 1961	Ill-Health
Joe Egan	August 1956	May 1961	Resigned
Edward "Ted" Ward	August 1953	End of 1956	Resigned
Maurice Hughes	August 1952	End of 1953	Sacked
Jim Sullivan	October 1932	End of 1952	Resigned

Current Coaching Staff

The current head coach at Wigan Warriors is Brian Noble who is formerly the Bradford Bulls and Great Britain coach. He took over from Ian Millward who was sacked after poor performances left Wigan bottom of the European Super League. Noble became head coach of Wigan with the job of saving Wigan from relegation and returning the club to having a team in the top half of the table. Under Noble Wigan managed to avoid relegation in 2006 and have since improved their league position season on season. However, the team have yet to win any trophies under Brian Noble, who is noted as being one of the most successful rugby league coaches due to his successful tenure at the Bradford Bulls.

The current assistant coach at Wigan is Phil Veivers while Mike Forshaw is the current strength and conditioning coach. The reserve team is coached by Shaun Wane and the academy team is coached by John Pendlebury.

Club Records

Player Records

Most goals in a match: 22 by Jim Sullivan vs Flimby & Fothergill, 14 February 1925
Most tries in a match: 10 by:
*Martin Offiah vs Leeds , 10 May 1992
*Shaun Edwards vs Swinton, 29 September 1992
Most points in a match: 44 by Jim Sullivan vs Flimby & Fothergill, 14 February, 1925
Most goals in a season: 186 by Frano Botica, 1994-5

Most tries in a season: 62 by Johnny Ring, 1925-6

Most points in a season: 429 by Andy Farrell 2001

Most career goals: 2317 by Jim Sullivan,

Most career tries: 478 by Billy Boston,

Most career points: 4883 by Jim Sullivan,

Most career appearances: 774 by Jim Sullivan,
Most International Test caps: 36 by Shaun Edwards (Great Britain)

Team Records

Biggest victory: 116-0 vs Flimby & Fothergill, 14 February 1925
Highest attendance: 47,747 vs St Helens, 27 March 1959
Highest attendance, for rugby league, at the JJB: 25,004 (Good Friday 2005 vs St Helens)

Players

Current squad

No	Nat	Player	Position	Weight(kg)	Height(m)	Age	Overseas	Previous Club
1
2		Amos Roberts	Right Wing	92		28	Yes	Sydney Roosters
3		Darrell Goulding	Right Centre	90	1.82	20	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
4		George Carmont	Left Centre	91	1.80	30	No	Newcastle Knights
5		Pat Richards	Left Wing	99	1.91	26	No	Wests Tigers
6
7		Thomas Leuluai	Scrum Half	85	1.71	23	No	Harlequins RL
8		Stuart Fielden	Prop	108	1.91	29	No	Bradford Bulls
9		Mark Riddell	Hooker	109	1.82	27	Yes	Parramatta Eels
10		Iafeta Paleaaesina	Prop	118	1.87	26	Yes	New Zealand Warriors
11		Gareth Hock	Second Row	92	1.88	25	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
12		Phil Bailey	Second Row	93	1.89	28	Yes	Cronulla Sharks
13		Sean O'Loughlin	Loose Forward	93	1.87	25	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
14		Joel Tomkins	Second Row	95	1.88	21	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
15		Andy Coley	Prop	108	1.89	29	No	Salford City Reds
16		Harrison Hansen	Second Row	89	1.84	22	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
17		Michael McIlorum	Hooker	79	1.74	20	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
19		Paul Prescott	Prop	99	1.90	22	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
20		Karl Pryce	Centre	118	1.98	22	No	Gloucester RU
21		Cameron Phelps	Centre	89	1.78	23	Yes	Canterbury Bulldogs
22		Martin Gleeson	Centre	96	1.85	28	No	Warrington Wolves
23		Eamon O'Carroll	Prop	103	1.80	21	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
24		Lee Mossop	Prop	104	1.85	19	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
25		Sam Tomkins	Stand Off	77	1.80	19	No	Wigan Warriors Academy \|- bgcolor=#FFFFFF	26	Mark Flanagan	Loose Forward	90	1.74	20	No	Bradford Bulls
27		Liam Farrell	Second Row				No	Wigan Warriors Academy
28		Shaun Ainscough	Left Wing	86	1.73	18	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
29		Ben Davies	Open Prop			19	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
30		Chris Tuson	Second Row			18	No	Wigan Warriors Academy
31		Ian Thornley	Left Centre				No	Wigan Warriors Academy

Notable players

In 2005 during the tenth season of the current Super League championship format, the fans of Wigan RLFC voted for their best thirteen players of the 'Nighties' and the 'Naughties', called the Team of the Decade. This is a list of the ballot's resulting thirteen players. ^[12]

No.	Player name	Position	Years at club
1	Kris Radlinski ^(MBE)	Fullback	1993–2006
2	Jason Robinson ^(OBE)	Wing	1992–2000
3	Va'aiga Tuigamala ^(MNZM)	Centre	1993–1996
4	Gary Connolly	Centre	1992–2002, 2004
5	Martin Offiah ^(MBE)	Wing	1991–1996
6	Henry Paul	Stand-off	1994–1998
7	Shaun Edwards ^(OBE)	Halfback	1983–1996
8	Craig Smith	Prop	2002–2004
9	Terry Newton	Hooker	2000–2005
10	Terry O'Connor	Prop	1994–2004
11	Denis Betts	Second-row	1986–1995, 1998–2001
12	Mick Cassidy	Second-row	1990–2004
13	Andy Farrell ^(OBE)	Loose forward	1991–2004

The club also has its own Hall of Fame for players the club recognises as having made a significant contribution to its success, especially during the late 1980s and early 1990s when the club entered the most successful period in its history trophy-wise. There are currently ten members of the Wigan RLFC Hall of Fame.

Player name	Position(s)	Profile
Eric Ashton ^(MBE)	Centre
Dean Bell	Centre
Billy Boston ^(MBE)	Wing
Shaun Edwards ^(OBE)	Halfback
Joe Egan	Hooker
Ken Gee	Prop
Andy Gregory	Halfback
Ellery Hanley ^(MBE)	Lock
Brian McTigue	Prop
Jim Sullivan	Fullback

Rivalries

The club's fiercest rivalry is with St.Helens with matches played tradtionally on Good Friday and in previous seasons Boxing Day. The club's are often described as two arch-enemies, such is the history of the rivalry. Leigh are also traditional rivals of the club. The rivalry between these two clubs however has been muted due to the fact that the two clubs compete in different competitions and therefore teams from both clubs do not play each other regularly. ^[13] ^[14]

In the Community

Wigan confirmed via the official website that they had been granted charitable status on Wednesday 29 April 2009. Wigan Warriors carry out extensive community work that stretches from Amateur Rugby League Football clubs to Schools as well as running highly successful community training camps for young people. A part of the community work is visiting primary schools to deliver a programme specifically designed for young people entitled 'Lessons for Life'. The programme is delivered via a geographic family of schools approach and results in each school receiving two hours of Rugby League coaching per week for a six week period. Additionally every school is offered the opportunity to start an extra curricular club and take part in a "Warriors Tag Festival". The club will now be able to deliver an even more extensive community programme via the

Wigan become the first club in the country to receive Sport England's Clubmark Gold Award. ^[15] The Gold award, only available from the 1st April 2009, shows the clubs commitment to Duty of Care and Child Protection, Coaching and Competition, Sports Equity and Ethics, and Club Management. The Gold award not only meets the minimum standards in all areas, but surpasses them and meets additional criteria too.

Trivia

Trophies & Awards

Wigan have won more trophies than any other British rugby league club. ^[16]
In rugby league, only the professional Australian clubs South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters have won more trophies than Wigan. ^[16] ^[18] ^[19]
Wigan were the first rugby league club to win at Wembley Stadium. ^[20]
Wigan are the only club to win the Challenge Cup 4 times in a row. ^[21]
Wigan have appeared in twenty eight Challenge Cup finals, winning seventeen. ^[21]
Wigan are the only club to have won the Championship 3 times in a row. ^[16]
Wigan won the Championship 7 times in a row from 1989 to 1995. ^[16]
Wigan won the Challenge Cup, a record, 8 times in a row from 1988 to 1995. ^[16]
Wigan are the only British club to win the World Club Challenge in Australia. ^[26]
Wigan have appeared in four World Club Challenge Finals, winning three. ^[26]
Wigan were the first and last winners of the Lancashire Cup. ^[16]
Wigan were the first winners of the British Grand Final in 1998. ^[16]
Wigan is only one of two rugby league clubs to have won the Middlesex 7s rugby union tournament. ^[16]
The mid-to-late 1980s and early-to-mid-1990s is the most successful period for the club to date, however, even without this glorious trophy laden period, Wigan would still have won more trophies than any other professional British rugby league club due to their successes throughout the club's history. ^[16]
Wigan become the first club in the country, in 2009, to receive Sport England's Clubmark Gold Award. ^[15]