Wigan fans

[t.gridley]

As a Millwall supporter, I am looking forward to my day out at wembley tomorrow.
I am somewhat surprised to hear that Wigan are returning over 10000 unsold tickets.
I remember playing Wigan in the auto windscreen final at wembley a few years back and they only sold 10000 tickets. As I recall, we took 55000 fans that day(still a record club support)
The premier league is touted as the best league in the world and yet we have one of its members unable to sell 31000 tickets for a cup semi final.
I will not shed a tear should they get relegated any time soon, they are an embarrassment.

[Tricky Tree]

Why are you (and others) hung up on a teams fan base. Why does theat make them an embarrasment?

I find it very strange that this is touted so often

Why does how many fans wigan have affect the greatness or otherwise of the EPL

By the way, trying to get tickets for Millwall v Forest on 27th....any "away friendly" pubs for a bloke and 12 year old kid?

We come in peace

[Tim Bisley]

I suspect many Wigan fans will be saving their money for the trip back down to Wembley in May.

[Striker]

That's being a bit harsh Terry.

I admire Wigan's achievements despite having such a narrow supporter base. You can hardly blame the club that by the time that it was successful, most "football" supporting families in the vicinity had already given their allegiance either to the rugby league club or to a nearby "heavyweight" football club.

You can't really hold it against a relatively new league club that in an area of established allegiances, they've failed to expand their support base to a greater degree. Pity that a similar club hasn't similarly risen from the lower leagues here in East Kent where we have no decent alternative.

Equally you can't blame their limited number of supporters for not attending unless you can show some evidence that many of their supporters who usually attend matches at the DW aren't going to Wembley.

[Five long bones]

I suspect many Wigan fans will be saving their money for the trip back down to Wembley in May.

That did make me laugh Tim

Almost as funny as a Millwall fan calling another clubs fans an embarrassment.

[Latic]

Will elaborate substantially later when I have time but a quick one from me on this.
This Wigan fan won't be attending unfortunately. The absurd kick off time has made the trip impossible. Stick Wembley in a more central location and this wouldn't be an issue. It's very easy for southeast based fans to make the trip, not so easy for the rest.

Generally my opinion on Wigan is that I am highly proud of what they continually achieve. Little Wigan have punched above their weight in staying in the PL, every time we survive I view it as a promotion. It's testament to the determination and hard work from all at the club that we are where we are. This is from a fan who went to Springfield Park in the early/mid 90s where we played in the fourth tier, nearly went bust (again!) and sometimes would struggle to get 2,000 at a game.
We are a very young club.

[Latic]

As a Millwall supporter, I am looking forward to my day out at wembley tomorrow.
I am somewhat surprised to hear that Wigan are returning over 10000 unsold tickets.
I remember playing Wigan in the auto windscreen final at wembley a few years back and they only sold 10000 tickets.

Over double in 13 years, we are growing then

[barry]

I suspect many Wigan fans will be saving their money for the trip back down to Wembley in May.

lol

Boom!

[murf]

Crewe only had about 10k or was it 20k for the JPT final last week. Sarfend had over 30k. A southern(ish) thing again?

[tommymooney]

Pity that a similar club hasn't similarly risen from the lower leagues here in East Kent where we have no decent alternative.

That's why an East Kent lad chose (early 80's) Watford

[wandacatvenus]

Don't forget that many people who follow a club to Wembley, often don't watch the club at any other time. The reason they go is for the Wembley experience plus a bit of the local connection.

For Wigan, the Wembley novelty is removed as any one who wants to go to Wembley will probably have been with the Rugby League team.

Also don't forget that Wigan is a town of 80,000 people

The wider Wigan council area (which without looking is around 250,000 population) includes other towns such as Leigh and at some points is actually closer to Manchester than Wigan.

So to sell 20,000 tickets out of 80,000 population means that 25% of the population is going to Wembley.

What percentage of South East London is going to watch Millwall at Wembley?

[murf]

When I lived in Wigan 20 years ago the population was 300k+. I'd guess the town was more than 80k of that.

[wandacatvenus]

81203 for the 2001 Census (I don't have 2011 figures) and 305600 for the council area.

So I was not far wrong with my figure of 80,000.

[t.gridley]

Congratulations to Latic and any other Wigan supporters who may be lurking.
The best team won on the day, I think the press blew up the fighting because it was Millwall.

[Striker]

I think the press blew up the fighting because it was Millwall.

I think that the fighting blew up because it was Millwall.

[Latic]

Congratulations to Latic and any other Wigan supporters who may be lurking.
The best team won on the day, I think the press blew up the fighting because it was Millwall.

Cheers fella Didn't think your boys showed up which was a shame as far as the game goes.

As I remarked on the TFF thread at the time, footy fans get pissed and fight. Whilst some Millwall fans aren't exactly cute and cuddly anything that happens with them becomes an easy story for the press.

Have to say I'm pissed off that the press went down this route instead of the positives and the story of Wigan getting to the final. Sunderland fans are probably feeling the same after their massive win on Sunday.

[blahblah]

And you are in Europe

Good luck with staying up....

[murf]

And you are in Europe

Good luck with staying up....

Can City fall to 5th still?

[blahblah]

Unlikley, more chance of Chelski winning the EL?

[Judio]

Another kick in the teeth for Wigan fans

Cup Final kicks off at 515

[Latic]

And you are in Europe

Good luck with staying up....

Cheers Blah. We should survive in the Championship next season.

Cup Final kicks off at 515

Going to be expensive!!!!

[t.gridley]

Once again money rules. Had it been Chelsea and Millwall, the kick off time would not have mattered.
I heard on the radio this morning that some fans will not be able to get home.
The very fact that the cup final is not the last domestic game of the season only devalues the competition further.

[blahblah]

Surely they can get trains to Manchester or Liverpool, then have some coaches to get them back?

(Of course the real problem is that most people going to support Wigan actually live near Wigan )

[Latic]

Once again money rules. Had it been Chelsea and Millwall, the kick off time would not have mattered.
I heard on the radio this morning that some fans will not be able to get home.
The very fact that the cup final is not the last domestic game of the season only devalues the competition further.

Had it been Chelsea V Millwall the kick off time most CERTAINLY would have mattered!

Given the potential for crowd trouble that there would be at the game it would be an early kick off and a policing nightmare.
What would devalue the competition would be the world seeing mass crowd trouble in and around the ground.

One thing I do agree with you is it should be the last game of the season, but the Champs League final being played on a Samedi now f**ks that up.

[bluenosey]

Another kick in the teeth for Wigan fans

Cup Final kicks off at 515

Play it at 3. The FA are clueless.

[wandacatvenus]

I managed to buy my Wigan FA Cup final ticket today.

Had to wait for them to go on General Sale via the Telephone, I managed to get one as I had a past buying history. (Quite a limited buying history in recent Seasons & my Season tickets in the 80s don't count)

I believe around 20000 tickets out of 25000 have now been sold.

Too be honest, I am just pleased to be able to get a ticket for the Final. I did not think I would get a ticket and would never have believed this day to be possible, when I had a Season ticket when Wigan played in the old Division 4.

[jimmy ching]

Just a teasing thought. It could be the 1st FA Cup final where both teams are relegated.

[rossn13]

Just a teasing thought. It could be the 1st FA Cup final where both teams are relegated.

eh?

[Tricky Tree]

semi

[jimmy ching]

Whoops, , this is exactly the problem with FA Cup semis at Wumbley. It confuses old men like me.