The last time that Wigan were a non-league club was the 1st June 1978, the next day they were voted into the Football League. They have done absolutely brilliant since then. Arriving late meant that most fans had already pledged allegiance to some 'big' club or other, so they've struggled with the fan base ever since. And, let's face it as far as pro sides go, the Lancashire/Merseyside/Greater Manchester triangle was already saturated with teams. I love Saints, they are the finest/bestest/greatest/brazilianest football team in the universe, but when we won the FA Cup in '76, Wigan were in the Northern Premier League. They deserve nothing but admiration and the utmost credit and I for one hope they avoid the drop. Bolton & Blackburn of course deserve whatever is coming their way!
Adam, I don't believe you have the right to say if a club is 'proper' or not and expect everyone to share the same view as you. And because they were formed in 1932 they're not a proper club, wow! A club that is nearly 80 years old, not old enough for you? When does a club become proper then, 70/80/90/100/1000 years old? I agree they're support is woeful but, they've earned their right to be in the prem, we earned our right to be in league 1 through poor management the from the top. Lets not get into a "my clubs bigger than yours!" debate.
Bolton, Blackburn, Wigan etc... All close to Man Utd so a lot of people will support Utd as they are the biggest in that region! However, every club has the right to play in the division they are currently in! As has been said, promotion and relegation decides it all! We shouldn't slag off other teams! And we shouldn't be getting to big for our boots!
I must admit when Wigan come on the match of the day highlights i tend to fast forward! i see both points really,they deserve to be there because they have worked hard for it but on the other hand it annoys me that a club can be in the premier league and have such poor support which shows in the gates they get.
Wigan are more of a Rugby club the age part doesn't really matter because AFC Wimbledon were formed in 2002 and their club is better than wigan because their fans have passion and I don't see that when I watch Wigan.
Have you seen QPR's attendances now! They've shot up! Blackpool however Very bad now they are not living the tangerine dream!
Lets build a camp fire, hold hands and sing Kumbaya shall we? Are some of you posting from inside a tent outside St Paul's cathedral?
Haha i noticed one stand completely empty at bloomfield road on the footy league show,shocking really.
Yeh I agree they probably are a more of a rugby club, and about the age dilemma, you brought it up? They've earned their right to be where they are so there.
Suggest you brush up on your history. Apart from when Jack Walker bought the league, those clubs were only top dogs in the league when it was a Northern based league. Saints and clubs south of Birmingham weren't even able to join the football league before the 1920's. Saints SIX southern league titles should hold just as much merit as the nothern counterparts at the same time (1890-1920)
When/if we get to the EPL we'll deserve to be there. No one has a divine right to be there. Three teams will go up and three will come down..who will be determined by how they play and not by history.
Though i think CBK was being a bit mischievous, i find the not a proper club comments aimed at Wigan by some to be a bit sad. Wigan and others are there on performance and football is a results orientated business. We all like the underdog and im sure most are pleased when the wigans beat the chelseas of this world. the fact they have done it on limited resourses, small gates is even better. i have to agree though that if the premier league is the best in the world, wigan/blackburn are not clubs that excite me. To call them not proper clubs is wrong. In my mind the only football league club that comment could be aimed at is MK Dons.
Their average is only 2,500 off capacity this season. The extra temporary stand was built quickly for the Prem, but the attendances this year are up on the last season they were in this div, so it not bad at all.
As others have said its a bit laughable to call other clubs "not proper clubs" the only one who there is some justification for is MK Dons as they are a different story. Unfortunately for teams like Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn they are in an area of the country which has some of the most succesful teams in the Premiership so attracting support is next to impossible. If Saints were situated within 25 miles of Liverpool and Everton and 27 miles of Man City and Man Utd, I doubt whether we would be attracting many new fans.
27 years out of 125 years not a great history plus how many years did we survive on last day. Come on let's be honest we are not one of the top clubs with our history,,I love Saints till I die but I'm not blinded to the facts either,we have always been regarded as a back water club along with the likes of Norwich,,look at the league one back in 76 and see who are still in premiership now,,agree 84 was up there with 76 but only Saints fans would remember that,wether we like it or not the general football public only think of our cup win
Our history certainly gives us few bragging rights, but our current team does. I'm lucky enough to live in Liverpool, and football banter is second nature in my local. Saints have certainly caught the eye of football fans here.
