WIGAN ATHLETIC
The DW Stadium
Robin Park
Newtown
WIGAN
WN5 0UZ
Tuesday 9 February 2010
Kick-Off 7:45pm

WIGAN are a team that used to thrive on their intimidating surroundings when they played their home games at their old Springfield Park stadium. Many people are convinced that playing at this old ground helped the start to their spectacular rise up to the top level of our game. Wigan used to play the likes of Stafford Rangers in non-league football not so long ago but have now managed to establish themselves in the Premier League.

My own memories of Springfield Park are not the nightmares that so many have, but one of fondness and enjoyment. The reason is, I only ever visited this ground once in March 1999 when Wigan were playing their last season there. The hosts took a 2-0 lead and looked comfortable but then we made a comeback that dreams are made of rather than nightmares. Peter Thorne and Graham Kavanagh scored for us to put us level with 10 minutes left and then as we moved into the last minute Greg Strong who was on loan for us scored and we took the three points.

Kavanagh's goal was the best I ever saw him score in a Stoke shirt, as he beat the Wigan defence on his own before netting. It was similar to Maradona's goal against England (the second one when he ran through the England defence). Springfield Park for me only has happy memories and through curiosity I returned to the site of the old stadium a few years ago. It is now simply a Housing Estate with little memories of a football ground.

However today Wigan have moved to the what is now known as the DW Stadium. It's a tidy arena with four smart stands that do not have the corners filled in. It reminds me of Millwall's New Den in this respect although all four stands are a single tear unlike Millwall. We have had mixed results here over the years, the best picking up a 1-0 win in 2005 when Gifton Noel-Williams scored for us.

When inside the stadium the views of the pitch are excellent and the stadium is the complete opposite to the old Springfield Park and just shows what a Football club with ambition can achieve. It has not been easy for Wigan to reach the heights they have, especially as I always believed the town of Wigan to be more famous for Rugby rather than football.

If this is your first visit to the DW Stadium then you will be impressed especially if you ever went to the old ground. As I will be making my way there I will be hoping for a result similar to the game in 1999, and a victory for us in this game would be most welcome. With the tremendous backing our travelling away support always gives to the team I am confident this could be another great day out. See you at Wigan.

THEGROUND:

The DW Stadium was declared open by Sir Alex Ferguson on 4 August 1999. Similar in design to the then McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield, the ground was built by Alfred McAlpine and features the characteristic curved roof structures although when viewed from above, the DW stands have a rectangular shape in contrast to the now re-named Galpharm Stadium where the stands are semi-circular.

Ground capacity is 25135 with visiting supporters seated in the North Stand with 5418 seats available. Wigan Athletic were formed in 1932, the fifth football club to carry the the soccer banner in a town dominated by the local Rugby League team.

They existed as a non-league club until being admitted to the Football League in 1978 at the 35th attempt. Playing at Springfield Park, a very bleak and open ground, the Latics were bought up by former Blackburn Rovers player Dave Whelan who had built a hugely successful business in JJB Sports.

The take-over in 1995 was the springboard to lift Wigan up the Leagues and in 2005 they won promotion to the Premiership where they have remained. Record attendance at the JJB is 25,016 against Liverpool in February 2006. At Springfield Park, the record crowd was 27,526 for a 2nd Round F.A. Cup Tie against Hereford United in December 1951.

GAMETOREMEMBER:

Looking back to the last time the Potters met the Latics in a League fixture at the DW, a Football League Championship game on 5th February 2005 before a crowd of 9,938. A solitary strike by Gifton Noel-Williams gave the Potters their first victory of the year and a first goal in over nine hours of football.

The Potters defended resolutely at times against a Wigan side containing Jason Roberts, Nathan Ellington, Jimmy Bullard and Leighton Baines but Tony Pulis's side held on to take all three points.

Stoke team: Simonsen, Hall, Hill, Taggart, Buxton, Clarke, Brammer, Eustace, Greenacre, Noel-Williams, Asaba. Subs: De Goey, Neal, Gudjonsson (Toddi), Gudmundsson.

YOURROUTE:

From the Britannia take M6 Northbound to exit at Junction 25. At the end of the slip road ( approx. one mile ) turn left onto A49 ( S/P Wigan ). Continue on A49 to roundabout, st. on for further 1.8 miles to Saddle Junction, keep in left-hand lane to turn left (Fire Station on your left and ASDA store to your right into Robin Park Road to continue past Robin Retail Park.

At next lights continue forward past Burger King and Pizza Hut & continue st. ahead. At mini-roundabout after Pizza Hut go st. on - then garage on your left and traffic lights - turn right into Stadium Way and continue to away car parks as directed.

CARPARKING:

Plenty of parking available at the stadium but be aware; leaving your car in the retail park where the maximum stay is 2 hours and hefty fines are handed out for unauthorised parking.

DISTANCE:

The journey time to the DW Stadium is approximately one hour, with a distance of 52 miles.

GOING BY TRAIN

Wigan has two central stations; Wigan North Western and Wallgate, both are about 30 minutes walk to the DW Stadium. On exiting either station turn left and go under the railway bridge. Keep right, passing the Seven Stars Hotel on the A49 road then go under a second railway bridge. Stadium should then be visible once you turn down Robin Park Road.

LOCAL RADIO STATIONS

BBC RADIO MANCHESTER 95.1 FM; WISH FM 102.4 FM