Wigan Warriors facts for kids

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Wigan Warriors

Club information
Full name	Wigan Warriors Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Cherry and Whites The Pies The Riversiders
Website	wiganwarriors.com
Colours	Cherry and White
Founded	Thursday 21 November 1872 (Thursday 21 November 1872) as Wigan Football Club Monday 22 September 1879 (Monday 22 September 1879) (Re-formed) as Wigan Wasps Football Club
Current details
Ground(s)	Brick Community Stadium (25,133)
Chairman	Chris Brookes
Coach	Matt Peet
Captain	Liam Farrell
Competition	Super League
2024	1st (Champions)
Uniforms
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Records
Championships	24 (1909, 1922, 1926, 1934, 1946, 1947, 1950, 1952, 1960, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2023, 2024)
Challenge Cups	21 (1924, 1929, 1948, 1951, 1958, 1959, 1965, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2011, 2013, 2022, 2024)
World Club Challenges	5 (1987, 1991, 1994, 2017, 2024)
Other honours	113
Most capped	774 - Jim Sullivan
Highest points scorer	4,883 - Jim Sullivan

The Wigan Warriors are a professional Rugby League club from Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. They play in the Betfred Super League, which is the top level of rugby league in Britain. The club was started in 1872 and is one of the oldest and most successful rugby league clubs in the world. They have won a huge 163 trophies in total!

The Warriors have played their home games at the Brick Community Stadium since 1999. Before that, their home was Central Park for many years. The team's famous cherry and white colors were first worn in 1885 and became their permanent colors in 1888.

Wigan has won 24 league titles, 21 Challenge Cups, and 5 World Club Challenges. Their most successful time was in the 1980s and 1990s. During this period, they won seven league titles in a row and eight Challenge Cup finals in a row!

History of Wigan Warriors

How the Club Started: 1872–1902

The Wigan Football Club began on November 21, 1872. It was started by members of the Wigan Cricket Club. About 50 people joined the club at a meeting in the Royal Hotel. Many of the first members were important people in the town.

The first practice match was on November 30, 1872, and about 2,000 people watched. Their first official game was in Warrington on January 18, 1873, and it ended in a draw. In their first season, Wigan won three games and drew three.

In 1876, many players from Upholland Football Club joined Wigan. The club changed its name to Wigan & District Football Club. They moved their home games to the Wigan Cricket Club at Prescott Street. However, the club stopped playing in 1877.

The club was re-formed on September 22, 1879, as Wigan Wasps Football Club. New members, many from a running club, started it again. They went back to playing at Folly Field. In 1881, the club changed its name back to Wigan Football Club.

Wigan won its first trophy, the Wigan Union Charity Cup, in 1883. They also won the West Lancashire and Border Towns Union Cup in 1884. The team first wore their famous cherry and white jerseys on September 26, 1885.

Some famous players from this early time included James 'Jim' Slevin, Ned Bullough, and William 'Billy' Atkinson. Jim Slevin played 290 games and scored 131 tries. He helped the club win 8 trophies.

In 1895, Wigan and other clubs formed the Northern Union. This happened because they disagreed with the RFU about paying players. This split led to the creation of rugby league as a separate sport.

Wigan won the Lancashire Senior Competition in the 1901–02 season. They played their home games at Springfield Park, sharing it with a soccer team.

Moving to Central Park: 1902–1945

On September 6, 1902, Wigan played their first game at their new home, Central Park. About 9,000 fans watched them beat Batley 14–8.

Wigan won their first rugby league cup, the Lancashire County Cup, in the 1905–06 season. They continued to win many Lancashire League and Lancashire Cup titles.

In 1907, Wigan beat the touring New Zealand team 12–8 in front of 30,000 fans. Several Wigan players also played for Great Britain in their first-ever test match in 1908.

A very important player, Jim Sullivan, joined Wigan in 1922 when he was only 17. He scored the first points in the first Challenge Cup Final played at Wembley Stadium in 1929. Wigan won that final 13–2. Sullivan became a player-coach in 1932.

Wigan won their first Challenge Cup in the 1923–24 season, beating Oldham 21–4. In 1933, the Prince of Wales visited Central Park, becoming the first royal to watch a rugby league game.

During World War II, Wigan continued to play in special war leagues. They went unbeaten in the 1940–41 season. In 1944, they won the Championship Final.

Post-War Success: 1945–1980

Jim Sullivan played his last game for Wigan in 1946 but stayed on as coach for six more seasons.

In 1948, Wigan played in the first rugby league match ever shown on TV. It was their 8–3 Challenge Cup Final win over Bradford Northern. This game was also special because King George VI attended and presented the trophy.

In 1953, Wigan signed Billy Boston for £150. He became one of the most famous Wigan players ever. Eric Ashton also joined in 1955. Wigan reached the Wembley final six times with Boston and Ashton, winning three.

A record crowd of 47,747 watched Wigan beat St. Helens at Central Park in 1959. This is still a record for any rugby league game in Lancashire.

Wigan continued to win trophies regularly until 1974. After that, they went eight seasons without winning any major leagues or cups.

Eric Ashton coached Wigan from 1963 to 1973. In 1966, Wigan won the Lancashire Cup Final. Billy Boston played his last game for Wigan in 1968.

In 1972, Wigan celebrated 100 years with a match against Australia, which ended in an 18–18 draw.

Relegation and Rise to Power: 1980–1996

In 1980, Wigan was relegated from the top league for the first time. They quickly earned promotion back the next season.

In the early 1980s, Maurice Lindsay joined Wigan's directors. Wigan became one of the first teams to become fully professional. This helped the club become very successful.

Under coach Graham Lowe, Wigan won a record 29 games in a row between February and October 1987. They also beat Australian club Manly-Warringah 8–2 in the 1987 World Club Challenge. This was the first time an English club had beaten an Australian team since 1978.

From 1988 to 1995, Wigan won the Challenge Cup eight times in a row! This included a 27–0 win over St Helens in 1989, which was the first time a team had been held scoreless in a Wembley Cup Final. This was Wigan's most successful period ever. They also won the Championship seven times and three World Club Championships.

In 1994, Graeme West became coach. He led Wigan to win the First Division Premiership Trophy. Then, they traveled to Australia and won the 1994 World Club Challenge against the Brisbane Broncos. In his first full season, Wigan won the League Championship, Challenge Cup, Regal Trophy, and Premiership. This was a "Grand Slam" of all four trophies.

The Super League Era: 1996–Present

In 1996, Wigan played two special games against a rugby union team, Bath RFC. Wigan won the rugby league game easily, 82–6.

In 1997, the club changed its name to the Wigan Warriors. In 1998, Wigan reached the Challenge Cup Final again but lost 17–8 to the Sheffield Eagles. This was a big upset in the competition's history.

However, Wigan won the first ever Super League Grand Final in 1998, beating Leeds 10–4 at Old Trafford.

In 1999, the Warriors moved to the new JJB Stadium. Their last game at Central Park was an emotional win against St Helens.

Frank Endacott became coach in 1999. In 2000, Wigan finished top of the Super League but lost the Grand Final to St Helens. Stuart Raper took over in 2001 and led Wigan to their 17th Challenge Cup win in 2002, beating St Helens 21–12.

Mike Gregory became coach in 2003 and led Wigan to the Grand Final, but they lost to Bradford Bulls. In 2004, Wigan reached the Challenge Cup final again but were beaten. Mike Gregory later became ill and could not return to coaching.

Denis Betts and then Ian Millward coached the team, but it was a tough period for Wigan. In 2006, Brian Noble became coach and helped stabilize the club.

In 2007, Wigan improved, reaching the play-offs. They made an amazing comeback from 30–6 down to beat Bradford Bulls 31–30. At the end of 2007, Ian Lenagan bought most of the club.

Michael Maguire became coach in 2010. He quickly turned the team around. Wigan finished top of the Super League and won the Grand Final against St Helens 22–10. This was their first league championship since 1998.

In 2011, Wigan won their first Challenge Cup since 2002, beating Leeds Rhinos 28–18 at Wembley Stadium.

Shaun Wane became coach in 2012. Wigan finished first in the league that year. In 2013, Wigan had a fantastic year, winning both the Challenge Cup and the Super League Grand Final. They beat Hull FC 16–0 in the Challenge Cup final and then came from behind to beat Warrington Wolves 30–16 in the Grand Final. This was their first "League and Cup double" since 1995.

Wigan reached the Grand Final in 2014 and 2015 but lost both times. However, in 2016, they won their fourth Super League title, beating Warrington Wolves 12–6.

In 2017, Wigan won their fourth World Club Challenge title, beating the Cronulla Sharks. They also reached the Challenge Cup Final but lost.

The 2018 was a great year. Wigan won 7 out of 7 matches in the Super 8s. They reached the Grand Final again and beat Warrington Wolves 12–4 to win their fifth Grand Final. Coach Shaun Wane left the club after this victory, having won many trophies.

Adrian Lam became the new coach in 2019. Wigan reached the Grand Final in 2020, but in a very close game, they lost to St Helens in the last seconds. Club legend Sean O'Loughlin retired after this match.

In 2021, Wigan had a difficult season. Adrian Lam left at the end of the year.

Matt Peet became the new head coach in October 2021. He quickly improved the team. In 2022, Wigan won their 20th Challenge Cup, beating Hull FC 16–14 in a tight final.

In 2023, Wigan had an amazing winning streak and claimed the League Leaders Shield. They then won the Grand Final against Catalans Dragons 10–2, securing their sixth Super League title. Bevan French was named the Steve Prescott Man of Steel for 2023.

The 2024 season was even more successful. Wigan won the 2024 World Club Challenge against Australian team Penrith Panthers. They also won the 2024 Challenge Cup Final against Warrington Wolves 18–8. This meant Wigan held all four major trophies at the same time, a huge achievement! Later in 2024, they won the League Leaders Shield again and then defeated Hull Kingston Rovers 9–2 in the Grand Final. This was their first time winning back-to-back Grand Finals and their first "Quadruple" (winning all four major trophies) since 1994.

Club Name

The club started as Wigan Football Club in 1872. When it re-formed in 1879, it was called Wigan Wasps Football Club. The "Wasps" part was dropped in 1881, and it became Wigan Football Club again. As rugby changed, the club became Wigan Rugby League Football Club, often shortened to Wigan RL. In 1997, the club added "Warriors" to its name. People still often just call the club "Wigan."

Team Colors

The colors cherry and white are strongly linked to the club. The home kits have mostly been cherry and white since 1888, usually with hoops. Wigan first played in cherry and white jerseys on September 19, 1885. They decided to keep these colors permanently on December 22, 1888.

Before 1888, Wigan wore different colors, including blue and white hoops, black with white shorts, and white jerseys. For most of the 20th century, the club wore cherry and white hooped jerseys with white shorts.

Since the late 1980s, shirt designs have become more varied, but they still mostly use cherry and white hoops. Sometimes, the club has used red shorts instead of white.

In recent years, the "cherry" red has become a darker shade. From the late 1980s to the late 1990s, Wigan's away kit was often royal blue and white hoops. Royal blue and white away jerseys have returned briefly in the 21st century.

Since 2022, Wigan's third kit has been designed to support their charity partners. A part of the money from these sales goes to the charity.

Club Crest

Wigan has used a version of the coat of arms of the Borough of Wigan as its club crest for a long time. The club first put the crest on their jerseys for the 1948 Challenge Cup Final. It became a permanent feature on the playing jerseys in 1984.

The Wigan coat of arms is very old and special. It includes symbols of royalty, like a King's Head and a royal lion. These symbols show Wigan's long history and loyalty to the crown. The "Wiggin Tree" (mountain ash) is also on the crest, which is a clever play on the town's name.

The club's motto, "Ancient and Loyal," fits perfectly with its history. It comes from a charter given by King Charles II, calling Wigan "an ancient borough" and praising its loyalty.

On November 1, 2020, the club changed its crest to a new design. The new design includes a "Warrior" figure inspired by the Brigantes, an ancient Celtic tribe who lived in the Wigan area. The shield and "Ancient & Loyal" motto are kept from the old crest. The circular shape of the badge is like the Northern Soul logo, which was popular in Wigan. The famous cherry and white hoops are also part of the new crest for the first time. The club's founding date is also on the new badge.

Kit Manufacturers and Sponsors

Wigan Warriors have had different kit makers and sponsors over the years.

Period	Kit Sponsor	Shirt Sponsor
1986–1987	Umbro	none
1987–1989		JJB
1989–1990		Norweb
1990–1994	Ellgren
1994–1996	Puma
1997	Bulldog
1998–1999	Nike	Energi
2000–2002	Adidas	JJB
2003–2005	Patrick
2006–2007	JJB
2008	Kooga
2009–2010		Mecca Bingo
2011		Applicado FS
2012–2013	ISC
2013		DW Sports
2014		Houses for Homes
2015	Erreà	Coral
2016–2018
2019		Prestone
2020	Hummel
2021–2022		Iqoniq
2022–2023		Open Exchange
2024-	Kappa	Greenmount Projects

Current Kit

For the 2024 season, Kappa makes Wigan's kits and teamwear. The main shirt sponsor is Greenmount Projects. Their logo is on the front of both the home and away jerseys.

Teams

Besides the men's first team, Wigan Warriors also have 11 other teams for 2024:

• Reserves
• Academy (under 18s)
• Scholarship (under 16s)
• College development squad (men and women aged 16–18)
• Women's first team
• Women's academy (under 19s)
• Physical disability team
• Learning disability team
• Wheelchair team
• Wheelchair A (wheelchair reserve team)
• Touch Rugby team

Stadiums

Early Grounds: Before 1902

Wigan Football Club first played at Folly Field from 1872 to 1876. Then, as Wigan & District Football Club, they moved to Prescott Street. When the club re-formed as Wigan Wasps Football Club in 1879, they returned to Folly Field.

From 1886, they played at Prescott Street again until 1901. Then, they moved to Springfield Park, sharing it with a soccer team. The first rugby game there was on September 14, 1901.

Central Park: 1902–1999

In 1902, Wigan moved to their own rugby ground, Central Park. The first game there was on September 6, 1902. Central Park was Wigan's home until 1999. It became one of the most famous rugby league grounds in the world.

The last match at Central Park was on September 5, 1999, against St Helens. Wigan won 28–20.

The record attendance at Central Park was 47,747 fans. This happened on March 27, 1959, for a game against St Helens.

The Brick Community Stadium: 1999–Present

In 1999, Wigan Warriors moved to the new JJB Stadium, now called the Brick Community Stadium. They share it with the soccer team Wigan Athletic. The first game there was a play-off match against the Castleford Tigers.

The stadium has changed names several times due to sponsorship. It has a capacity of 25,133. Wigan's record attendance at the Brick Community Stadium is 25,004, set against St Helens in 2005.

Training Ground

Wigan’s training ground is the Robin Park Arena. It is right next to the Brick Community Stadium. This facility has been greatly improved and is now one of the best training grounds in rugby league.

Notable Players

Coaches

Current Coaching Staff

Matt Peet is the current head coach. Former Wigan players Sean O'Loughlin and Tommy Leuluai are his assistant coaches.

Coaching History

	Name	Contract started	Contract ended	Reason for leaving	Honours*
	Matt Peet	October 2021			2 Championships, 2 Challenge Cups, 2 League Leaders Shield, 1 World Club Challenge
	Adrian Lam	October 2018	October 2021	Left at end of contract	1 League Leaders Shield
	Shaun Wane	October 2011	October 2018	Signed by Scotland national rugby union team	3 Championships, 1 Challenge Cup, 1 World Club Challenge, 1 League Leaders Shield
	Michael Maguire	October 2009	October 2011	Signed by South Sydney Rabbitohs	1 Championship, 1 Challenge Cup, 1 League Leaders Shield
	Brian Noble	April 2006	October 2009	Contract not renewed
	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	1 Challenge Cup
	Frank Endacott	December 1999	May 2001	Sacked
	Andy Goodway	June 1999	December 1999	Sacked
	John Monie	November 1997	June 1999	Sacked	1 Championship
	Eric Hughes	February 1997	November 1997	Sacked
	Graeme West	May 1994	February 1997	Sacked	2 Championships, 1 Challenge Cup, 1 World Club Challenge
	John Dorahy	June 1993	May 1994	Sacked	1 Championship, 1 Challenge Cup
	John Monie	September 1989	May 1993	Resigned	4 Championships, 4 Challenge Cups, 1 World Club Challenge
	Graham Lowe	August 1986	June 1989	Signed by Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	1 Championship, 2 Challenge Cups, 1 World Club Challenge
	Colin Clarke / Alan McInnes	August 1984	May 1986	Left – mutual consent	1 Challenge Cup
	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 - wanted 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	1 Challenge Cup
	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	1 Championship, 2 Challenge Cups
	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	5 Championships, 2 Challenge Cups

Note *only Championship/Super League, Super League League Leaders Shield, Challenge Cup and World Club Challenge honours shown.

Honours and Trophies

Wigan Warriors have won many trophies throughout their history.

League Titles

• First Division / Super League:
  • Winners (24): 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, 1998, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2023, 2024
• League Leaders' Shield:
  • Winners (5): 2010, 2012, 2020, 2023, 2024
• Premiership
  • Winners (6): 1986–87, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996, 1997.
• Lancashire League
  • Winners (18): 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.

Domestic Cups

• Challenge Cup
  • Winners (21): 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, 2011, 2013, 2022, 2024
• Lancashire Cup
  • Winners (21): 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.
• League Cup
  • Winners (8): 1982–83, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96.
• Charity Shield
  • Winners (4): 1985–86, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1995–96.

International Cups

• World Club Challenge
  • Winners (5): 1987, 1991, 1994, 2017, 2024.

Other Honours

• Wigan Charity Cup
  • Winners (6): 1883, 1885, 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891
• West Lancashire and Border Towns Cup
  • Winners (2): 1889, 1890
• BBC Sports Team of the Year: 1994.

Club Records

Individual Player Records

• Most goals in a match: 22 by Jim Sullivan (1925)
• Most tries in a match: 10 by Martin Offiah (1992) and Shaun Edwards (1992)
• Most points in a match: 44 by Jim Sullivan (1925)
• Most goals in a season: 186 by Frano Botica (1994–95)
• Most tries in a season: 63 by Ellery Hanley (1986–87)
• Most points in a season: 462 by Pat Richards (2010)
• Most career goals: 2,317 by Jim Sullivan
• Most career tries: 478 by Billy Boston
• Most career points: 4,883 by Jim Sullivan
• Most career appearances: 774 by Jim Sullivan
• Most decorated player: Shaun Edwards (8 Championships, 9 Challenge Cups, 3 World Club Challenges).

Team Records

• Biggest victory (All Time): 116–0 vs Flimby & Fothergill (1925)
• Highest attendance (Central Park): 47,747 vs St. Helens (1959)
• Highest attendance (DW Stadium): 25,004 vs St Helens (2005)
• Most trophies in one season: 4 (2024: Super League, League Leaders Shield, Challenge Cup, World Club Challenge)

Academy

Wigan has one of the best youth development systems in UK rugby league. They are very proud of producing many high-quality players. Many players from Wigan's academy go on to play for the first team. Others play for other Super League and Championship clubs.

Supporters

Wigan Warriors have a large and loyal fan base. In the 1880s, home matches often attracted over 7,000 supporters. Fans would even travel by train to away games in large numbers.

In 2007, Wigan averaged over 16,000 fans per home game. From 2010 to 2012, Wigan was officially the best-supported club in Super League.

As a thank you, since 2008, the squad number 18 has been dedicated to the fans. This shows how important their support is.

Wigan fans have a supporters club called The Riversiders. They meet monthly and often have players or coaches as guests.

Some supporters formed a group called the Wigan Brigantes in 2010. They put up flags at the stadium to create a better atmosphere. Their banner says "Long After Tonight Is All Over," showing their lasting support.

Wigan fans are sometimes called 'pie eaters' or 'pies'. This nickname comes from the 1926 General Strike. Wigan miners returned to work earlier than others, which was seen as eating "humble pie." Now, it's just a fun nickname related to the town's famous pies.

Rivalries

St Helens

Wigan's biggest and most intense rivalry is with St Helens. Matches between these two teams are traditionally played on Good Friday.

Both clubs are very successful in rugby league and often compete for trophies. Wigan has won more games overall against St Helens. The two teams have met in six Challenge Cup Finals and four Super League Grand Finals.

Leigh Leopards

The Leigh Leopards are also a traditional rival because they are located in the same area as Wigan. Games between them are local derbies.

This rivalry has not always been as strong because the two clubs have often played in different leagues. However, in recent years, the rivalry has grown, especially in 2023. People now call it "The Battle of The Borough."

Warrington Wolves

Wigan also has a rivalry with their neighbors, Warrington Wolves. This rivalry has become very strong since the late 2000s. Warrington has become a top team, competing for trophies.

Wigan and Warrington have met in two Challenge Cup Finals and three Super League Grand Finals. Wigan has won all five of these major finals. Wigan fans often remind Warrington fans that their club hasn't won the Championship since 1955.

Leeds Rhinos

Leeds Rhinos are another notable rival. Both Wigan and Leeds are big, well-supported clubs in British rugby league.

Between 2007 and 2018, either Leeds or Wigan won almost every Super League Grand Final. They have met in three Challenge Cup Finals and one Super League Grand Final, with Wigan winning all four.

In the Community

Wigan Warriors do a lot of work in the community through their "Wigan Warriors Community Foundation." This foundation helps amateur rugby league clubs and schools. They also run training camps for young people.

One of their programs is called 'Lessons for Life'. It teaches young people about rugby league in primary schools. Wigan was the first club to receive Sport England's Clubmark Gold Award. This award shows their commitment to safety, coaching, and good club management.

Wigan has also set up a learning academy called "Central Park." It provides opportunities for young people and is a base for their scholarship and academy teams.