In terms of songs with bad language.. Although parents don't want their children to hear it, it will happen. The disliking of other fans the rivalry and in a minor way... The hatred. Is what makes derby games such as wire Vs Wigan, Wigan Vs Saints ect. Worth watching... It eeks atmosphere. Its how its created.

Now in [u=#FF0000NO WAY[/u am I condoning hooliganism, Foul language, or saying families or young children should not attend the games if they don't like it. All I am saying is that's what happens. Its always happened.

If every club had a family stand then children or people who don't want to hear foul language would not be subject to it. But at the same time I can understand why people shouldn't have to move to enjoy the game. But it's an idea.


The whole 'gang culture' that these Brigante/Ultra d**k heads are doing however is bang out of order. Yes wire and Wigan dislike each other but I know I can still go into a pub after a match and have a laugh and banter.

After Wigan's friendly I was walking into central station to get the train home with a group of around 15 lads. About 11-15, 6st wet through. Banging a drum and hurling the abuse. What a bunch of T*t heads i thought, these are going to get worse and worse.

The fact by the sounds or it they are letting of smoke bombs, wearing balaclavas, posting pictures of them in balaclavas?!?? They're trying to copy and be something they're not. It sounds like they want to be the green brigade. With a little noisy corner. Giving themselves a name. Its stupid. They'll be banned or they're going to get bored once people stop acknowledging people.

Some have said they have to be rugby fans. They've paid their money so they must have an interest. The sad truth is they don't have an interest. There were plenty fights at the GF and i would put my house on it that 9/10 hadn't been to a game all season. Maybe the odd exception going to a 'big' game. They go for an excuse to get tanked up and act like they're in a firm. It's quite sad how the majority are actually 21+ who do this.


More and more things are cropping up each year. And its not just one club or fans as a whole, every team has had bad press each season. Lets remember though RL was quite bad before we entered the 90's so its not a recent issue, We have calmed down. I just don't want it to flare up again.





I think from all of the the real issue is.... Some people always have to take things to far... Simple as. Some people don't know when to walk away from the pub or bookies. Some people arn't satisfied with small time drugs and move on to heroine. These people aren't just happy with the songs and flags. They want more. and this is where the trouble has started.

Something needs to be done and quick.

Damo, I think your choice of words leaves a lot to be desired (abandoning), you seem to be putting the blame for the so called Ultras going out of control on the genuine fans who started the flag thing with only the best intentions.

It is almost like saying that it was the school teachers fault when a former pupil finishes up in jail for criminal offences.

I think the old leaders need to return to the the group. Get rid of the ultras name and get the brigantes name back and that name only. The old leaders were doing a fantastic job. I use to look forward to away games not only to watch Wigan but for the atmosphere what was created. These days I don't enjoy it as much. The lads that are running it at the moment need to go. They're beyond embarrassing and are beginning to ruin the reputation of the club.

Ridiculous. The former leaders of the group probably don't want to return to it. Their good intentions have been completely destroyed by a bunch of idiots hi-jacking the whole thing. The current trouble makers need to be stamped on hard and permanently, or the problem will persist.

By the sounds of things, the idiots from Saturday are going to be dealt with and hopefully they will get lengthy bans. If they are hit with bans, the club should announce how they've dealt with the situation and maybe people will think twice about throwing smoke bombs, causing trouble and verbally abusing people. The old leaders then maybe able to go back to the Brigantes, get the group back on right track and continue the good work they started before they left.

This was the first away game since all of the original leaders had finally backed off due to the increasing number of teenage cretins getting involved and spoiling things. So in that sense it is unfortunate that the actions at the weekend have marred the original Brigantes image and concept.

Darwen Warrior for your information the Taylor report was completed after the death of 96 supporters who left home to see a sporting occasion only never to return. How does that report get blamed for the need to set up the Brigantes? Just think before you post. It's still a very raw subject.

Lets hope the people responsible are dealt with and discouraged from attending games,maybe then wigan fans might show the brilliant atmosphere they had a year or 2 ago instead of boy scouts round a camp fire banging a drum crap!
Oh and for the football fans, 1740 was the figure for wigan fans on sunday

its because season tickets are cheap for kids and free to away games

Whilst the flag thing started with the best intentions, it attracted people with bad intentions and it seems the old leaders weren't experienced enough to deal with this problem. Fair play to Jukesays who's now co-operating with the club who do have the experience to deal with nuisances but this intervention should of happened earlier. But lets not dwell on the past because hopefully this matter is now being dealt with.

IMO I think the old leaders should take some of the ex-players to the stand where the Brigantes are and hopefully these players can have a positive influence on this troubled group.

Yes I blame the groups demise on the abandonment by certain positive individuals. However I just want to make it clear that the exiled leaders are [size=150NOT[/size responsible for the actions of the so called ultra element of this once great group. These troublemakers might be banned from stadiums but the trouble will just be taken elsewhere until someone does something to change the actions of those concerned in this thread from a negative to a positive.

madness, the old leaders left due to it becoming something it wasnt meant for. Why should they go back? Put time and money into something they dont want to?

Its not upto them to sort the little pricks out but their parents too.

As it happens, Jukesays is one of the exiled leaders and so are you saying that he is responsible for the actions of the ultra element? Or did you mean not responsible? Your post wasn't clear.

I'm sorry about that I've amended that sentence now to:



I'm sorry tiredness got to me there!

The original "leaders" aren't baby sitters. And to be blaming them for what is happening now is utterly ridiculous.

I remember going to one of the charity do's and it was brilliant, Great atmosphere and a very good night. The people involved now, clearly didn't want any of that and took it in an unsavoury direction, the original people can't be blamed for that. You have to remember, they where using their own time to do all that they did. And I for one am grateful for what they did.

I've already made clear that the original leaders aren't responsible for individual actions.

So the current members of the Brigantes intimidated the old members from doing charity do's? If this is the case then they should be named and shamed. If these charity do's were well supported then they should be continuing to this day despite the opposition from certain undesirable elements of the group. You don't need these bad people to raise money for good causes.

Thankfully steps are now been taken to get rid of this undesirable element. How this gets done is a whole different matter. Instead of throwing these fans out I'd rather the original leaders of the group with help make things better for everyone and not just for themselves.

I wish steps would be taken to remove Damo.... the original "Undesirable element"

Where has that figure come from?

Agreed. Yet more trolling concealed behind a thin veil of genuine concern. The guy's a joke.

It's not often I stick up for anything to do with Wigan but this is ridiculous.

You can't blame the likes of Conroy, Jukesays for walking away. I can only go off what I have read on this forum and what I have seen at matches, but it sounds like the group was created with the best of intentions and the lads mentioned above put in a lot of time and effort to get things going. And 2011 saw the best vocal support from Wigan fans I have ever witnessed, things were obviously working.

Things then undeniably took a turn for the worse and the group, for whatever reason, attracted a lot of young, uneducated numpties who think they are Galatasaray fans all of a sudden. I don't blame anyone for walking away at that stage and distancing themselves from what it is turning into a dangerous, mindless gang of cretins.

Thats the impression I get too.
Well said!

Oh deary deary me! some of us did try and warn you!

I've read this thread from start to finish and, to be honest, its no surprise its turned out this way. Warnings where given by numerous people over the last 2 years about this.........

1740, wasn't that the Siege of St Augustine ?

No...!!!

it was the 50th anniversary of King Billy's famous victory







I read this thread very disappointed, great of jukesays to share his thoughts albeit he's clearly gutted by the whole thing. i was sat next to two of the founding members at the wire game and they have now washed their hands of the Brigantes affair and understandably so. To be honest this has suited the vast majority of the youths that now carry the brigantes torch thus giving them more freedom to fk about... it's a pity but we have seen for over a season or so now that this kinda thing was getting out of control, i remember Leeds away last June and Hudds away last season to name but a few..

Again, a real shame because at the home games the atmosphere looks great from the west stand



i admit il will miss the atmosphere at home if it goes down the tubes, mind you ive never sat next to them

I was part of the original group sorting flags. It was great and a real good thing for the club.

Unfortunatetly the plastic hooligan/Ultras theme has attracted these teenage plastic thugs and have driven out any decent folk as they simply do not associated with them.

I was making my way out of the stadium on Saturday and was 5ft away from the incident. The vast majority of the Brigantes group were involved with fighting and the whole kicking off. Whoever runs the Brigantes twitter account is a liar when suggesting ''it was somebody else'' letting off the smoke bomb. It was definitely one of them and most of them looking to fight (or push and hide behind their mates). The ginger lad who was on Granada Reports was amongst the group but was mostly hiding behind mates when it was going off. His name is .......................

On a seperate note, the atmosphere in general is the worst I've known it. Nobody wants to be associated with the Brigantes any longer.