Graeme West doing book signing at Wigan Waterstones, Saturday, 11am.

Just thought I'd post this in case people didn't know!

One of Wigans unsung heroes IMHO. We built our team around this guy in the early 1980s and the rest, as they say, is history.

you're not a true wiganer unless you've been in Westy's taxi after a night in town and mithered him all the way home about how wigan Rl should be run

I wouldn't say unsung. Graeme West is arguably Wigan's most respected and best loved former players, both for what he did on and off the field.

I agree. I think there's a bit of a myth that Westie is somehow a neglected hero.

He was idolised at the time, particularly after Wembley 85, and is still instantly recognisable all around Wigan two decades after he stopped playing and a decade and a half after he stopped coaching. Everyone seems to know and love him.

But do you not agree that he was shabbily treated when they sacked him as Wigan coach ?

Ask the younger fans and they will name Offiah,Hanley and Edwards. Few raffle off westys name.

Must admit whenever i've been lucky enough to have Graeme as my chauffeur he's never had to answer the usual "what time you on till/bin busy" routine.
Always rugby related chat, great guy.

Yeah, but that was a long time ago and that administration is long gone.

Most RL fans I know, young or old, will recognise Westy in the street, and most will talk to him without any fear that he'll ignore them. The fans are the lifeblood of the club and they all know he's a top bloke. I don't think we can really call him an unsung hero.

He was Wigan's coach for arguably Wigan's greatest ever achievement - The WCC win in Brisbane. A Wigan legend. Take a bow Sir Graeme!

His arrival at CP signalled the start of the club's most historic and successful period. And he is a top bloke. Forever a Wigan legend.


Not even RU's money could buy that sort of legendary status.

Like you say Cruncher, Graeme is a absolute gentleman, and in Wigan's if i may say so best era, he was the backbone of your team, and anyone lucky enough to have seen him play will agree, but when he lost the coaches job at Wigan i think he was hard done by, and this coming from a Leyther.

The trouble is that whenever people remind the world about Westie's sacking - and they're usually not Wigan fans, like you for example - it comes over as an attempt to tarnish a Wigan hero, which in my opinion is exactly what it is.

I see no reason why any non-Wigan fan would be concerned about Westie's long-ago departure from the Wigan club. You are quite right, he ignited a new era at Wigan RL, and was totally part of many successful campaigns. But the Wigan fans have never forgotten this. To keep on talking about the fact that he was badly treated by a long ago and long defunct adinistration as if it's some kind of open sore that will not heal, is frankly a load of bollox.

Graham is very well regarded around Wigan. The people that sacked him have long gone. To keep on talking as if somene needs to answer for this crime is the voice of a troll who has nothing better to do than reach back into the past for (ludicrous) reasons to attack Wigan.

Heard a rumour Graeme is moving back to NZ Any truth in this?

Yeah. He is going back after Xmas and has had a
house built for when he goes back.

Cruncher, in no way at all was i having a go, i have seen Westie play many a time, i am in fact from Hindley, all my family watch Wigan, my Brother in law and nephew are season ticket holders and have been for many years, when i was younger i have been to many Wigan games, and have nothing but respect for Wigan and your fans, sorry you feel that way about me, and sorry you thought i was having a go at Wigan, i wasn't,again sorry.

He is and he is a complete gentleman. I have got a few taxis home from him in the past when I have been worse for wear. I have to say that I always felt quite sorry for him i.e driving a taxi at 3 in the morning listening to drunken idiots like me. After all that he had achieved I always felt that he should have still had a good job in the game.

Whenever I've been lucky enough to be taken home by Westy, I've always made sure he got an extra couple of quid "for a drink". I'm sure I'm not the only one. I was of the lucky few to hear him speak at the Brigantes night out the other week, true legend.

I've just had my first ever taxi ride home from Graeme. As soon as I got in and looked at his eyes in the rear view mirror I knew it was him. I feel so privileged!! Had a chat with him about rugby on the way home, about Sam in particular and the upcoming season.

Never apologise, especially to cruncher. He'll see it as a weakness rather than a kindness and keep picking on you. As regards Wigans treatment of Westy, it was shabby to say the least and I reckon any post about him going back to NZ will have a mention of it and rightly so.

Fair enough and apologies. Misread the tone of your post.

No worries mate, i was watching Wigan when Westie was playing, and the great era the club had at that time, that's why i have so much interest in Wigan RLFC, think i was only about 7 when my uncle took me to my first match against Saints. Good luck for the season, if you come to the friendly at Leigh, and come in the Goose i will buy you a pint, no hard feelings mate.

My favourite memory of Westy was a final (semi final?) at Burnden Park against wire.

Les Boyd promised all sorts of trouble.

Westy had him by the throat on the floor in the first 10 minutes. Boyd didn't want to know for the rest of that match, which we won convincingly.

Funnily enough my main memory of Westy on the pitch was when he got sent off in a cup match against Swinton in 1987. Something obviously happened in the tackle, and Westy got up and put his opponent right on his backside with probably the best punch I've ever seen on a rugby pitch.