DW Stadium - Wigan Athletic
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Last Update:
August 26, 2024
The DW Stadium was opened in 1999 after the Club moved from its former home of Springfield Park, where it had been in residence since the Club’s formation in 1932. The DW is a functional stadium but overall it has somewhat of a bland look.
The four separate stands are of roughly the same height and are all single-tiered. They are also quite steep meaning that fans are sat quite close to the playing action, although this is mitigated a little by the fact that the stands themselves are set back a fair distance from the pitch perimeter.
Both the side stands have large supporting steel frameworks visible above their roofs, whilst oddly both ends are different, having the steel framework located below the roof line. Unusually for a modern stadium, it does seem to be lacking in the number of corporate areas and executive boxes. There is an electric scoreboard above the Boston East Stand, on one side of the ground.
The stadium is also shared with Wigan Warriors Rugby League club.
Away fans are located in the North Stand at one end of the stadium, where up to 4,800 visiting supporters can be accommodated making it a good away day for fans of clubs that have large away followings.
The view of the playing action and leg room are generally adequate, however, the stadium certainly lacks charm particularly as it very rarely sells out.
The concourses are pretty spacious with plenty of food and drink offerings available via the kiosks. As Wigan is a town famous for its pies, it’s worth trying a pie at half time if you are feeling peckish.
The Marquee Suite in the North Stand can be found next to the away turnstile and is a free-to-enter bar for away supporters on match day. In terms of pubs near the stadium, here are three that are worth checking out:
- John Bull Chop House – 1 Coopers Row, Wigan WN1 1PQ
- Brickmakers Arms – 51-59 Woodhouse Ln, Wigan WN6 7LN
- The Brocket Arms – 38 Mesnes Rd, Wigan WN1 2DD
While the food at the DW Stadium is not revolutionary, what they do brilliantly is master the basics. Pies, chips, burgers and more are a staple of the ground, and you can very rarely go wrong ordering them.
Here is an example of the type of scran to expect upon your visit:
Wigan kebab with mushy peas and gravy at Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial)
💷 £6 pic.twitter.com/uMpyWXcY9s
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) September 17, 2023
Away supporters will enter the DW Stadium via turnstiles located behind the North Stand, just off Anjoy Boulevard. One thing to note is the fact that the coach park is situated on the other side of the stadium, so a short walk to the North Stand will be required for fans arriving by coach.
Home fans will then have the choice of turnstiles at each of the three remaining stands, and should consult their match ticket to confirm which section of the ground they should head towards.
All supporters with tickets to a box should enter through the West Stand.
From The South:
Leave the M6 to Junction 25 then take the A49 to Wigan. After around two and a half miles you should pass a junction on your left with the A577 and then approach a large roundabout, that has a McDonalds on the right hand side. Continue straight on but keep in the left lane and then at the lights (with the SCS Sofa and Bed store in front) take the left hand filter lane by the large Asda superstore towards Robin Park. Currently there is a new housing development on the left which has some handy street parking. Otherwise continue straight on passing the Red Robin pub on your right. At the next roundabout go straight across and at the next traffic lights turn right into stadium way for the ground and car parks.
From The North:
Leave the M6 at Junction 26 and follow the signs for Wigan town centre along the A577. After around two miles you will pass an Aldi store on your left before reaching a large a roundabout (which is the junction with the A49). Keep in the left lane and then at the lights (with the SCS Sofa and Bed store in front) take the left hand filter lane by the large Asda superstore towards Robin Park. Then as From the South above.
Car parking
There is a large car park at the stadium, specifically for the use of away supporters, which costs £5 per car or motorbike, £10 for minibuses and £20 for coaches. As you may expect though, there is sometimes quite a delay in getting out of this car park after the game, especially if there has been a larger-than-normal crowd in attendance.
Make sure though that you avoid parking on the nearby Retail Park, as parking there is restricted to two hours.
Post Code for SAT NAV: WN5 0UZ
Wigan’s central railway stations (Wigan North Western & Wallgate stations) are both around a 20-minute walk from the stadium. We’d recommend breaking up the journey with a few pub stops on the way.
If you want to stay in Wigan overnight, then some examples of hotels near the DW Stadium with good reviews are as follows:
- Holiday Inn Express Wigan, Martland Mill, Martland Mill Ln, Wigan WN5 0LX
- Brocket Arms, Ayot St Lawrence, Welwyn AL6 9BT
- Premier Inn Wigan Town Centre Hotel, Harrogate St, Wigan WN1 1BL
Wigan operate a tiered ticketing system where prices change depending on the match. Their matches are categorised as either Gold, Silver or Bronze. Ticket prices for Gold matches for the 2023/24 season are:
- Adults: £30
- Seniors: £20
- 18-21s: £20
- Under 18s: £10
- Under 12s: £5
- Under 5s: £2
Opened in 1999, the DW Stadium has been the home of Wigan Athletic for 25 years, taking over from the club’s previous home, Springfield Park.
The first match to take place at the ground was a friendly with English giants Manchester United, and their manager at the time, Sir Alex Ferguson, was actually the man to officially open the stadium.
A new ground gave the team the platform it needed to flourish and by 2005, Wigan had reached the heights of English football and were regulars in the Premier League.
However, it wasn’t just football that was played at the facility, with Wigan Warriors, a rugby league side, also calling the stadium home from 1999 until the present day.
The DW Stadium, then, although relatively new compared to other grounds, has become an integral part of the town.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the official Wigan Athletic website.
You know it! Sing along…
An UNBELIEVABLE day to be a Latics fan!
We DEFY the odds! #wafc pic.twitter.com/5YAoz5ULDR
— Official Wigan Athletic Supporters Club (@WiganAthSC) August 19, 2023
Record Attendance
At DW Stadium:
25,133 v Manchester United
Premier League, 11th May 2008.
At Springfield Park:
27,526 v Hereford United
FA Cup 2nd Round, 12th December 1953.
Average Attendance
2022-2023: 12,240 (Championship)
2021-2022: 9,945 (League One)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
2019-2020: 10,592 (Championship)
2018-2019: 11,663 (Championship)
2017-2018: 9,152 (League One)
In terms of expansion work or rebuilds, there is nothing in the pipeline for the DW Stadium or Wigan Athletic. However, in 2022, the stadium underwent a £1m refurbishment which improved hospitality offerings inside the stadium. A new sports bar was also built in the stadium as were conference and event spaces.
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Wigan Athletic v West Ham United
Premier League
Saturday, May 15th 2011, 3pm
Zac Cohen (West Ham United fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground?
After years of travelling up and down the nation to follow the hammers, I'd become a fanatic. New football grounds had become an addiction for me and the DW was high on list to go to. The game held special significance for my club – we had to win. If we didn't we were relegated.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The club ran a free coach service for the game, so I was driven from Upton Park to The DW. Ordinarily, I am a train goer and my friends have told me that the ground is easy to get to from the station. Coaches park in a car park one minute from the ground. The journey from London was relatively traffic free.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Hot Dog stands are situated around the ground and to my surprise, at very cheap prices. A large hot dog was £2 from the vendor outside the away end. Being younger than drinking age means I didn't purchase alcohol from the sports lounge/bar by the car park. I did go inside to use the facilities however. The pub seemed to allow both sets of fans inside.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The view from outside the ground is similar to most modern grounds in all honesty. Simple, relatively clean & generally dull. Once inside the atmosphere was great. It was like a carnival, with people throwing inflatable beach balls around. Once I left the underside of the stand and took my seats, one can see how small the ground is. It is 1 tier all the way round and the stand to ones left is slightly restricted with an advert on the seats separating fans (when the stands aren't joined).
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Final Result: Wigan 3-2 West Ham United
The result was harsh on the hammers, but summed up the season perfectly. Our inability to keep a lead was evident on that day. We were 2-0 up in the first half with 2 goals from Demba Ba. This with the news that Fulham were winning too sent the stand into pandemonium…. temporarily.
Wigan's introduction of Connor Sammon was great one. He scored a tap in, and Charles N'Zogbia scored a free-kick which was destined to fly in. In the 90th minute, Robert Green had a calamitous moment and Wigan had winner. We were relegated. The final whistle blew, and the Wigan fans invaded the pitch taunting us hammers (who had many stewards and police in the stand and on the edge of the pitch to prevent anything escalating), which was a bit annoying considering that Wigan weren't still safe from relegation themselves.
The facilities are basic. The toilets are small, and there isn't a great deal of space in the concourse. The atmosphere was the best I have ever seen (from West Ham), due to the occasion more than the hospitality. Wigan's fans were non-existent until the final whistle had blown.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was slow getting out of the ground itself, but once out of the stadium, one was free to get on the coach which had a police escort to motorway. We were gone very quickly. The only positive of the day in hindsight
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Horrific. That was down to the football more than the hospitality in all honesty. The ground was mediocre to be polite. The concourse is far too small. The programme was decent. The prices of the tickets weren't a rip off, that said, they weren't cheap either. I'd go there again, no doubt. The steward outside the ground are friendly too!
Wigan Athletic v Reading
Championship
Saturday 30th November 2019, 3pm
Alex (Reading)
Wigan Athletic v Barnsley
Championship
Saturday 31st August 2019, 3pm
David Crossfield (Barnsley)
Wigan Athletic v Millwall
Championship League
Sunday 5th May 2019, 12.30 pm
Brian Moore (Millwall)
Wigan Athletic v Middlesbrough
Championship
Saturday 2nd March 2019, 3pm
Shane (Middlesbrough)
Wigan v Birmingham City
Championship League
Saturday 22nd December 2018, 3pm
Paul G (Birmingham City)
Wigan Athletic v Manchester City
FA Cup 4th Round
Monday 19th February 2018, 7.55pm
Lee Roberts (Doing the 92)
Wigan Athletic v West Ham United
FA Cup 4th Round
Saturday 27th January 2018, 3pm
Billy (West Ham United fan)
Wigan Athletic v West Ham United
FA Cup 4th Round
Saturday 27th January 2018, 3pm
Elliot Smith (West Ham United fan)
Wigan Athletic v AFC Bournemouth
FA Cup 3rd Round
Wednesday 17th January 2018, 7.45 p.m.
Paul Sheppard (AFC Bournemouth fan)
Wigan Athletic v Crawley Town
FA Cup 2nd Round
Saturday 4th November 2017, 3pm
Stephen Webb (Crawley Town fan)
Wigan Athletic v Northampton Town
Football League One
Tuesday 19th September 2017, 7.45pm
Alex Compton (Northampton Town fan)
Wigan Athletic v Leeds United
Football Championship League
Sunday 7th May 2017, 12 noon
Shaun (Leeds United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the DW Stadium?
Another first visit and as it was the last game of season with us destined to finish seventh regardless of the result it was a game with no pressure!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Pretty easy. Flew into Liverpool and then drove along the M57/M58 pass the M6 and onto the A577. There's a reasonable amount of on street parking off the left hand side of this road (we got a space of Laithwaite Road).
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As I was driving I didn't visit the Red Robin which is the main pub for away fans near the DW Stadium. We grabbed a burger and chips from a van outside the ground and both the food and the price was okay. Home and away fans were milling around the ground with no bother at all.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the DW Stadium?
Unusually for a new stadium the DW has no corner areas, just four stands with gaps in between. Other than that the North Stand, where the away fans are housed, is a fairly standard stand. It has an internal concourse up a flight of stairs and then into the stand which had clear views from behind the goal
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
This was the last match of the season and with nothing resting on the result meant that the game was a rather dull affair. With Wigan already relegated a lot of home fans didn't turn up (4,500 away fans making a total attendance of about 15000) however a few die hards over to our left made a surprising amount of noise so at least there was atmosphere. A lot of away fans had brought inflatables to throw around meaning there was as much entertainment off the pitch, as there was on it! Stewards were efficient without being overly friendly.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy enough. Was at the M6 junction with the M58 about 20 minutes after leaving the ground.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day generally, poor game but at least a goal each for the fans to cheer, sunny and warm, easy parking, what more could you want? (Apart from a win!).
Wigan Athletic v Barnsley
Football Championship League
Thursday 13th April 2017, 7.45pm
Tom Bellamy (Barnsley fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the DW Stadium?
This would be the third consecutive season that I have been to the DW Stadium. The corresponding fixture last season ended with Barnsley winning 4- 1 and securing a place in the League One play-offs, whilst Wigan were already crowned the League One Champions outright. However, tonights game would be in sharp contrast with Wigan being second from the bottom of the Championship and Barnsley in mid-table.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
My journey to Wigan, by car, was a slow encounter mainly due to the volume of the traffic along the motorways during the peak time of the day at around 5pm. The fixture itself was the only game being played this evening which was the Thursday before Good Friday. The reason being that because of the Easter Weekend Wigan Warriors, the Rugby League Club who also play at the DW Stadium, were due to play on Good Friday, and so the date of our fixture was agreed by all parties concerned. I eventually arrived in Wigan at around 6-30 pm and instead of going into the official car park at the ground I chose to park just off Robin Park Road which is only a few minutes away from the DW Stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had about one hour to kill before the game and spoilt for choice in where to go. I could have popped into the Red Robin pub which I walked past on the way to the Stadium, or the 'Marquee' bar which is directly next door to the North Stand where the Away fans are housed, but I decided instead to have a 'Costa Coffee' in the Retail Park Complex opposite the Stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of aw ay end then other sides of the DW Stadium?
Unlike previous seasons I was surprised to learn that once inside the Stadium the stewards allowed us to sit anywhere in the stand. I think this was due to only a few hundred Barnsley fans attending the game. This suited me fine so I sat in an aisle seat halfway up the stand with plenty of leg room and a good view of the pitch. The home fans were fairly quiet making the atmosphere a little subdued even though the few hundred Barnsley fans were singing their socks off.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
In the first half the chances for both teams were very few and far between. Wigan had one shot on target which the Barnsley keeper tipped around the post for a corner Barnsley themselves had a shot which went just wide of the post. However, the deadlock was eventually broken just before half time when Armstrong, for Barnsley, tapped the ball home from close range after Ryan Kent saw his own shot come back off the post.
The second half had a different complexion to the game altogether, with Wigan starting the brighter of the two teams and were beginning to threaten the Barnsley goal. Then against the run of play, Ryan Kent, for Barnsley, took the Wigan defence on and hit a low shot from the edge of the area which crept into the bottom corner of the net. With a two goal cushion it looked plain sailing for Barnsley until Wigan made a substitution in bringing Nick Powell on. He made an impact immediately and opened their scoring in the 71st minute by hitting home a free kick which the Barnsley keeper could only parry the ball into the net. Within a minute of the restart Powell pounced again by tapping the ball into the net after the Barnsley keeper failed to gather the ball. Powell's hat trick was completed five minutes later when the referee awarded Wigan a penalty as he himself appeared to have been pushed by a Barnsley defender. He scored direct from the spot to make the score 3-2. Then came a disallowed goal for Barnsley which I think the referee thought their keeper had been pushed, and perhaps would have changed the outcome of the game. Credit to the Wigan players for turning the game on its head and claiming a vital three towards their Championship League survival.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was relatively easy and no problem at all. I arrived home at about 11.30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I suppose I shall remember this game for many years to come but for all the wrong reasons I'll say no more!
Wigan Athletic v Preston North End
Football Championship League
Saturday 11th February 2017, 3pm
Bob Davis (Preston North End fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the DW Stadium?
A local game and hadn't been to this stadium since around 2003 when we last played Wigan in the league which shows what different directions both clubs have been following in the last 15 years. So nice to see that we have at least achieved parity again after Wigan rejoined us in the Championship League.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Three dads and two lads made the short journey to Wigan parking up at the Bricklayers Arms on the recommendation of a friend who is Preston supporting resident of the republic of pies. Easy parking on the other side of the canal from the busy Robin Park and DW Stadium with planned ease of getaway for after the game (more on that afterwards).
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As mentioned went into the Bricklayers Arms for a couple of pints and had a decent chat with a group of Wigan fans who explained that Wigan had done so well last season in getting promoted by basically buying any decent player they played against in the January window. They also were surprised at how much tougher the division was on there return hence the lowly position they found themselves in.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the DW Stadium?
The DW Stadium is not a bad ground but as normal there is not much atmosphere generated by the home stands. On this occasion most of the noise was coming from the 4,700 Preston fans in attendance. The thing I noticed again was how badly the colouring of the seats seem to have faded which is something you sometimes see in some of the newer grounds, perhaps something to do with manufacturer as the seats? One thing very apparent is that the concourse is far too small for a large away following. It seems to me that they have designed this stand with rugby in mind when fans can buy a beer and take it back to the seats whereas football fans have to pile down en-masse at half time in the hope of grabbing a beer. Have to say that it was pretty shambolic under the stand at half time with a scrum for the toilets and pretty dire service in evidence at the kiosks. The fact that they run out of pies just about summed up the concourse experience.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a pretty poor game to be honest with Wigan looking out of confidence and Preston underperforming based upon recent performances. The nearest either side came to scoring was went we were awarded a soft penalty. With away end about ready to to explode at the prospect of taking the lead, Hugill for Preston took the softest of penalties that the goalkeeper could have thrown his cap on. The match finished 0-0 and just about summed up the game with not much quality on show.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Can only be described as frustrating as took about 15 minutes to get out of the stadium due to our seats being near the back and in the middle of a long row. After exiting the ground everybody was corralled on the other side of the canal by the massive amount of Police on duty and then slowly led down to the only narrow bridge that crossed the canal. This lead to a lot of frustration from both Wigan and Preston fans and it took another 25 minutes to get back to the car using this route. It must be said that I can fully understand why the former Wigan chairman Dave Whelan previously complained bitterly about the Policing costs which he was meant to stump up a few years ago. Once back at the car it only took 20 minutes to get back home which was half the time it took to get from my seat to the car!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Poor game, football ground that is more suited to Rugby fans and the over the top Policing at the end means that unless it was an important game I would probably not rush back to the DW Stadium.
Wigan Athletic v Ipswich Town
Football Championship League
Saturday 17th December 2016, 3pm
Josh Houston (Ipswich Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the DW Stadium?
I was looking forward to this game as Wigan were in poor form before this match so I felt we could take all three points.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It wasn't too difficult to find the DW Stadium, although could do with some more signage though. We parked in the away supporters car park which cost £5. It was close to the ground which was convenient.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game we went to the retail area near to the stadium and had a look around the shops as there wasn't really much else around the ground. The home fans were no bother and to be honest there weren't that many about.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the DW Stadium?
The DW Stadium seemed quite a simple design and quite bland looking. The away concourse was quite narrow and a bit disappointing for a stadium only built in 1999.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The stewards were some of the best we've had this season, very friendly and talkative. I bought a meat and potato pie for £2.60 and it was very nice. Toilet facilities were good there was plenty of urinals etc. The stand was very steep which could be a problem for those with walking difficulties. We had plenty of leg room as well (but we weren't planning much sitting).
Ipswich defending was terrible but we got lucky early on in the game, as a result of a soft penalty decision. Brett Pitman scored this but the home side levelled before the break. After half time they scored another which angered us away fans because of the shocking defensive performance. But Pitman got another, and then 20 minutes later McGoldrick got a late winner which meant the tractor boys will be taking all three points back to Suffolk. We sang loud and proud but I did find the drummer in amongst the home fans rather awful sounding.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground wasn't too bad. We waited around for 10 minutes then set off and we were out of Wigan in no time.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The DW Stadium lacked that feeling when you visit a stadium for the first time but it was worth the trip as we won the game.
Wigan Athletic v Newcastle United
Football Championship League
Wednesday 14th December 2016, 7:45pm
Christopher (Newcastle United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the DW Stadium?
This was my first competitive away fixture following Newcastle United in the away end (I managed to sit amongst the home support for the Football League Cup fixture against Hull a couple of week earlier).
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It's fairly easy, although I found my SatNav took me through some housing estates instead of more direct routes. It's also worth noting that you need to go to the car park for away fans near the stadium, but not at the stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Not many home fans were around before of after the match. They all seemed to keep themselves to themselves, though people in the area were fairly helpful in general. The Soccerdome in-between the away parking and the DW Stadium let you use the toilet facilities. The chip van outside of the away end has a decent selection and at reasonable prices. There is a few outlets nearby for food as well. Whilst we were there, there was also people selling hats, scarves, and pin badges around the stadium for both home and away fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the DW Stadium?
The DW Stadium is a decent ground for a medium sized club, it's possibly a bit big for the size of Wigan Athletic, but I think the rugby team play there as well who usually have a bigger following. You will likely have enough leg room (if you decide to sit), and the views are unobstructed.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Not the prettiest of games, but Newcastle ran out 2-0 winners. Our atmosphere and support was great, we sang and chanted throughout. There was little Wigan support, there were no songs or chants from the Wigan fans. The only noise from them was someone banging a drum, but for the majority of the match we out sang him and the drum which became was just background noise.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Horrible experience. At Hull the away coaches and most away fans were given Police escorts to the motorway so they never had to sit in traffic. There was no such organisation at the DW Stadium. It took until about 45 minutes after the match for the majority of our fans to even get out of the away car park. After that both sides of the road were dedicated to cars and coaches getting away, however at the end of the road there is a set of traffic lights where both lanes have to filter into One lane making the whole process pointless. A couple of roads blocked off by the Police for 20 minutes or so to get the away fans to the nearest motorway would have been better than an hour or so of gridlock. If possible I would recommend people using another car park for a quick getaway, but bare in mind the retail parks around the ground apparently have time limits and hand out fines.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Being a night time game we never really got the chance to see Wigan or even take in one of the pubs around the ground. However it was a positive result for us, there was no trouble and people appeared to be friendly with reasonable prices for food and drink. The only downside is the organisation on leaving the stadium car parks, after the match had ended.
Wigan Athletic v Derby County
Football Championship League
Saturday 3rd December 2016, 3pm
Andrew Keay (Derby County fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the DW Stadium?
I have been to the DW Stadium before and found it to be a good day out. Also it is easy ground for me to get to as I live in Stoke.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I very easy. I drove up the M6, joining at Junction 15 and getting off at Junction 25. From there it is about a ten minute drive to the DW Stadium. As you approach the stadium, turn left by the Pizza Hut and there is plenty of street parking to be found. From this area it is also very easy to get away after the match too.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
From where I parked it was a case of just crossing the road to get to a nice pub called the Red Robin. This is only about two minutes walk away from the DW and welcomes away fans. The pub also serves food, so we had a nice lunch and a couple of drinks. We then went for a wander around the small retail park located next to the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the DW Stadium?
The DW Stadium is modern but lacks. Inside the concourse is ample with plenty of food and drink kiosks and I must say the toilets are probably the cleanest and nicest of any away ground I've ever seen. The stands are quite steep and the seats a bit tight but the view is excellent.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was no classic. Derby won 1-0, but only because Wigan were so poor. The stewards were helpful and pleasant. Not the usual controlling freaks you get at some games. Overall the stadium lacked atmosphere. This was mainly down to the lack of home support and the numbers of empty seats everywhere.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was easy from where we parked. Within five minutes of leaving the stadium, we were back at the car and en route. I did note as we walked by that traffic trying to leave the official car parks seemed manic. There was a bit of congestion up to the M6 as you would expect, but we were back home in about an hour so I can't complain.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Again a visit to the DW Stadium proved to be another good trip, with a nice pub and a friendly atmosphere. Plus three points too so all and all enjoyable
Wigan Athletic v Derby County
Football Championship League
Saturday 3rd December 2016, 3pm
Martin Plummer (Derby County fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the DW Stadium?
Derby were hitting a run of form and I found myself travelling to more away games this season. I had never been to the DW Stadium or indeed Wigan before.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I went by train and arrived at Wigan North Western. It was about a 15 minute walk to the DW Stadium, which wasn't very well signposted, but I found it by simply following the other supporters!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I arrived at the ground about an hour before kick off and went into the "Marquee pub" for a Pint. It had no television, but I still found it a nice gesture from Wigan to make an away pub at the stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the DW Stadium?
I found the DW Stadium a bit lacking in character and a bit boxy. However it was a neat functional ground with a nice rake on the stands. I did however find that the concourse was a bit of a squeeze for the large travelling support.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere was mainly generated by the away support, although the home fans did get their voice together when Will Grigg was introduced in the second half. The game itself was a bit dull, Derby took the lead through a Bradley Johnson header in the first half and held on to it for the rest of the game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the match:
We walked away from the ground the same way as we came, and found that a section of it was unlit making it impossible to see and leading to a few people falling over. We did however make it back to the railway station were the locals were very helpful.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The DW Stadium wasn't the best away trip I've ever been on, but it was by no means bad, and a win is a win.
Wigan Athletic v Barnsley
Football League One
Sunday 8th May 2016, 12.30pm
Tom Bellamy (Barnsley fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the DW Stadium?
This was the final league game of the season for both teams. Wigan were already the league champions and Barnsley needed a good result to remain in the play-offs. This would be my second time to the DW Stadium, and I knew it was a good ground.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I decided to take the car this time around having been on the supporters bus before. It was very easy to find and well signposted. I managed to park at the stadium itself at a cost of £5.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There is a bar beside the away end turnstiles called The Marquee, which serves everything from beer and lager to tea and coffees plus various refreshments. There were stewards on the door who were very pleasant and helpful.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the DW Stadium?
I was very impressed with the DW Stadium. It's a good size, but so it should be with Wigan being an ex – Premier/Championship side.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a great game from a Barnsley point of view coming out 4-1 winners, and making the play-offs. I suppose Wigan could have played better but they had nothing to play for having been crowned champions.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was very easy getting away from the ground but perhaps that was because the match was played on a Sunday instead of Saturday, so there was only the football traffic to worry about, not the Saturday shoppers.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a fantastic day out and one which will remain in my memory for a long time.
Wigan Athletic v Shewsbury Town
Football League One
Saturday 21st November 2015, 3pm
Gareth King (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the DW Stadium?
This was to be the first time that I had seen a game played outside Scotland. Plus as we were visiting Wigan I was interested to attend a match and see the stadium.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Trains to Wigan seem pretty straightforward on the West Coast Mainline (can speak for other directions), but after that it's a bit of a trek from the town centre to the ground, deceptively longer than you'd think (especially on a cold day!) – I foolishly went to the ground via Miry Lane, crossing the footbridge. But, leaving and heading back through the retail park at Robin Park is a lot easier.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Faffed about in a shopping centre with my other half, visiting the Wigan Warriors giftshop and getting my toddler a Warriors top for less than a fiver!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the DW Stadium?
For a smallish ground, it feels a lot bigger. the stands have a decent rake, meaning they are both not too steep and still raising you up enough to get a super view.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere was alright for the level of game (having been to Old Firm games in my time, I appreciate it's all relative) and the stewarding was pretty friendly. I have at times an irritable bowel, so toilets at grounds are a big thing for me – The facilities at the DW were super. As for the game then it was tight with Wigan winning by the only goal of the match.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Crowds flow out easily enough, though you take your life in your hands at the point where the nearby Asda supermarket car park meets the main road!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I was pretty impressed with the DW Stadium and the club and would say it's worth dropping in if in the area.
Wigan Athletic v Bury
League Cup 1st Round
Tuesday 11th August 2015, 7.45pm
Malcolm Parr (Bury fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the DW Stadium?
This was my first visit to the DW Stadium for a number of years. I was looking forward to seeing how we dealt with the challenge of playing against a team who were two divisions higher than us last season.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The ground isn't easy to find. I would advise travelling fans to give themselves plenty of time. Follow the signs for Robin Park. The stadium car parks aren't well-signposted but there is ample space.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I walked around the vast retail park for a while. There are several food outlets which provide a cheaper alternative to the catering within the stadium. There was no visible animosity between supporters before the game.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The DW Stadium is large, functional and characterless. The away stand is situated behind one goal. Like the other stands, it is very steep – it may cause difficulties for fans with balance problems. There is ample leg room. The stand behind the opposing goal mirrored ours. The Main Stand was situated to our right. It contained corporate facilities. The stand to our left accommodated the noisier Wiganers. There is little to distinguish one stand from another.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
League Cup games are usually low-key affairs. However, this game was played at a high tempo. Wigan took a deserved lead immediately after half-time but a couple of substitutions changed the balance of the game and led to our equalizer. We won the game via a last-minute penalty. There was an adequate atmosphere but the crowd of 5,600 (including 1500 Shakers fans) wasn't large enough to generate a lot of noise. Stewarding was low-key and friendly. The facilities were modern, clean and well-maintained.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I was able to get away from the ground fairly quickly. However, there is only one road out of the complex and I suspect it will become very congested when a large crowd is in attendance.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day for us. We have an appalling record in cup competitions so any win is welcomed. The DW Stadium needs big crowds to make it into a notable venue.
Wigan Athletic v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 25th April 2015, 3pm
Aimee Henry (Wolves fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the DW Stadium?
It was our last away game of what’s been a really enjoyable season. Just one point from the last three games, came just at the wrong time and had dealt a crushing blow to our Play-Off hopes, so much so that 3 points away at relegation threatened Wigan was a must, and even then may not be enough, depending on other results. The week in the build up to the game had been significant, as Rotherham had been docked 3 points, dragging Wigan right back into the fight for survival. The last time we visited the DW Stadium, we had been relegated from the Premier League, and the Wigan supporters were very keen to rub it in. It led to a brilliant moment at full time, when a lone Wolves fan ran onto the pitch, scattering about 200 Wigan fans (look it up on Youtube).
View Of The DW Stadium From The Nearby Retail Park
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We decided to go on the train for this one, securing return tickets from Wolverhampton to Wigan North Western for £12. The journey, via Crewe and Warrington, took just over an hour, meaning we were in Wigan for just after half eleven. The ground is a 15-20 minute walk from the station. Turn left as you leave the station, underneath a bridge, and follow that road along, past… until you reach an Asda on your right. Go right at the Asda, and you should be able to see the DW Stadium behind a retail park.
DW Stadium Main Reception
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Firstly we stopped at Burger King, and there was a good mix of home and away supporters in there already. After that we made our way to the Red Robin pub, which was located no more than 2 or 3 minutes away from the stadium. It was jam packed full of Wolves supporters, as well as the Punjabi Wolves group, and the atmosphere was rocking. I went across to the stadium at about 1, as I was keen to greet the players off the coach. The home and away supporters were mingling, with no animosity, despite the amount that was riding on the fixture.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the DW Stadium?
Like a number of stadiums in the Football League, the design of the ground follows a theme in all four stands, so there are few distinct features. The away end is the North Stand, behind the goal. The away fans are given the entire stand, and with it being the final away game of the season, it was full. Some had even arrived resplendent in fancy dress. I felt the 1990s flash before me as the Power Rangers, Buzz Lightyear and Spongebob all walked past to take their seats for the game. The South Stand opposite is pretty much identical to the North, and similarly, the East and West stands are identical, save for a scoreboard adorning the East Stand.
South Stand
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Wigan came out of the blocks quicker, and former Wolves loanee Jermaine Pennant (he of the Electronic Tag) forced deputising keeper Tomasz Kuszczak into a fine save, the Pole pushing a fierce drive over the bar. The majestically named Gaetan Bong was having an influential game for the Latics, capitalising on the lack of width on the Wolves right to maraud forward whenever possible. Fortunately, Wolves had Dominic Iorfa at right back, who was coping admirably. It was with Wolves’ first attack of the game that we took the lead. Scott Golbourne found space on the left, but was brought crashing down by Emmerson Boyce, who was booked. Bakary Sako fizzed in a scorcher of a free kick right onto the head of the prolific Benik Afobe, who scored his 13th Wolves goal in just his 20th appearance. James McClean was having a lively game for the hosts, and he found room on the edge of the area, having wriggled away from Ethan Ebanks-Landell. His shot was wayward though. The final action of the half saw Pennant scoop a free kick a good 10 yards over the bar, much to the travelling fans’ delight.
Wigan again started the half brightly, with McClean twice firing wide from inside the area, whilst at the other end, Afobe thought he had doubled his and Wolves’ tally, only to be denied by a handball decision. Wolves really put a spell of pressure together then, with Wigan’s Scott Carson reacting superbly to flick Dave Edwards’ header over the bar. Kevin McDonald broke forward and curled a low effort towards goal, but straight at Carson. Wigan thought they had equalised, only to have their celebrations cut short by the linesman’s (sorry, assistant referee’s) offside flag. The final action of the game saw McClean receive a second yellow card, following a late clattering of Richard Stearman, who was outstanding for Wolves. The full time whistle was greeted by cheers from the away end, and a general shrug from the home end, many of whom decided to leave, despite the man on the Tannoy pleading with them to stay for “a lap of appreciation”. Clearly the Latics fans didn’t feel there was much to appreciate about their season.
West Stand
The home atmosphere did feel a little flat, and just from looking, I would say the home ends were only half full. There was a group of rowdy Wiganers congregated in the East Stand, exchanging pleasentries with the Wolves fans. The respective League positions meant the away fans held all the aces though, and a chant of “You laughed at us, when we went down. But who the (bleep) is laughing now?” got several airings during the game.
The stewards were very friendly, and I had a beautiful Steak Pie for £2.40. The programme was the standard £3, and included a feature which had been running on twitter throughout the week, in which Wolves fans were asked to name their all-time Wolves 5-a-side team. My fellow supporters came up with a team of Matt Murray, Billy Wright, Paul Ince, Alex Rae and Steve Bull. Not too shabby…
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Straightforward back to the train station, and a simple journey back to Wolverhampton.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The DW Stadium is generally a nice stadium, if a little bit bland, and the great swathes of empty seats obviously doesn’t help the atmosphere. But, having experienced League One last season, the DW will provide one of the better experiences for visiting fans next season. The ticket prices were very fair, the away allocation very generous, and the ground’s proximity to the town centre is certainly a lot better than some.
Wigan Athletic v Leeds United
Championship League
Saturday 7th March 2015, 3pm
Allan Caley (Leeds United fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the ground?
I had never been to the DW Stadium before, so it would be a new ground to visit and another on my tally of watching Leeds around the country.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was a three hour car journey from my home in East Lincolnshire. I found a quiet street to park in near to the DW Stadium (near the Fire Station) about a ten minute walk away. I had no problems in finding the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went into the Red Robin, a Fayre & Square pub that is just a couple of minutes from the stadium. Beers cost about £3 a pint. There were a few home fans in there who seemed friendly enough, along with a fair few from Leeds. There was no trouble at all before, during or after the game. Dave Whelan though in his pre-match retirement speech did seem to wind up most of the 4,700 Leeds fans in attendance.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
It is a pretty good looking ground. All four sides of the stadium have a very similar look to them. The away end is identical to the home end, but the home end was virtually empty (only 11,500 home fans in the whole ground). The away end was sold out after a week, but there were still about 700 seats kept empty in our end for 'safety reasons' – which is quite baffling really.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The first half was fairly even and the half time score remained goalless. Leeds scored 6 minutes into the second half and from then on it was just about one way traffic towards the Leeds goal for the rest of the game. How Wigan didn't get an equalizer was beyond me; they certainly deserved one, but it ended 0-1 and we went home with three points! In spite of the poor attendance by the home support there was a couple of thousand Wigan fans accompanied by a drummer-boy ("We're Leeds United, we don't need a drum") who made a decent amount of noise throughout the match. The Leeds fans made their usual amount of racquet throughout the whole game. As for the stewards, well, even though I was right on the front row you barely knew they were there at any time during the match. So a job well done to the DW Stadium Stewards. I didn't buy any food items; the queues were quite long at half time so didn't bother. Toilets: there was no problem getting to the toilets at any time, even during the half-time interval. There was no queuing at all.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
The only reason I can imagine that Wigan refuses to sell tickets for all the seats in the away end, is that it took over 5 minutes to empty after the game had ended (or it would have taken me at least that long if I hadn't done a hop, step and a jump over the rows of seats to make my exit). But it takes no longer than 5 minutes to totally empty the Gelderd End at Elland Road; so I don't see why this might be an issue at the DW. It was then a quick walk back to the car and was on the M6 after about 10 minutes and was back home by 8pm
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out A great day out:
I will do it again next season, if Wigan are in the Championship again next season!
Wigan Athletic v Leeds United
Championship League
Saturday, April 5th 2014, 12.30pm
Josh Grainger (Leeds United fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
It was probably going to be my last away day of the season so that was the main reason for my excitement. I'd never been to Wigan before so was looking forward to seeing another new ground, as well as seeing the 4,000 or so Leeds fans making a racket.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I got the train from Leeds to Manchester Piccadilly and then from there to Wigan Wallgate. From the station, it took about a 20 minute walk to get to the ground, which is fairly easy to find thanks to signposts.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I'd heard that one of Wigan's specialties was a "Pie Butty" so I was keen to try it, however I was disappointed to find out the chippy right next to the away end was closed for some unknown reason. The Leeds fans were given a bar underneath the away end called "The Marquee" to drink in before the game. It was very posh inside and had tele's and the such. To be honest on the walk to and around the ground there seemed to be more Leeds fans than home one's, but those we came across just minded their own business.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
I'd seen the ground on tele before so knew what to expect, and wasn't too surprised when I got there. A plain looking stadium, which has four separate stands all the same height and empty corners which lets the atmosphere escape in my opinion. The away end was standard really, the concourse really should be made bigger as at half time even the stewards couldn't move in it.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Leeds lost the game 1-0, but in a dull run of form it was one of the better performances we've shown. The atmosphere was poor in the home end, excluding one block next to the Leeds fans who had a drum. Stewards were as friendly as can be expected.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The Leeds fans weren't kept behind, so the walk back to the station was quite crowded, but nothing out of the ordinary. The train back was the funnest part of the day, after discovering Cellino's takeover had gone through, Leeds fans were in good spirits and once we returned to Manchester for the next train, we took the opportunity to tell the station what we thought of the Red side of the city.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out, but strikes me as one of the away days that suits teams with large followings, if there had only be 300 or so away fans, then it wouldn't be much fun.
Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday, December 15th 2013, 3pm
Cameron Ormerod (Bolton fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was looking forward to this game, predominantly because Wigan are our local rivals and fixtures between the two clubs have recently been 'hotting up'.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We got off the train at Wigan Wallgate and followed the rest of the Bolton fans. We took a short cut alongside a canal and we found the ground easily. The walk was around 20 minute so it was fairly short.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
There was a chippy near the stadium, however the queue was huge so we didn't go in, we just went straight onto the ground. The police obviously wanted us in the away end quickly because they were hassling us about not getting into trouble, which was a bit annoying, but it's what you expect on a local derby.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground it's self is not too impressive, but by Championship standards it's good. Nothing to write home about really. The away end is just one tier but it's quite high up and I sat right near the back. I prefer the single tier stands because it feels like you're all together in a huge group.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
We lost the game 3-2. First half performance was shocking so we deserved it really. The Bolton fans were in full voice (until Wigan's second) and there was a corner on the left hand side of the away end where some Wigan fans congregated and sang, the rest were quiet, there was plenty of banter between us and that corner though. However there were some missiles thrown and lots of smoke bombs let off in both stands and a few fans from both teams were ejected which made the atmosphere quite hostile.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We got a police escort from the ground to the station and because trains between Bolton and Wigan are normally comprised of two carriages we had to wait for a bit whilst they added some more carriages to the train, as there was about 1,500 bolton fans waiting. I encountered no problems but I did hear a lot of police sirens so I guess there was some post-match hostilities somewhere in Wigan.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
In conclusion, it was a good day out but unfortunately it was not a good game.
Wigan Athletic v Middlesbrough
Championship League
Sunday, August 25th 2013, 3pm
Alex Royal (Middlesbrough fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was looking forward to the game as it was a relatively cheap away. (For me, at least, aged 17!) Also Wigan had just been relegated from the premier league, so I thought that I would go along to the DW to cheer on the Boro, one of the other reasons i went was because the tickets were very reasonably priced. £5 for under 16's, £10 For 16-18's, full time students and over 65's. Adults were £15.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As I got the club bus there, I didn’t have to worry about finding parking, the ground was well signposted, the first sign being just before the turnoff for Wigan on the M62. The coach parked in a car park about a 500 yards walk from the ground, a quick walk. although the home fans recommend getting the bus from the stations as the ground is quite a way out of town.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
As I do every away game, I buy a beanie hat or a cap from the club shop, it’s sort of my memento to say ‘I’ve been to that ground'. After that, i bought my programme from a seller, who turned out to be very chatty and jolly, which i thought was nice.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The away end was situated in the North Stand. Providing a good view of the action behind the goal. Middlesbrough were attacking the south end in the 1st half. so in the second half, I had a brilliant view of Boro's second goal.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Overall, I thought that it was a thoroughly enjoyable game, end-to-end. It ended in a 2-2 draw, which was a fair result. The stewards were very friendly, they didn’t mind where you sat, it was a ‘sit anywhere’ policy; which was nice. In the first half I sat near the back, whereas for the second half, I got to the front row. The catering facilities were very good, with a pie costing around £2 reasonably priced too, although this is expected for a modern ground.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There was a large police presence in the away end, after the game, the fans were escorted by police back to the coaches. Smooth journey back to Teesside.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Very enjoyable day out, reasonably priced tickets and coach travel. Great away day.
Wigan Athletic v Newcastle United
Premier League
Sunday, March 17th 2013, 4pm
Matthew Jackson (Newcastle United fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
It is always good to be going away with all the true fans, so was I was looking forward to another good away day. I was however unsure about the stadium and area and how it would accommodate for the vast number of Newcastle fans that would be attending.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was fine. Motorway then dual carriageway all the way till you hit Wigan wheres its pretty straight forward and well sign posted to the DW Stadium. Parking is a little more difficult as they wouldn't let us park in the retail park next to the stadium so we parked on a side road instead. Somehow we missed the away fans car park at the stadium itself.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Good pub next to the ground where the fans mingled and the Geordies filled out. Since the stadium is located next to a retail park, there are lots of eating places including a chippy, so plenty of opportunities for food. Home fans were no trouble.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
It is a modern ground, so lacked character, especially when you compare it to older ones in the League. Decent looking though once you get to your seat. However half time was a bit of a nightmare when going to the toilet. The concourse area under the stand was packed with people and there was a danger that some people could get crushed. Luckily no one was hurt, but a number of fans complained to the stewards about this, saying its dangerous.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Shocking game, Ref was terrible, Enough said there. There was a lack of atmosphere from the home supporters except a small section of home fans who had an annoying drum, however the Newcastle fans created a great atmosphere. Stewards were not too bad, there was the odd cocky one as always. Pies were decent and the prices were okay. Toilets locations were a joke as explained above at half time.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Was easy to get as everyone had the same objective of leaving the ground.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Decent away day, terrible game, average atmosphere, large police numbers outside checking every away fan. Possibility of being dangerous underneath the stands. Would return, but only to see NUFC and not the ground again.
Wigan Athletic v Liverpool
Premier League
Saturday 2nd March 2013, 5.30pm
Rob Lawler (Liverpool fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the DW Stadium?
I had been to the DW Stadium previously in 2009 when Liverpool were chasing the Premier League title but threw it away when Lucas gave away a late penalty. As I had not had a chance to go to many games this season I jumped at the chance when I was offered two spare tickets.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Wigan is not that far from Liverpool so I drove, I picked my friend up in Maghull and then it is a straight drive on the M58. The stadium is easy to get to as there only seems to be one road into Wigan and I parked in a nearby retail park. A lot of the lads I know went by train. Wigan has trains from Lime Street and Kirkby which arrive at two separate train stations separated by one street. I have been to Wigan town centre a few times before and there are several decent pubs on the main road where the stations are. Most notably and closely one called the Railway.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We bought some food from Morrisons in Maghull and ate it on the way. We parked straight up and then went into the ground. The home fans were fairly friendly and there were lots of families there. At the time Wigan's season tickets were fairly cheap and I have known two Liverpool and Everton fans who have bought them simply to buy more tickets when their teams play Wigan. Wigan, first and foremost is a rugby town so interest in football is not what it would be in most English cities. I have never seen the ground full but you have to remember they were in the lower leagues for a long time before their meteoric rise and famous FA Cup win.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the DW Stadium?
The DW Stadium is decent, some people may call it a "flat pack" stadium but I think it is a fair size and has good facilities. The Liverpool following was loud and noisy and our stand behind the goal was full, the stand is a bit steep and gives you the impression that you are in a bigger stadium. The concourse is a good size and has big screens showing Sky Sports. I like that there are barriers to make people queue up for their food and drink. It always annoys me when you wait a long time at the bar only for someone to shove in front of you or the person serving you forgets who was next. Me and my mate said it was like queuing up at Alton Towers.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The home fans were fairly subdued as Liverpool scored in the first few minutes and Liverpool were 3-0 up at half time. The place had a few empty seats. Wigan fans started the usual "sign on" chants but Liverpool fans retorted with "you're just a town full of inbreds" and then that was the end of the epic banter and Liverpool fans carried on singing their own songs. We ended up winning 4-0 with Luis Suarez scoring a hat trick.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Was fairly easy and straightforward as we parked in the retail park. Hardest part was getting out of Wigan but once on the motorway it only took 30 minutes to get back to Maghull.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A brilliant win and a much better game than my last visit. Wigan is a very accessible away game and one that I very much enjoyed.
Wigan Athletic v Sunderland
Premier League
Saturday, January 19th 2013, 3pm
Matty Atkinson (Sunderland fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
This was to be my first away game, so I was very excited about it. Wigan is one of the shorter distances from Sunderland so it was not such a long journey. I knew that I was going to enjoy it and had been looking forward to it all week. I know Sunderland take big followings everywhere and after hearing that we sold out 5000 tickets within days of going on sale i knew it would be a great atmosphere well at least in the away stand!
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I left a very snowy north east at 9am on a supporters coach arranged by the Love Supreme fanzine. It was a bit slow getting out of the north east but when we got past Scotch Corner we were soon flying and we made it to the DW two hours before kick off! The parking was easy a very big away car park. On the plus side with my coach being there first we parked near the exit so got away after the game in minutes unlike other coaches that quite a bit of time to get out.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
When I got off the coach did not really know where to go and followed the crowd of Sunderland fans and ended up in the DW Sports Bar for a few drinks. After that we went in to the Marquee Bar by the away entrance, The Marquee Bar is actually part of the stadium and I thought that this was a great feature of the stadium. Did not really talk to or interact with any of the home fans except for a few choice words after the game when a few Wigan fans decided to throw snowballs at the coach!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
To be honest I thought the ground was going to be better as it is a modern stadium, and it was a very 'bog standard' ground with four separate stands. The only thing that stood out for me from the stadium was the Marquee, simply because not a lot of the other grounds have a place such as this for away fans only to go to.
Entrance To The Marquee Bar
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was great, with Sunderland being 3-1 up at half time. It was a bit nervy in the second half with Wigan getting a goal back, but we managed to hold on for a 3-2 win. The atmosphere from the Sunderland fans was great, singing for the whole game. The Wigan fans who only sang when they scored and that was only from a small group who also possessed a very annoying drum. The stewards were very laid off and let us stand the game with out any problem. They searched my bag on the way in but that is what you expect.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very easy and quick as the coach parked at front of car park straight home no traffic.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great day out recommend this to any football fan, great day out great atmosphere and a good laugh.
Wigan Athletic v Sunderland
Premier League
Saturday, January 19th 2013, 3pm
Chris Henry (Sunderland fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Sunderland always take a good away crowd to most places so I was looking forward to a good day out with a good atmosphere. Wigan is also our second closest away day after Newcastle so this could almost technically be seen as a derby clash! I have been to the DW once before in 2007 (3-0 defeat) and was looking forward to seeing us win there having been on a decent run in the league. Lancashire away days are always days I look forward to.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The weather conditions weren't great with heavy snow in the North East during the week, we went down by mini bus and got to Wigan at 1pm. Had a pint in a local pub 10 minutes from the DW then back onto the minibus where we accidentally parked at a fire station! We were obviously moved on but ended up parking the bus next to the chippy behind the away end!
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Had a few pints 10 minutes from the DW, can't remember the places name but was friendly and welcoming. Didn't really interact with many home fans with us getting to the ground at 2.50pm. With something that happens at most away grounds, the home fans closest to the away end tend to make suggestive gestures in the direction of the visiting supporters. Wigan was no differente but I'd never take this as a reflection on all the fans!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
On my previous visit I wasn't that impressed with the DW, this visit done nothing to change my mind. It's a decent looking stadium, your bog standard new ground with four sides surrounded by a soulless retail park with no pubs. The concourses are very cramped and unorganised, especially with 5,000 away fans there, in this day and age I really don't think you should have to push and force yourself to get to where you want to be. One other slight grievance I had was the match ticket had the wrong access gate printed on it.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Game was good, Sunderland were 3-1 up at half time. We made difficult work of it in the second half but scraped the 3-2 win. Atmosphere from the away end was superb, didn't have any interaction with the stewards other than asking for directions to my seat, they didn't seem to be bothered we were standing the whole game. I'd read a lot about the Wigan pies beforehand, reviews saying they were some of the best in the country but I have to admit I was disappointed. The Pooles steak pie was pretty tasteless. The queues on the concourse were huge, service was slow and it took me nearly the whole of half time to get served. The kiosk wasn't very well placed from the area of the ground I was sitting in.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After some misinformation on where our bus was now, we eventually got to it. We left when the crowd around us cleared but still took us 10 minutes or so to get out of the DW area.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The DW has it's issues but that's unlikely to change. Wigan away is a good day out like most Lancashire away days, Wigan are a credit to the Premier and they would be missed if they were relegated.
Wigan Athletic v Arsenal
Premier League
Saturday, December 22nd 2012, 7.45pm
Paul R (Arsenal fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Well it it was to be my first away game and I had heard good things about the DW, so I thought I'd go. Also it was easy to get a ticket due to the large allocation and early kick-off time.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?:
I travelled by train from Euston to Wigan North Western arriving about two hours before kick off. Thankfully I had directions, which was helpful as the stadium wasn't signposted from the station. It was about a 20 minute walk (in the rain) and through a retail park to get to the stadium. The walk was not the most aesthetically pleasing one as the road to the retail park appeared to be in the middle of an industrial estate.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I went straight to the ground to try and seek shelter from the rain. After purchasing a programme I went towards the Marquee in the North Stand. However the doors were shut and all the cover by the entrance was taken so I had to resort to wall hugging the stand wall to shelter under an outcrop. After asking a steward when it would open, he said "soon" which wasn't that helpful.
Eventually I enetered the Marquee, to find a nice civilised clubhouse style with separate bars for food and drink. In there I had a steak pie which cost £2.30, considering it's the cheapest pie in the Premier League it was very nice and very filling. Trying to buy a drink was slightly difficult due to the sheer number of people but the staff tried their best (especially since one guy ordered 6 pints of Guinniess!) I would advise using the toilets in the Marquee before the match rather than in the stadium as they were less busy.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?:
At first I saw the West Stand, which looked quite impressive a bit similar to Brighton's new stadium from the outside. However it did start to go downhill a bit when I saw a faded Wigan Warriors Rugby League sign next to an apparently new Wigan Athletic sign. The North stand was a bit flat and boring from the outside. They still use the old turnstiles which is quite nice. I had a seat under one of the disabled sections (which no-one was in) which was one block away from the end. It was good for one side as you had unrestricted views due to the steepness of the seating but you had to lean forward to see the other side when the match was underway as people stand (which I fully support).
A word of advice, though the North Stand has a roof, it's too high and at the wrong angle to be effective against the rain so you will probably either get wet or find a wet seat awaiting you if it's been raining
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game was quite drab with Arsenal winning 1-0 from a penalty. The atmosphere was great from the Arsenal fans singing all game and the Wigan fans actually tried to have a go at helping create an atmosphere with a drummer in the East Stand near us, however once Arsenal scored they went quite quiet. They did have quite an amusing thing where the Wigan fans had an angry reaction for no apparent reason until the ref blew for a free kick about 30 seconds later. O
ne point I will say though with no-one behind you and a large gap between the fans sitting higher up, I did feel a bit isolated however we still sang all game. The stewards were not needed and seen but not heard. Fair play to them for allowing some Arsenal fans to hang a tribute banner in the closed disabled section.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I didn't experience any hassle when leaving and heading for the station in colours. It was easy as you just retrace your steps and follow the crowds.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Cheap tickets and a large away following with a great atmosphere made it very enjoyable. The game wasn't the best but the result is all that matters.
Wigan Athletic v Stoke City
Premier League
Saturday, March 31st 2012, 3pm
Dom Bickerton (Stoke City fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I always look forward to a good Stoke City awayday that promises a great day out with family, friends and the possibility of a rare away win for us. Wigan had only won one game at home this season, so we were all unusually confident of getting a good result. The cheap price of £20 for a ticket ensured that a large amount of Stokies travelled North for this fixture. The fact that Stoke are all but guaranteed another season in the Premier League and have little to play for helped create a fantastic party atmosphere.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled to Wigan from Manchester, so the journey only took about 25 minutes at the small price of £3.90 return. When we arrived at Wigan station, we followed the directions on this Football Ground Guide website and briskly walked to the ground in about 15 minutes.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Before the game we met up with up with some friends at the Red Robin pub that's mentioned on this site. Within about half an hour the pub was packed and there was a great party atmosphere with plenty of chanting. The staff were excellent and coped very well with the large crowds. There were a few Wigan fans wearing colours that received a bit of grief, which might be expected if you go drinking in the pub assigned to away fans. However, I didn't see any trouble.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
My first impressions were that the ground is fairly modern looking from the outside and is situated in a great area. Families are well catered for with a Pizza Hut, Frankie & Benny's, Red Robin pub and a cinema right next to the ground. The inside of the ground is neat and tidy, but extremely plain and lacking in character.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere inside the ground was just awful and the worst home atmosphere I have ever experienced. Wigan rarely sell out their ground and as usual there were thousands of empty seats in the home stands. The only home fans that made any real noise were a small pocket of a few hundred fans to the left of the away end, but they were drowned out by the Stoke fans who were in good voice all game. I can understand why Wigan have been so poor at home throughout this season, because I can imagine every game must feel like an away match. Luckily for Wigan, Stoke decided to put in their worst performance of the season by some distance and gifted the Lactics only their second home win!
The match itself was very poor and the only incidents of note in the first half were the Wigan forwards missing several sitters. Stoke were extremely lucky to get to half time with the score still at 0-0. During the second half we were even worse than the first, gifting Wigan the lead with some shoddy defending from a cross, allowing Antonio Alacaraz an unmissable header. The rest of match was utter dross football and Wigan put the result in little doubt when the impressive Victor Moses robbed the ball off the woeful Andy Wilkinson, rounded the 'keeper and slotted into an empty net to give Wigan a 2-0 win.
The facilities on the concourse weren't very good and couldn't cope with the large away following – the bar staff were very slow and the toilets just weren't big enough. The match stewards were some of the worst I have ever encountered, many Stoke fans in front of us were moved from the rows behind the goal and given no reason as to why. Several fans who demanded a explanation had their tickets taken off them and were manhandled from the ground despite having done nothing to warrant such treatment. This could have caused a massive amount of trouble and was extremely irresponsible stewarding.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We left the ground and followed the crowds back to the train station. We somehow managed to squeeze onto a train full of Stoke fans and were back to Manchester in no time at all.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Despite the poor performance we still had a great day out. We rarely expect a Stoke away win, but meeting up with other fans, making a bit of noise and having a few drinks always make up for our typically poor away performances. If Wigan stay up, then we'll be back next season – hopefully our team decide to turn up too!
Wigan Athletic v Manchester City
Premier League
Monday, January 16th 2012, 8pm
Robert Allen (Manchester City fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground?
After a couple of years of being nagged I had decided this would be an ideal match for my son Connor's first City away game. Our recent away form hadn't been too hot so we were expecting a response from the team.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We arrived by train and the directions on this website meant it was easy and using them meant we had zero problems finding the stadium.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We called at a chippy situated the two railway stations. The food was both reasonable in cost and taste. Walking down to the ground a couple of Wigan fans asked what we thought would happen at the game all pleasant enough, though I suspect Connor being with me might have played a part in it.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The DW Stadium does look good from the outside all lit up. Hats off to the stewards. It wasn't the warmest night and they directed us into the Marquee where I had a quick pint. It was a brilliant facility and only if other clubs did the same for away fans… Once inside the stadium despite being on Row BB in the corner of the the stand it was impressive with comfortable leg room. All the stands looked decent enough.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Game time and despite a sluggish first few minutes City grabbed hold of the game and took a deserved lead. The atmosphere was great we really didn't stop singing for most of the game. As I was on the opposite side from where the Wigan singers were it was hard to hear them though we did hear the drummer a few times. Just before half time I sent Connor to get himself a pie and drink when he got back just before the half time whistle I decided to go down to the concourse myself. But I felt almost squashed the minute I got onto the concourse, as it is simply too small to cope with a large group of fans. I abandoned getting myself a drink and returned to my seat where Connor let me help him eat a delicious Meat and Potato pie.
2nd half was pretty much same as the first but for Wigan keeper, Al Habsi it could have been more comfortable in the end we did run out of steam but 1-0 was a good result moving us clear at the top again.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It took a few minutes to get out of our row down the steps but from then on it was plain sailing out of the ground and the walk back to the station.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
As I suspected an easy first away game for Connor. Couldn't fault the stewards sending us to the Marquee was really helpful helped warm us up on what was a cold night. The DW is a nice ground but the concourse is simply too small. That said I'd go again though I do feel Wigan need to look at their junior prices £28 was fair enough for an adult but £20 for a child baffles me a little. Really enjoyed the game and the programme aint too bad either!
Wigan Atheltic v Arsenal
Premier League
Saturday, December 3rd 2011, 3pm
Elliot Guthrie (Arsenal fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be)?
Having previously been to the DW I had found it an easy ground to get both in and out of by car (not rail) and also easy to acquire a ticket in the away end due to the large 4,400 allocation given to visiting supporters.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Having travelled by train we arrived at Wigan North Western station around 3 hours before kick-off. Be warned: directions to the ground aren’t signposted and it is a good 15-20 minute walk, so make sure you have the diections handy from this website, or by using Google Maps.
What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We ate in one of the numerous fast food outlets on the surrounding retail park and although busy, service was fast and they could cope with the crowds. The home fans were fine and we could comfortably walk around in our Red and White arsenal colours and Wigan is definitely one of the least intimidating away games there is.
We also had a few pints in the designated away fans pub the ‘Red Robin’ which is two minutes walk away from the visitors turnstiles, but the drinks were pricey and the pub had no Sky tv to show the early kick-off. However, beside the away end is the entrance to a marquee/hospitality suite which is free entry to away fans and has Sky tv/drinks/food etc..
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The concourse is accessed by a few flights of stairs and is surprisingly narrow considering the number of fans it accommodates for. Again, this has all you expect including screens showing latest scores etc. Inside it was a fantastic view mainly due to the steepness of the stand which means you are right on top of the action even at the back. However, the rest of the stadium looks bland and due to the home fans not selling out, plenty of empty seats on show.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
Arsenal strolled out comfortable 4-0 winners creating a fantastic atmosphere amongst us away fans. However, the home supporters were fairly silent throughout and the empty seats detracted from the already limited atmosphere. The stewards were fine and no problems were encountered.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Upon exiting the stadium the away fans looking to travel back to the rail station were directed to the right and followed a partially-signposted route through an industrial estate which had minimal lighting in the darkness However the mass of fans meant it was impossible to get lost although this may be a concern of fans with smaller followings. This route came out directly by the rail station.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, cheap tickets at £25 and a big away following means it feels as though your side is literally taking over the town and stadium. The views of the action are brilliant and unrestricted but the atmosphere from the home fans can be lacking and make for an unmemorable away day added to the awkward journey to and from the rail station.
Wigan Athletic v Everton
Premier League
Saturday, January 30th 2010, 3pm
Patrick Burke (Everton fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
We were in a decent run of form and so going to a side like Wigan (no disrespect)then we were confident of victory. It is fairly local and normally there is a great game in a local(ish!) derby.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was an easy drive down the M56 then the M6 in my brother's car. No traffic and no normal airport traffic with the volcanic ash cloud. There was plenty of side street parking and there was many car parks near the ground as we discovered. From the side street we parked in, it was a quick 10 minute walk to the ground.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Below the North stand (were away fans are seated), there is a bar popular with away fans named the Marquee. There were reasonable prices, plenty of space for seating and standing. There was only one chippy nearby that we noticed, on the corner of Ormskirk Road but it was very busy so we decided not to wait. Outside, the home fans seemed very friendly and helpful.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground looks very impressive from the 3 sides we saw from the outside (North, Springfield and South) and was well set out to make it easy to get to our part of the ground. It seemed nicely set up with a directors area and a large club shop. Inside, the ground offers great views (we were located in the higher part of the stand) of the far goal but not the near goal which was annoying because we could not see Tim's (Cahill) goal. Talking to fans after the game, they said they were in the lower part of the stand and could see the whole ground and pitch clearly so I would suggest going for the lower part of the stand if possible.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game was wide open, chances for both teams but when Tim Cahill's winner came with 9 minutes left, it was welcome and just about deserved. We got a scare in the last minute though Charles N'Zogbia's rocket shot hit the bar after a great fingertip save by Tim Howard. The atmosphere from the home fans was poor, with most of the singing coming from the away section. The stewards were helpful, the pies over priced and the toilets seemed very cramped at our end and embarrassingly with very few sinks – hygiene!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We decided to stay for a while to get some photographs of the players celebrating and it was wise as this allowed the traffic to die. We dig get some verbal abuse on the walk back to the car, but we just ignored them. It was an easy drive back, no traffic and a great win which arguably peaked a great run of form (beating Chelsea and Manchester United within a week).
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great day out but try and go for a low seat if possible as the views are far better. Just about a deserved win and a great atmosphere made by our fans.