Wigan | Manchopper's Ventures

Result: Wigan Town 1-2 Stretford Paddock (Cheshire League 2)

Venue: Ince Rose Bridge Sports Club (Saturday 29th July 2023; 2.30pm)

Att: 73 (hc)

My season “proper” was finally dawning come the final weekend of July and with it came the joys of train strike action. The fact that these have become something of the norm these days mean that the hit and overall effect of them has declined since they started and the ever-growing pool of local clubs to visit has definitely aided in that regard. Indeed, it was to be one of those “new” clubs which fell upon my radar for today’s 2023-’24 bow.

Wigan Town had somehow flown below said radar up until the week leading up to the game and it was quite the surprise when I did come across them. Playing out of the smart-looking Ince Rose Bridge Sports Club, which they share with the Rugby League club of that very name, they quickly jumped onto my ‘to-do’ list and when I noted they were beginning the season at home to Stretford Paddock, well, they found themselves at the very top of it. As such, it was off to Wigan(ish) for an opening day sojourn.

After grabbing the bus into and out of the Trafford Centre (I did admittedly bottle it at first by getting on the longer route just in case, only for the planned one to pop up immediately afterwards), I soon found myself heading for Leigh, where I’d change for a service to Wigan. This all went very smoothly indeed and, before long, I was rolling into the town along with fans of both the Warriors and the Leigh Leopards who were heading off to the DW for their Super League clash. As it turned out, those supporting the hosts would end the day far happier.

Arriving in Wigan

Inside the first pub of the day – The Raven

But I wasn’t bothered in that – I was watching a sport which involved a properly shaped ball (please don’t come after me)!! Upon being dropped in the centre of Wigan on the stroke of midday, I actually judged it (completely accidentally as I was ignorant to the game even existing) perfectly as to have the pubs emptied out upon my arrival. The first on the list of these was The Raven, as I wanted to see it in all its glory, having not really had the opportunity last time around, with it being disco-central back on that occasion!

Heading into the pub, it still holds many of what seem to be original features – both around the place itself and upon its floor. It really does hold quite a bit of interest if you’re into this sort of thing. I was for a bit, but then I was also rather interested in the bar…or rather what was being served from behind it! In the end, I opted to begin with a pint of Tint, a Tropical style pale ale (at £3.40) which really was what it said. I found it had something of a honeycomb after taste too, but that was probably just me. It was a nice way to begin the day.

Dog and Partridge

To the John Bull Chop House

From The Raven, I headed across the way to the Dog and Partridge. This was a more run-of-the-mill type boozer, but was fine for what it was. A pretty open-plan pub for the most part, it did have the rugby on and so I watched the early stages in there before fininsh off the last of my pint of Moretti (£4.05) and continuing on towards the John Bull Chop House – but not before I’d had the door opened for me and thanked for visiting by one of the two security lads on duty upon my exit. I wonder if they were the same guys who did similarly at another pub nearby on my last visit…?

Anyway, I was soon at the Chop House and headed inside to find it had not one, but two bars and both were different from the other. The one on the ground floor was your slightly more standard affair whilst, just up the stairs, there was the Hop House. I did consider having a peruse of the latter, but thought I’d stick with the more sensible (ha!) and more staple options and stuck with the lagers. On this front, I had a pint of Poretti (£4.95) and settled into what was probably my favourite pub stop of the day. 500-years-old, wood beamed and a bit of a rock theme going on. Phwoar.

In the Chophouse

Rome to Wigan!

That would be it for my time in Wigan for the moment as it was now time to begin to head off groundwards and into the town of Ince-in-Makerfield, just outside of the centre of Wigan itself. Before that, though, I did want to go around and see the Roman baths which have popped up (I’ve never noticed them being here before) and despite there not being all too much to see, unsurprisingly, it’s always cool to see some real historical buildings within the new build stuff. Indeed, it sits right alongside the rather garish shopping centre, so at least it gives some character to that.

After nearly getting lost when finding the correct stop I needed to whisk me out to Ince, I finally managed to find it and was soon heading over to the ground. Before I’d head there, though, I did have the pub nearest the ground to tick off and that went by the name of the Squirrel. This was more of your local’s pub as was to be expected, but was another which was fine enough to have a pint in. I opted for a another Moretti (£4.10), as kick-off time was swiftly encroaching upon drinking time!

Ince-in-Makerfield, more commonly known as Ince, is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. Lying within the historical borders of the county of Lancashire, it is contiguous with neighbouring Wigan and is a residential suburban area, which is split in two by a railway line into Higher Ince and Lower Ince. Its name may derive from the Cumbric word ïnïs meaning island, although it is more likely to come from the Welsh ynys (dry land).

Wigan

Wigan

The earliest mention of the manor and family Ince dates from 1202 when it was under the barony of Newton in Makerfield (now Newton-le-Willows). There were four halls around Ince, with the manor and the original hall on Warrington Road owned by the family until the reign of Henry IV, when it passed into the Gerard family’s hands through marriage. This remained the case until somewhere around the late 1700’s-early 1800’s, when it was sold to the Earl of Balcarres. This timber-framed building, along with its sister halls New Hall and a second Ince Hall stood until at least 1911 but, rather unbelieveably, none remain today. The town hall does, though, having been completed in 1903.

With the rocks in the locality containing strata of cannel and coal, many collieries were sunk around Ince with these increasingly being deepened to an eventual 1,800ft. The coal pits included Rose Bridge, Moss, Ince Hall and Ince Collieries and these mines eventually left a legacy of both flashes and spoil heaps. Stone was also quarried and was used to build bridges along the North Union and Liverpool and Bury railway lines (which both passed through Ince) with these routes leading to a cotton mill being built in thw town. Ince would continue to transform into an increasingly industralised area during the Industrial Revolution, alongside the Leeds-Liverpool Canal link.

Ince

Ince

As alluded to above, Ince was once crossed by two lines which allowed for swift transportation to the towns of Warrington, Eccles and St. Helen’s, along with Wigan and further afield, with the Wigan Junction Railway line giving a link to the Liverpool-Manchester main line at Glazebrook initially for goods (especially from the Lancashire Coalfields) and, not too long after, passenger services. It was the Junction Railway upon which Lowe Ince station was located until its closure in 1964, whilst the current station still remains upon the Manchester-Southport line. Ince also had a railway wagon works until 1980, with this having been in use for 110 years prior to its closure.

The Squirrel is pretty handy for a pre-match pint in these parts, though, as the ground sits pretty much directly over the opposite side of the road. After heading past a garage which featured many classic cars out front, I took the turn into a small side road, passed through the gates of the Ince Rose Bridge Sports Club and continued through the car-park to get to pitchside. As I expected, the ground was a smart venue and a very good one for the level that Wigan Town are currently at.

Getting to Ince

The Squirrel

The ground itself features a fully railed pitch and floodlights. It is open, hard standing for the majority of the area immediately surrounding the pitch, although the far end on the far side is a tad overgrown. There are no stands at present, but benches do feature out to the front of the clubhouse building, which also features the food bar and all other facilities. This stands at the near end of the ground from which you enter and there is also a live scoreboard and TV screen upon a “Digivan” which was also showing the rugby match from earlier on, by all accounts. So that’s the ground in short and this is the story behind Wigan Town FC…

History Lesson:

The current Wigan Town Football Club was founded in 2017, although a previous side played under the name from 1905. Playing out of Springfield Park, the future home of Wigan Athletic until 1999, they joined midway through The Combination’s 1905-’06 season, taking on the fixtures of the folded Middlewich F.C. This side would remain on the field for just three years prior to folding, finishing a best of 3rd in 1907 before unpaid wages led to a ‘sine die’ suspension from the league for Town which lasted a few weeks before the debts were settled.

Town attempted to join the Football League’s Division 2 for the second consecutive season ahead of the 1907’08 campaign, but despite the club playing a number of friendly fixtures against league sides – in (seemingly) an attempt to prove to the ‘powers that be’ that they belonged there, the club were refused membership. As a result of the setback, Town would instead join the Lancashire Combination’s Division 2 for that forthcoming season.

In the Ince Rose Bridge club

However, things weren’t well for the club off the field and the club had to put down a £20 guarantee to the Lancashire Combination as to give some sort of security that they would see out the season. Things began well, before manager James Harold left in October 1907 and things quickly unravelled. Defeats of 8-0 to Nelson, 10-1 to Haslingden and 12-0 at the hands of Colne followed and even Wigan Rugby Club were dragged into the drama, being accused by a journalist of attempting to clash with each of the club’s home fixtures in an attempt to put the club out of business.

Despite some efforts from the treasurer, this soon came to pass and the club decided against putting their name up for re-election to the Lancashire Combination at the season’s end. The team’s name didn’t re-appear for the following season in any league and it is assumed they folded. The Wigan Town name duly stayed dormant until the current club came into being in 2017. They joined the Lancashire Amateur League in 2019 – the most inopportune season to do so!

The Main Gates

After the club’s first two seasons in the league were cut short due to the you-know-what, they finished their first full season in 11th out of 12 sides in the LAL’s Division 4 and struggled to a bottom placed finish last season, gaining just the three points (would have been five but for a points deduction) in a division made up of only eight sides. However, the change of venue for this season and seemingly growing ambition has seen the club take the plunge and move into the Cheshire League for this season, playing in the League 2. It’ll be interesting to see how they fare going forward.

The game got going within seconds of my arrival and the early stages saw both sides see a few half chances come their way – but none overly troubled their respective ‘keepers. But Stretford Paddock’s #7 would change all that when he beat the offside trap, cut inside his man nicely and finished off with some aplomb to open the scoring.

Match Action

Unknowingly catching the “CasualHopper” and Dave in full concentration!

Match Action

The away side nearly doubled their advantage when #3 was presented with a great chance, but some good pressure put upon him by the Wigan defence ended up seeing him send his strike wide of the mark. This proved pretty important too as, before the break, Wigan levelled when #2 slotted into the far corner of the net from, well, a corner. Half-time duly arrived with the teams level at one-apiece.

After a visit to the food bar for a portion of chips, a brief visit inside to the clubhouse and enjoying the tables out front of said building, it was soon time to head back pitchside as the sides made their way back onto the field. The second half began in some fashion as Paddock’s #6 struck a tremendous free-kick from range which found its way into the back of the net in everyone’s favoured manner – via the underside of the bar. The players were all ecstatic, although the one of their number preferred them to keep their eyes, and minds, on the game!

#11 nearly levelled up the scores once more shortly after when he was adjuged to have beaten the offside trap, only for his shot to be brilliantly kept at bay by the Paddock stopper. #9 fired wastefully over for the visitors, as they looked to wrap up the points, before #15 latched onto a long ball over the top and looked for all money as though he’d wrap up the win on this occasion, only for his connection to be weak and end up in an easy stop for the Wigan gloveman.

Match Action

Match Action

Match Action

Paddock had, by this point, introduced the non-league stalwart Gavin Salmon into the fray and he gave some physicality up top for the away side. It looked like he may have grabbed a goal lat in the piece too, but his deflecting the ball on its way into the net saw the goal chalked off for offside. As it happened, though, this mattered little in the end as Paddock saw out the remaining minutes in pretty comfortable fashion to record an opening day win. Full-time; 1-2 – and the winning goal was certainly a fitting one.

Upon the whistle, I made my way back out the way I’d came, but would forego getting a bus for the moment because, you know, I have to get some exercise in at some point! As such, I walked up and over the Leeds-Liverpool canal bridge and past the site of the old Crispin Arms (Ince isn’t doing well pub-wise, sadly it seems with the Oak Tree nearby also closed up) before coming back upon a pub which was I was sure was open, having breezed past it on the bus on the way up earlier.

This watering hole went by the name of the Silverwell and sits just across the road from another rugby club, Wigan St. Patrick’s, where there seemed to have been a game just finished and a team packing up and about to board their coach. Nothing too interesting there, but there certainly was upon arriving at the Silverwell’s bar, as I was immediately stared down by those behind the bar. Oh, I should say that “those” were trolls. No, not in the internet crybaby way, but the dolls. Loads of ’em. I had to ask just why they were there and the girl working explained it was her mum’s collection and well, there we go. I wonder if, when they ring for last orders, it’s “For whom the bell trolls?!”…sorry.

The apparently named “Blind Steps”.

Silverwell

With the traditional-style Silverwell being part of Holt’s, I had my usual pint of Crystal lager (£3.40) and settled in to await the bus back into Wigan. I needn’t have as it turned out, as one turned up early (I saw it through the window) and the other didn’t appear at all. Eventually, one did pop up from outside and I was able to grab it, although I didn’t quite realise just how close I was to where I wanted to go and, as it turned out, I ought to have just walked it.

But, as it was, this was a good thing as it dropped me back at the bus station (again somewhere I hadn’t planned on being) and this showed me that Maps was wrong and there was indeed a bus back to the Trafford Centre and it didn’t terminate half-way through the journey as suggested. So all’s well that end’s well in that regard, I guess. Anyway, it was time to get back on track and after passing through the church gardens of Wigan’s All Saint’s Church, I soon found myself back upon the main street and outside of my next planned port of call:- the Little Fifteen.

Now, this place isn’t that little. In fact, it’s rather large. It’s quite a cool venue though and has numerous pictures and other paraphernalia upon the walls, as well as some kind of charging pads which were far too clever for me to work out how they worked. The Little Fifteen was also showing the Formula E race which helped pass the time when they got back underway after a stoppage and the pint of Moretti (dearest drink of the day at £5.40) certainly helped in this regard as Formula E is pretty shit. It’s all bells and whistles, just without the bells to create some sound. The whistle is there though…and it’s bloody grating.

Heading through the church gardens

Little Fifteen

Rant over and back onto the positives of the Little Fifteen which was certainly worth a visit to, although the food which kept on whizzing past me at regular intervals did pique my interest somewhat, as did the aromas emanating from the numerous dishes of all types. As such, I decided it was time to move on and it was time for the legend itself to make a debut appearance on these pages. A pub I’ve long wanted to do, but never quite made it to. But finally, it was here. Ladies and Gentlemen…IT’S POUND PUB TIME!!!!

Yes, the legend of PoundPub had long been just that to me:- a legend. But, I was finally paying a visit to the place which swiftly had the lights down low and the music blaring out despite the fact it was barely beyond 6pm. Having said that and as one who starts early as it is, I guess this gives me a feel of what being out late is like!! Anyway, I had a pint of Magner’s for the princely sum of £1.50 and rejected any thoughts of a dance before returning back towards the bus station and the Old Pear Tree.

POUND PUB!!!

Back to normality in the Old Pear Tree!

The Old Pear Tree is located around a couple of minutes walk away from the bus station doors and was, therefore, a perfect place to finish up in. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a huge amount of time and not fancying half-rushing a pint of overly fizzy stuff, I stuck on the cider via a variety I hadn’t actually had one of for a long, long while. Yes, it was the return of Dark Fruits (£3.70) to these pages! Of course, this isn’t exactly going to set many pulses racing, but the Old Pear Tree itself was a nice pub and worth heading out the way for – especially as it allowed me to encounter the friendliest in-street rugby argument ever. A fitting end to what had been a pretty rugby-filled day!

The trip back went trouble-free and thus ended what was a good way to begin this shiny, new season. It was good to visit such a venue at what was Step 9, back in t’day, and to watch two seemingly pretty well-matched teams go at it. Wigan Town certainly don’t seem like they’ll struggle as much as they have done in past seasons, whilst Paddock look a solid outfit once again – as long as they don’t have a bit of a mid-season talent raid put upon them as with last year! Still, I suppose it’s just as pleasing to have that happen than it is to acquire a promotion come season’s end, but both will likely be more favourable!

Back to the ground and the Ince Rose Bridge ground is definitely one worth sticking down on your list, if you are so inclined. The pubs I visited around Wigan were all pretty decent, as were the couple close to the ground too – so no qualms in that regard. All in all, a solid start to 2023-’24 and it’s onwards to another FA Cup campaign next week. I just hope the weather doesn’t get too involved…(NB: Spoiler: It did!).