Working Class Boy From The North

Mickey Worswick - The Non League George Best.

2012-01-31T12:10:00.000-08:00

Guest contributor Tony Topping has shared with us a article he wrote about his all time favorite football player, Which confidently plays for the team that he has loved and watched since we where in Non League - A world a way to where we are today....Take it away Tony.

When football fans get together to chat over the odd alcoholic beverage inevitably the same old question is brought up; “Who is your favourite football player of all time?”
More often than not the person asked takes a deep breath and says something along the lines of “Ah favourite player, let me think…” No such problems with me, in a nanosecond I have the answer…”Mickey Worswick”

Me and Mickey go back a long way, he was at my marriage, the birth of my two kids, and he comes away with me on every holiday I take, he has even been washed in my washing machine twice! Well not in person but his picture is in my key ring fob and he travels everywhere with me, who needs St Christopher when I’ve got St Michael?
Why Mickey Worswick? Well Mickey epitomised everything I love about football.
He was a brilliant winger and all football fans like nothing better than to see a winger in full flight, he was a great goal scorer cutting in from the wing with devastating effect, he was fast, extremely skilful and on top of all that he had possessed a temperament that angels would envy. Above all this the guy was cool too!
In his looks and the way he played he reminded me of another player that moved in altogether different circles, to me Mickey Worswick was non leagues George Best and I was immensely proud that he played for my team.
Mickey signed for Wigan in the summer of 1972. Wigan Athletic were in a period of transition, the dream team of 1970/71 had largely broken up and Manager Gordon Milne had also departed. Les Rigby a teacher at Wigan College was appointed with the task of rebuilding the side. Les had a fine pedigree in non league and was excellent at scouting for players; Mickey was one of the first players Les signed.
In the following six seasons Mickey and the Wigan Athletic supporters saw some of the highest and lowest points in our history culminating in that never to be forgotten day when we were finally accepted into the Football League.
Mickey’s first season proved to be a successful one, Wigan finished 3rd in the N.P.L., reached Wembley for the first time in the F.A. Trophy (lost 1-2 to Scarborough) won the Lancs Floodlit Cup (6-1 v South Liverpool), won N.P.L. Shield (3-0 v Stafford Rangers) and came runners up in the N.P.L. Cup (2-3 v Northwich Vics). We also reached the 1st rnd of the F.A.Cup (1-2 vs Grimsby Town). The following season saw us finish 2nd in the N.P.L., win the Ashworth Trophy (3-1 v Rossendale Utd) and also triumph in the Lancs Challenge Trophy (4-1 v Skelmersdale Utd). In the F.A. Cup we lost 0-2 to Huddersfield Town. 1974/75 season saw a change of manager with Brian Tiler taking over the reins. In a fantastic season we won the N.P.L. with a record number of points and enjoyed a good run in the F.A. Cup beating Kidderminster in the qualifying round then fourth division leaders Shrewsbury Town in the 1st rnd after a replay before losing to Mansfield Town, again after a replay. 75/76 saw Brian Tiler leave the club in February to manage in America and Ian Mc Neil returned to manage the club. Wigan finished a disappointing 6th in the N.P.L. that season; it was the first time they had ever finished outside the top three. Attendances began to suffer and only 730 watched the home game v Great Harwood. We did reach the final of the Lancs Challenge Trophy but lost to a last minute winner from local rivals Chorley (1-2).
We also reached the F.A. Cup 2nd rnd losing 2-0 away to Sheffield Wednesday (Matlock Town having been beaten 2-1in the 1st rnd).
The following season was one of the most traumatic in Wigan’s history. The club were heavily in debt, sources put the figure at £100,000, a huge sum at that time.
Chairman Ken Cowap and director Graham Gorner resigned and a cash appeal was made to the Springfield Park faithful, an ever decreasing faithful as only 647 turned up to see one game. Players had to be moved out to save money and others asked for transfers, it is indicative of Mickey Worswick’s character that he stayed loyal to the club in this difficult period when he was one of the clubs main assets and could have had his pick of teams to move on to. The team that had won the N.P.L. with a record points total only two years earlier was at one point bottom of the league. The turning point came when former chairman Arthur Horrocks rejoined the club and at last stability was resumed and we managed to recover to attain a final league position of 14th. In fact we ended the season strongly winning the Lancs Junior Cup Final by beating Chorley 1-0 at Victory Park. The following season proved to be our last in non league football as the rejuvenated, strengthened Wigan Athletic once more regained their pride of place as one of the strongest clubs outside the league.
1977/78 saw us finish 2nd in a tight finish, at that time the Champions of the N.P.L. were automatically put forward as candidates for election to the Football League but the league committee had already decided that Boston’s ground failed to meet their approval so Wigan Athletic were entered into the Football League race and the rest as they say is history. Sadly this all came to late for my hero Mickey and after agreeing to sign a part time contract and after finally making his Football League debut as a substitute, Mickey decided to return to non league with Chorley. That summer of 78 things changed forever, my youthful innocence disappeared along with my football team’s innocence, I wouldn’t change a thing though and it’s been a great journey from
the Northern Premier League to the Premier League. This summer I caught up with Mickey and he kindly agreed to be interviewed by me, here is Mickey’s story.

How did you get started in football Mickey?
At the age of 14 a Blackburn Rovers scout saw me playing for my school team, Preston Catholic College, and invited me to Ewood Park for trials. I played there for three seasons as an amateur but unfortunately was not offered a professional contract. I then had trials at Bury and Queen of the South but they both came to nothing so I then finished up playing for my home town club Preston North End as an amateur. During my two seasons there I played mainly in the youth team but also played around half a dozen games for the reserves in a side that contained Alan Kelly, Alex Dawson and George Ross, who all went on to become North End legends. A pro contract was not forthcoming so I decided to try my luck in non league football and joined Burscough. The following season Mickey Burns who I had grown up with in the Moor Nook area of Preston asked me to join him playing at Skelmersdale Utd. He had signed for them the previous season whilst studying at Liverpool University.

Skelmersdale made it to Wembley with you in the side, what was that like?

Playing in the Amateur Cup final against Enfield at the age of 21 in front of 75,000 people was an incredible experience although watching our right back Alan Bermingham miss a penalty in the last minute of extra time was heartbreaking. We lost the replay 3-0 the following Saturday at Maine Road in front of 55,000. That same day Manchester United played Aston Villa and they kicked off at the same time as us, they also drew a crowd of 55,000. The traffic was so bad in the city that my Mum & Dad and Mickey Burns’s parents who had left Preston at lunchtime, only arrived at the ground with 20 minutes left to play.

You also gained International recognition, winning caps for England Amateurs
The proudest moment of my career was playing for England Amateurs against Italy and receiving my cap, tassels and all! And playing for England also supplied me with my lowest moment in football when a few months later I was in the England squad that needed to beat Spain to qualify for the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. We had all been told that we would be on the plane if we won. Sadly we drew the game 1-1.

Your next club was Chorley were you became a big favourite with the fans

I signed part time professional forms with Chorley in what was the first season of the Northern Premier League; the Latics of course were also founder members. I had four happy seasons there and struck up a great understanding with centre forward Joe Fletcher who I rated as probably the best striker I have ever seen in non league football. I also have vivid memories of some titanic clashes we had against Wigan. It was at Chorley that I first met the legendary Harry McNally; he was coaching there at the time. Years later when I retired from playing Harry gave me a job scouting for him when he was Wigan manager and I also worked for him at Chester City. He was a wonderful person to work for and also to socialise with; I think that everyone who worked or played for him will have their own Harry Mac tale to tell, probably involving the odd bottle of red wine!
I was very sad to hear of his death a few months ago, they don’t make them like that anymore.

Next stop of course was Wigan Athletic and another Wembley visit

Yes the late Les Rigby made me and Mickey Taylor his first signings after taking over from Gordon Milne. My most vivid memory of the Wembley game is missing a header early on that I really should have scored from. I also remember the terrific welcome home we had after the final with fans lining the route from the motorway junction to Springfield Park.

You scored a lot of goals at Wigan especially for a winger; one of the greatest goals I saw you score was at Lancaster City when you ran the length of the field.

The goal against Lancaster certainly rates as one of my favourites and another one that sticks in my mind was against Manchester City in a friendly at Springfield Park when Joe Corrigan was in goal for them. Although it was from close range it was my 100th goal for the Latics, a milestone I was very proud to have achieved for the best club in non league football.

One of your team-mates was the legendary Johnny King, what was he like and do you recall the famous tunnel incident when he laid out an opposing player at half time?

What was Johnny King like? I wondered when that question would crop up! He was certainly like no one else I had ever played with or against. He was a great inspiration to have in your midfield, a hard tackler, a great motivator with the most cultured left foot I have ever seen. He also possessed a wicked sense of humour along with his mate JR, Johnny Rogers. I remember us playing at Scarborough once and we had an overnight stay in a big hotel. At that time we had a club chaplain named Dennis and he travelled with us. Somehow Dennis’s pyjamas finished up at the top of the hotel flag pole and were visible for miles along the East Coast. No marks for guessing who the culprits were! Now to the famous tunnel incident, all I can say about that one is yes I certainly remember it, I was so close that I finished up with blood on my shirt.
I think we better leave that one there!

With so many characters in the team you must have some great memories.

They were great times, one story that sticks in my mind concerned our old manager Ian McNeil. Ian arranged for us to have a four day trip to Edinburgh to play a couple of pre season friendlies. On the way up in the coach we asked him about the accommodation he had booked us into, “The players are in fourteen singles” he told us which we thought was wonderful, especially the younger members of the squad who excitedly informed us senior players that they were going “Out on the pull” on the first night. We duly arrived at our hotel and it looked a bit dodgy from the outside but sure enough we had 14 singles alright, trouble was they were all in the same room. Ian had booked us into some kind of hostel! The canny wee Scot had a great sense of humour to go along with his ancestral thriftiness.

Ian McNeil was one of several managers you played under at Wigan, fond memories of them?

Yes very fond memories of them all for different reasons. The first one being Les Rigby whose knowledge of non league football & non league footballers was phenomenal and of course he led us to the 73 final at Wembley. He was a hard taskmaster but he had a very funny sense of humour. After Les came Brian Tiler who was an ex pro with Aston Villa, he was a great motivator and was immensely popular with the players. He made you feel really special and under Brian we won the N.P.L.
with a record number of points. Sadly Brian died in a car crash during the World Cup tournament in Italy, his good friend Harry Redknapp was a passenger in the car.
Then along came Ian McNeil who will always be remembered as the manager who led us into the Football League. I will always be grateful to him and the club for offering me a full time contract in 1978 even though I was 32 at the time. Sadly it had come too late for me though I did stay for half a season playing as a semi pro. My claim to fame came when I made my one and only Football League appearance against Newport County! After a short spell at Chorley the next manager I want to mention is my ex team-mate Mickey Taylor who signed me for Barrow and got me as fit as any time I had been throughout my career. His great motivational skills helped us to have two very good seasons in the newly formed Alliance Premier League which is now today’s Conference League. Mickey and I still remain great friends and he is currently scouting for Northwich Victoria. Finally I must mention Fred Eyre who ran Wigan’s reserve side during that first Football League season. I am convinced Fred would have made a very good league manager but he turned his hand to writing and has written a couple of books and done extensive media work and after dinner speaking which I’m sure you will have heard about.

Finally Mickey your temperament was exemplary and I think you only lost your cool once when a spectator threw a cup of coffee over you, remember that?

God yes of course I remember the incident. We were playing at Macclesfield Town, I was close to the touchline on halfway and in front of the main stand when a middle aged woman threw it over me. I am pretty sure it was tea though and not coffee!

Thanks to Mickey Worswick for taking the time to do this interview and supplying the photos. Mickey was a gentleman on the field and he has proven to be the same off it. Sometimes your idols turn out to have feet of clay, in this case I am glad to say that

Images of the day.

2012-01-05T09:31:00.001-08:00

three album covers from Wigan's the verve - All three shot in this town.

Weir.

2011-12-04T03:03:00.001-08:00

The Casual Connoisseur's Weir hat is due for release tomorrow- These have become a cult hit in the short time they have been in production and are due for 3 new colors this time round.
Named after the Scottish broadcaster/climber Tom Weir who wore a bobble hat and had a passion for climbing and the Scottish landscape.

The brand has been going on-wards and upwards with going into shirts and lightweight jackets ( The 'Beat a Storm' respectively) They have come back to the old season favorite with a new twist on the colour ways.

These are made with double acrylic which allows for more use with colour, The hats are designed to be able to stretch so they can fit heads of all shapes and sizes, They are also made in England which adds to more of the appeal for us.

Grab one while you can, These wont last long. From there website

Clarks Desert Boot.

2011-12-02T10:18:00.001-08:00

The humble desert boot, You can look smart in the office with a pair of trousers shit or tie or look dapper in a pair of jeans, They are universal in how you can wear them - Dress up or down.

The desert boot was created when CJ Clark spotted the boot of choice by soldiers in West Burma in World War 2, There design and breathable material in the hot humid climate and when Clark returned to his small home town in Somerset he set out to create his version of this boot, When his pattern cutter designed the shoe and when it came to selling - It struggled initially in Europe, But sales flourished as the upper class American 'prep' look at there Ivy League university's took note of the shoe.

Throughout the 60's and right through to the modern day the shoe has not been out of 'fashion' and could be seen on the feet of Steve McQueen,The Beatles, Oasis..It also became a staple shoe for many sub-cultures, The mod's...Hip Hop...Right up to Indie and during the dressing down era of the Football Casual.

The desert boot has become and in this writers opinion, always will be a timeless classic in footwear.

Steve McQueen in the desert boot

Nathan Clark with The desert boot & desert trek.

Publication of the day

2011-11-30T09:47:00.001-08:00

Loire Magazine is a new fanzine/magazine that has been set up in my home town - Wigan, It is run and edited by a local journalist/author/football fan Vauganie. The magazine is quite in depth with content ranging from An Open Letter To School Re unionists to The Day That Pete Came To Wigan - The man himself Pete Doherty. There is also interviews with artist/design illustrator Ben Lamb which again is quite in depth and a good read and Dresser a interview with Danish shirt extraordinaire Mikkle Rude. The magazine itself is top quality and well worth £3.50 of the queens finest.

Last thing purchased

2011-11-28T09:58:00.001-08:00

Here are a few things that has been purchased recently that I have not put up yet on the blog -

Native Craftwork's Dalesmen shoes

These shoes are made with the upmost quality that you can purchase for something to wear on your feet.

These shoes take 4 hours to hand craft by hand and go through over 150 process to make a pair of shoes, The brand believe in making shoes the correct way and not the cheapest or the quickest, These show with the quality.

A little overview on how these shoes are made taken from Proper Magazine issue 11

The process which goes into making these shoes starts off with the leather, it has to be examined to ensure it is the correct colour weight, quality etc, once this has been assured it then moves on to clicking, The clicker revives the leather for both the upper and lining and starts to cut around each pattern piece needed to make the shoe, There is a huge amount of technique and skill required for this process,. It is crucial that the edges are cut cleanly and that the leather is cut accurately to the pattern.

After this process it moves on to skiving which is a process using a sharp blade to reduce the thickness of the leather along a certain edge, Because the leather we use is thick, certain edges have to be skived to avoid bulky seams, This then moves on to closing which is giving to the process of stitching the upper together. Before the pieces are stitched, The edges of the leather are stained to improve the appearance. Our logos are then heat embossed onto the heal tab and sock.

The back of the shoe is handsewn together for strength and durability. This takes time, but is fundamental to the final strength and comfort of the shoe. The pattern pieces are then stitched together inthe correct order. This is a highly skilled job. The stitching needs to be straight and kept a certain distance from the edge of the leather. The leather lining is stitched into place as the tongue and top line are stiched. It is essential to avoid any creases in the lining, Finally the inner sock is stitched into place and the upper is ready to be lasted.

The above is just a little in site into 4 steps to making a sew...You can read the rest by purchasing Proper Magazine here

The crepe sole that you can see on the shoes are from Sri Lanka and is molded onto the shoe by hand, Like the rest of the process.

Just a shoe?

Note* There is no marks on the shoe.

Dr.Denim 'Donk' Chinos...

Purchased these from Urban Outfitters in Manchester, They are the navy colored variant of there ' Donk' Chinos which are made of ridged twill cotton, I wear with a slight turn up and have a tapered fit.

Dr,Denim are a Swedish brand, based in Gothenburg. which was born out of the idea to create a contemporary interpretation of denim and tweak it with a modern twist.

Detail that is on the fly buttons.

One True Saxon socks

I have never really spent money on socks and stuck to Marks and Spencers when it comes to them..However I saw these at a bargain price in TK MAXX and they come in two funky colours, Also come in there own ' the casual tailor' box.

A.Poole, Liverpool Regiment.

2011-11-14T12:17:00.001-08:00

My Great Grandfathers war medals - From the Boer War right up to a general service medal for World War 2, He managed to make it through all the wars.

A closer look at the General Service Medal for WW2

A closer look at the Boer War medal - 3 campaigns he fought in.

I’m a North-End-er ‘til I Die

2011-11-10T11:54:00.001-08:00

No, Don't be silly. I have not changed my team - A writer from Preston who resides over on the Casual Co forum has sent me his article on the sights he sees & what happens at a Preston North End game - William ( Bill) Routledge is a author from Preston who has written ' Oh Yes, Oh Yes We Are The PPS' which is a in site into what happened being a North End fan during those heady years when more than just watching the match happened at football, He is currently writing ' Northern Monkeys' which gives the chance for people to give there account on what happened at football following there team, What was worn and also what music was around at the time.

“If North End were playing in the back garden, I’d draw the bloody curtains!” – Quoted by most town folk from Preston at some stage over the last 40 year period

Don’t worry, I’m not gonna jump, things aren’t that bad, not yet anyway!

Being a football fan nowadays is somewhat different when I first fell in love with the game in the early Seventies: since those days of innocence, I’ve followed my team home and away whenever I possibly could. From standing on the terraces at Deepdale, to far-flung corners all over Britain I’ve witnessed highs, and a lot of lows, I tell ya. And WE, we being Preston North End, have always been the nearly men/team – I won’t harp on too much, though. Whereas little Wigan, have bypassed us and reached the Promised Land. Bitter? No. But EVERY team from the Red Rose county has had at least one season in the Prem, bar us. Anyway, times have changed and my Saturday may have over the years, but below is a somewhat typical Saturday for me nowadays (last season), a typical Northern football fan.

After spending the night tossing and turning in bed over the misfortunes of my team, PNE, it’s Saturday morning and it’s bucketing it down outside, the norm in the North, whatever time of the year it maybe. For nigh on 35 seasons I’ve been attending Deepdale on a regular basis – the brother-in-law took me to the occasional game in the early-to-mid-70’s - missing only the odd home match due to reasons out of my control or, I’m away on me jollies. Sometimes I still even make the effort to venture to away games. I won’t even go there on the state of football and connecting politics, I wouldn’t want to bore you rigid and there isn’t enough space on the blog to do so. Only the ritual of bouncing out of bed with trepidation and anticipation of what adventures lay ahead that day may have long gone but, deciding what togs I wear for the terrace catwalk hasn’t. Coming from the North, the birth place of the Casual/Dresser (read Casuals by Phil Thornton for more information, ha) we take great pride in our threads and the decision of the combination of clobber for footy can begin days before, plus it don’t half soak up a decent potion of your hard eared wedge too. But today, I’m on a freebie to the match, with nosebag and hopefully a kitty to do-in. The firm that a mate works for has four season tickets to wine, dine and entertain (I think the Trade Descriptions needs a call on that last one) clients in the Invincible Suite at Deepdale, at least 3 or 4 times a season. These clients being 3 of us who still bother with North End and spend the sum total of nowt, with the mates firm - mum’s the word though. So, today, I’ll be mainly wearing a dressed-up/dressed-down cocktail of attire, a kinda smart scally scruff look. On the plates are another pair of Clarks Ramblers that I obtained in the January sales for just over 50 sov’s. Armani ‘comfort fit’ brown cords, that I’ve had over 15 years - and I too, are amazed that they still fit... or have I always been this fat? A country style check shirt, unbranded, but dapper, that complements a Dunn & Co tweed jacket I hunted down in a charity shop for under a fiver. And a vintage, orange Berghaus Wayfarer cag off the ‘Bay, that cost six pretty green ones and can be folded away into the pocket later on.

Anyway, going the match can become very mundane, and a solitary event on occasions nowadays, and sometimes I find myself supping on me own before the game – If you can’t enjoy your own company whose can you enjoy? But travelling to Preston from the village that I reside in, which is less than 5 miles away, and whilst ambling pub-to-pub in town, and up to the ground too, I will pass historical landmarks, buildings of interest and quite a few ‘firsts.’ So, I’ll take you on a pictorial ramble, very typical of my fortnightly venture into the now ‘BIG city’, and the diverse objects and subjects that can, and do, go unnoticed by most or, in general, most haven’t got a foggiest about or, to tell the truth, give a second glance or, give a shit about. *Please remember it’s pissing-down so, the photo’s clarity will be effected by this. You can’t pick and choose your days to do the photo shot coz, it’s always ‘Grim up North’*

The Preston By-pass

With the buses round ourway being as regular as a North End win, I walk the mile-n-half to Gamull Lane to catch a Preston Bus up town. This after giving the Mrs a peck on the cheek and the words “Behave yourself!” still ringing in my ear, another ritual over the years. On my trudge, in the belting rain, I cross a motorway bridge over a... motorway, but not just any motorway - even though it’s now a part of the M6 - it’s the Preston By-pass. The Preston By-pass – I do often wonder why folk wanted to by-pass our town? - was the first stretch of motorway constructed in the UK in 1958, and spanned several miles in length between Bamber Bridge and Broughton – now J29-J30. This would be a ‘guinea pig’ for the future of the modern day motorway system with many a Irish ground-worker crossing the North Sea to work on the project and then also laying roots down in the town. Within a month of opening the motorway had to be closed due to problems with the roads surface. Two major bridges needed erecting too over the River Ribble for the connection to be completed; this a river where you could back then, tickle trout in the shallows and catch the beast of a fish to have with chips cooked in beef dripping for tea, following a hard days graft at a local mill. And fresh water mussels could be gathered for the making of a traditional Lancashire hotpot. Centuries before, The Battle of Preston, during the period of the Second English Civil War, took place at Samlesbury Bottoms (just out of view on the above photo) where the bridges are situated. Plus the largest find of Viking treasures, the Cuerdale Hoard, ever discovered in Britain was stumbled on once in the river.

The Gamull

Formally know has The Fulwood & Railway, The Gamull, is a watering-hole which became my local in the early 80’s when I first began drinking. But like I mentioned, the original name of the pub, The Fulwood & Railway, well the railway part, played a major part in Preston’s history until the late ’79 too. Stone quarried in Longridge, some 7 miles east of Preston, would be shipped by train to the town centre for the main Heritage Buildings, and coal would also be ferried on a nearby rail-line to Courtaulds, at Red Scar, adjoining the by-pass – trains we would jump on when they were passing for a dare. The latter, Courtaulds, had manufactured man-made fibres and employed many a Prestonian, aswell as a large community of Asians who had immigrated to Britain for work, and choose Preston as their new home. A towering chimney and two cooling towers became a major landmark and a welcoming sight after travelling round the country watching North End away and get routed. When Courtaulds stopped spinning yarn, along with the towns other mills, countless sweatshops began setting up due to work shortage and churned out many a snide clothing product. And by the 90’s, Preston became renowned for its copied/fake jeans. The town also has a long, long history in the cotton industry with at one stage 80% of the population depending on the cotton mills.

I board the bus to town and past through an area where the North meets the south, Ribbleton - Ribbleton Lane. The ‘Lane’ is awash with takeaways offering cuisine from just about every corner of the globe with Asian and Polish shops selling a wide range of home comforts too for the residents of the rows of terrace houses that branch off the main drag. Wedged in-between the multitude of brightly coloured neon signs, and displays of tropical fruits is, Rounds of Ribbelton Pie shop. And as usual, there’s a orderly queue formed outside 20 or so long – in the rain – and the shop is busting at the seams, another usual. Their pies are legendary around our parts, and you would go a long way to beat their scrumptious, meat ‘n’ tattie pies that are hand-made and still wrapped in old newspapers.

Preston Prison

On the fringes of town is Preston Prison. The Victorian prison built in 1840 is surrounded by a 50 foot wall and anyone incarcerated in its tiny cells – two to a cell - can expect being banged-up 22 hours Monday to Thursday, and 23 hours Friday to Sunday. How this is addressing matters, and issues, to why they’ve been jailed and somehow stop occupants reoffending when back on the streets is beyond me, but who am I to be an expert, judge or jury on such life’s happenings. (Checkout the banner over the front gates?) While on the subject of crime and punishment; the last two men hanged in England, simultaneously – one at Strangeways Prison in Manchester, the other at Walton Prison Liverpool - on 13^th August 1964 both lived in Preston but had been found guilty of committing a murder in Workington, and the Crown decided they deserved such a fate has death.

None escape his tight embrace

Next-door to the prison is The Museum of Lancashire in Preston’s Old Court House, that houses displays of artefacts from conflicts which the Red Rose county were involved in. Over the road is a tree, not just any tree, but a tree that when a certain King of England rode into town on his horse, and he stopped off for a pint and a piss in the alehouse situated behind the grand Yew, he tied his horse to this tree. Which king, I haven’t got a clue, but they renamed the pub the Kings Arms. Any other tree of this sheer size would have been axed and erased to the ground, because of its close proximity to the Ring Road, where thousands of motorist pass everyday in case it was felled in a storm. It’s a waiting game. Only just like the sign of the times the pubs doors closed years ago and it was turned into loan outlet, which is now shut too. One memory stands out amongst others from the Kings Arms, but this isn’t the time or place, they were always game though, Bolton Wanders that is!

Preston Bus Station

Within 20 minutes, coz the traffic ain’t to bad, I enlighten onto the Brutalist, Preston Bus Station. Recently I’ve done a couple of articles for CasCo http://casualcoblog.blogspot.com/ & Our Culturehttp://thisisourculture.com/ for my views on the structure – please have a gander.

Blue Bell

Time for the first ale of the day: The Blue Bell, on Church St, which opened in 1716 is the oldest public house that still serves ale to this day in Preston. Only in the first 12 months of opening the landlady was taking to court for keeping a ‘disorderly house’ in the establishment – prostitutes kept customers entertained on cold, winter nights and summer days too. She was fined the grand sum of, £2. There are also tales of ghouls and ghosts haunting the gaff. In 1944, a Yank solider, based in Bamber Bridge during WW II, began slagging the British Forces off while stood at the bar. A serving Brit didn’t take to kindly to his comments and stabbed him to death where he stood. And there’s meant to be a ‘priest hole’ in the cellar. The beer on draught is Samuel Smiths, a Yorkshire brew (spits) and if you can make out in the photo it’s cheap as chips, even though it has just gone up thruppence since I was last in. The only thing that spoiled the atmosphere of the murmur of bloke chat – there’s no jukebox - was a loud Cockney accent from a geezer at the bar droning onto the barmaid about women and how bad life has treat him. It can’t be all bad, because I caught he now resides in Preston.

Memorabilia from a bygone time

I leave the cosy pub pulling the hood of me Bergy over me barnet. Yes, it’s still leathering it down. I then pass a solitary shop in a row of boarded ones, a old cigarette and football card shop. This takes me back to when I would sat on me Dads knee listening intensely to stories of WWII when he defended the country in the Royal Navy. He would also show me the ciggy cards that his Dad – my Granddad – had saved from before, and during, WW I, which are now framed and are on display in the spare room/my office at home. The shop is owned by an elderly bloke who shakes profusely with Parkinsons but he still manages to frame and cut out the holding inner-sleeve so you can view the information on the back of the cards if you reverse the frame. Another skill, and shop, that will be lost forever, shortly

Making my way to The Wellington pub there’s an abundance of late night curry-houses, rundown boozers selling ‘Credit Crunch Beer’ that’s nearly out of date and more takeaways. I glance up and remember an article in the local rag some years before on one of the oldest photographic shops in the UK, its darkroom and the glass roof it needed for development of photos that had been left in a state of neglect. Pigeons were roosting and nesting in the roof space by accessing through cracked panes of glass etc, and it needed a rapid overhaul or it would have to be stripped and a modern roof erected. It hasn’t been touched, and I can only guess it will soon be replaced.

The infamous Warehouse

Now then, that alleyway. And, the Warehouse! From January 1980, ‘til the mid-80’s, how I managed to avoid breaking my ankles, on hundreds of occasions, when making my weekly jaunt on Thursday nights – 9pm-2am - to the Warehouse, while, 9-times-out-of-10 slightly intoxicated, I will never know. I bet there’s a book in me on Warehouse exploits alone involving the venue and events surrounding the live music thrashed out on its cramped stage. One day I may do such a project. Anyway, have a browse of the bands I watched; from anarcho-punks Crass – the first ever group I saw live – to Joy Division – where and when they recorded a live album just before Ian Curtis departed this world – to Black Flag – when I ended up rollin’ round the dancefloor with Henry Rollins. Here’s a mates site who’s still ‘living the dream’ in a band called Pike and a list of bands that played Prestonhttp://www.myspace.com/prestonpunks And here’s the Warehouses’ brief historyhttp://www.warehousenightclub.co.uk/about.php

Psycho Alley

On my guard, and with major anxiety setting in, I hit the part of Church St once nicknamed ‘Psycho Alley’ by a officer of the law in the Lancashire Evening Post. He also expressed a concern that the 300m long stretch of road, oozing both ‘fun’ pubs and nightclubs, was a ‘virtual no-go area after midnight’ (a near 1000 crimes were committed in less than 12 months). Tones of the Gaza Strip, I think not though.

Phew! I made it. I then throw a left into Glovers Court, a street that tops the National Crime Maphttp://www.police.uk/ and according to the map it’s the most crime ridden in England. So I better be on my guard and I now wish I’d donned a stab vest too when leaving the house that morning.

'Proud Preston' at the Wellington Pub

On this street sits various late night bars and clubs that open when the witching hour begins, a wedding dress shop, a hairdressers and, The Wellington pub – which I dare to set foot in. The pub is full to busting with a cosmopolitan mixer of Saturday shoppers dining while they take a break from running up their credit cards. Wellie grub has a word of mouth reputation of being second to none in town for being top notch and under a tenner too. It has just won ‘pub of the season’ in the local Ale Cry and stocks at least three changing ales. Regulars who’ve their own spot at the bar nod at newcomers crossing the threshold. All very friendly. And, the interiors are a blend of the old and new with a real log fire radiating intense heat, dark oak panelling polished so intensely you can see your reflection in and a stained glass window of Preston’s coat of arms is on display. The aforementioned is a medieval Paschal lamb which dates back centuries with PP underneath; PP standing for either Princeps of Palis, Prince of Peace or Proud Preston. Less than a bottle throw away was a factory, the Gold Thread Works, est 1827, which closed down two years ago that provided the Queen with thread for her wedding cake, the Titanic staff’s uniforms piping, Winston Churchill’s Knight of the Garter and, they faked English spies operating behind enemy lines realistic ribbons for their German medals. Not bad that for a manufacture and pub on the roughest street in England, is it? I also asked the landlord what he thought of being labelled in the bracket of a street to avoid at all costs. The look back sufficed! Police get facts and figures wrong again, shock horror.

Harris Musem

Leaving the Wellie, and Glovers Court, in one piece, I head to Market Tavern. I go past the stunning Harris Museum made from local, Longridge stone. The Grade 1 building is also home to a art gallery and free public library. (I do wish more people would make the most of the no-charge entry to the museum and also educate themselves with the minefields of books stacked on the libraries’ selves.)

We Will Remember Them

The 21m high sculptured, Cenotaph – empty tomb - is where I pay my respects on the Sunday nearest to 11/11, to my Dad, and millions of other brave souls who gave their lives for our freedom, lest we forget: R.I.P.

Be ever mindful of the men of Preston

Who fell in the Great Wars

1914-1918 1939-1945

This land inviolate your monument

Friargate, one of the main hubs for shopping in Preston in days gone by; either outlets are empty or loan, pawn and Pound shops that have taken a grip where designer boutiques once ploughed their trade. Today’s environment for any business apart from the 3 mentioned is grim. I only ‘shop ‘til I drop’ for Chrimbo prezzies in Preston on Xmas Eve these days, it’s Manchester or the ‘net coz there’s not a emporium worth bothering with – sad, but true.

This row of 8/9 red phone boxes is the longest row of old style kiosks anywhere in England that are still useable. And Preston were the first to install public phone boxes – not those – in bygone times. We were the first to have a KFC back in 1965, the year of my birth too, but who’s bragging?

The 1870 open/covered market photo speaks for itself; flaking paint and folded stalls. The market was once a hive of housewives out for a bargain before t’Asda and likes.

Greggs, that aint a ‘proper’ pie shop. A few years back the shop applied, and got, a 24hr licence to trade. They thought their pies, pasties and sausagerolls would be a catchment for late night/early morning revellers staggering home instead of a ruby, pizza or donner kebab. They weren’t, so Greggs threw the towel in that Prestontians would prefer the wares when pie-eyed. You can’t pull the wool over our eyes and put them wafer thin, lined pastries in the same bracket as Rounds, I tell ya! The Market Tavern is a belter of a ale provider; there’s 4 decent cask’s on and it’s brimming with Icelanders, ones that frequent at the Iceland store 10 yards away, that is. And on weekends Northern Nites are held and groups sporadically play there. http://www.markettavernpreston.co.uk/

The Great British pub

The mate rang when I was leaving the Market and he’ll pick me up outside Action Records in 20 minutes, so I’ve time for a swift one in the Black Horse. This Grade ll Robinson owned alehouse has a protection order on both its exterior and interior, and so it should have. Slap bang in the middle of town, the Black Horse internal features and furnishings take you way back to when life was more black & white, wasn’t all materialist and bling bling look at me/this newfangled gadget. You've even got a choice of three doors from three different streets to make an entrance; this is the only pub in UK which has this accolade. Very confusing for a drunk if they’re ever turffed-out. The floors are mosaic tiled, and the curved ceramic bar is 1 of only 20 left intact. There’s also acid etched and leaded glass paneling, bevelled mirrors and dysfunctional bell pushes galore. At weekends they open a function room upstairs that hosts a wide variety of events too. A tranquil retreat from city life, the Black Horse is. There are a two issues that let the public house down at present time though: 1; the ale isn't kept right by the landlord at the moment. And 2: the landlord is a dickhead.

With haste I navigate my way to Action Records. The Crown Courts are First Tier courts and many a high profile trail has been tried there. I’ve never attended a case, or would want to, but I have concerns why it took the police 35 years to track down a murder who should have been tried there! Yes, it took nearly 35 years to find out who really killed Joan Harrison who was bludgeoned to death in a derelict garage in a suburb of Preston one darkened night in November ’75. The finger pointed at the Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe until Chris Smith was arrested in 2008 for drink drinking and his DNA matched that of the killer of Joan. Smith died 6 days after his arrest and was never convicted of the horrific crime in front of the courts.

I nearly jog/fast-walk into a lamp post - head stooped due to the bloody wet stuff - which has the towns crest moulded into its cast. It’s just the right height, the coat of arms that is, for a dog to cock its leg and have a piss in the lambs eyes. On the theme of lamp posts, Preston was the first provincial town outside of London to have gas street lights erected in 1816.

The eyesore that is the Guild Hall. Back in ’72, the year of Preston Guild – they come around every 20 years – there was a massive outcry by town folk when the brickies went on strike on the contract for better pay and rights and because of this it wouldn’t be finished in time for the Guild. I wish they’d hadn’t bothered finishing it at all. Saying that, I’ve memories of teen disco there in the 70’s, concerts in the 80’s and 90’s and, ‘Chicago’ the musical last year – I’m cultured, you know. Not really, I bought the better halve a pair of tickets for her birthday and she couldn’t get anyone else to go.

Black Power/clenched fist/Power to the People/Keep the Faith, brother – you need to keep the faith being a Northender. I remember a Rasta with a hammer and chisel in hand tapping away at the solid brick pillar 15 or so years ago for months on end, this after being commissioned to sculpt the fist. Maybe it was all the weeds’ that needed getting rid of that added the length of the project? It’s now hidden behind derelict buildings waiting to be knocked down for the forthcoming, imminent, Tithebarn Project that will change the heart of our town/city forever – the project is on hold.

Arriving at my pick up point, Action Records, I find the place having a spot much needed remedial building work. Only don’t judge a book – record shop – by its cover – frontage. I’ve known Gordon, the owner, before he set up shop in this part of town, when he’d a record stall at a market in Lasherland (double spits) and advertised in Sounds and NME back in ’78. I would go to his home, in a not-so-nice part of town, to purchase limited addition and much sort after Punk vinyl. On leaving through his fortress thick, bolted front door, I’d to stuff the 12” LP’s or 7” singles deep inside either my ex-army, slogan dabbed jacket or studded leather, jam jar lid badge riddled, motorcycle one. He/the shop has come a long way since them early days, every credit. Action’ is one of the largest independent record stores in the country and he has established his/their own record label. They’ve signed bands from The Boo Radleys to Big Red Bus and, The Fall plus Mark E Smith records as a solo performer.http://www.actionrecords.co.uk/ When roving in that neck-of-the-woods I bob in and flick through the racks of golden oldies, inhaling deeply the hint of teen spirit musk they emit – it takes me way way back... I sometimes purchase the odd quintessential, deleted album too.

Moor Park

The mate pulls up and we’re on Deepdale Road/Sir Tom Finney Way within ten shakes and park next to Moor Park. This park is not only the largest park in Preston but also the world’s oldest park! Originally common land the area was turned into the first municipal park by the Charter of Henry lll in 1235. Endless happenings have happened on the mud-bath since, to many to go into details – include in this before and after events on match days. Today local football teams play on the park on Saturdays and Sundays, and cricket is played too in the summer. Also there is/was four public toilet blocks on or near the park. And hanging in and around the lavs were diverse individuals wanting/needing alternative pleasures. One or two couldn’t/didn’t manage to cut the rope on cue and were found swinging from the rafters with a puddle of freshly squeezed, seedless orange juice beneath. Very strange those kinda kin/tribe/clan, indeedy.

Deepdale

We cross the road to once fortress Deepdale that’s steeped in history and heart rendering encounters.*wipes tear away* Preston North End: Founder members of the English Football League. First ‘Double’ winners, in the first season of the League 1888-89 – they went all season unbeaten. And the team didn’t concede a goal in all the FA Cup ties too. So, its all been downhill since.

This is when it starts to go unhinged. You can stick those prawn butties where the sun don’t shine, for me. Corporate football, what the fuck is all that about. Give me the ‘good old days’ anytime. The meal is normally non-to-bad but today, it’s crap. You’d get better tucker at a 2-4-1 plastic-pub. I’d much prefer a pie, Bovril and a Wagon Wheel while stood on terracing with piss cascading, past your adi’s from overflowing urinals at halftime. And they’ve no hand-pump ale on, I’ve to hit the Black Stuff. Pushing the gruel to one side we take our cushioned seats for the match. I’ve got Mr & Mrs haven’t-got-a-clue on the offside-law, both of them, sat in front of me with a bigger interest in a bag of boiled sweets than the game. Gone are the days of wandering the paddock and bumping into mates and swapping stories of rendezvous before kick-off.

I’ll decline to give chapter and verse on the so-called game of football witnessed which contained comedy likened Keystone Cops defending – we got dicked 4-0 off Bristol City. (We’re staring down the barrel of relegation as I type.) On passing through the lounge area on the way-out we overheard two blokes settling down in front of a TV saying “Time to watch a proper game of football, and a proper team, Man United.” The mate gave them a few choice words along the lines of we didn’t want their sort at Deepdale, and we left. *Man U got beat of Wolves*

Mighty North End!

Phil Browns new sunbed .

Just before we exit I noticed a orange tinged glow radiating from the pitch though a corporate box window? It then twigged! I’d forgot for the moment that Phil Brown was in-charge of our club, so it was nice to see that the chairman had installed a sunbed for him to top up his Real Deal David Dickinson tan, at least. The future’s bright, the future’s orange.

The night is rounded off by a trip into town to a Six Nation Beer Festival in the Black Bull that has 23 Welsh ales on tap. The bitter sweet was England had beat Wales at rugby on Friday in the competition. With disillusionment setting in we nomenclature, slag our clubs fortunes on and off the pitch of recent and what fate lies ahead. Also excessive, overindulgent in ale contributes to such factors. Will it be, North End ‘til I die or, ‘til they go bust?

Your Northern Monkey correspondent, Bill

Proper Magazine.

2011-11-07T10:36:00.000-08:00

Here at Red bricks & coal we are keen readers of the fanzine/magazine Proper magazine since issue one, They have come along way since then in terms of quality of the printing to becoming more known in the football/fashion/fanzine sort of scene as it where.

The writers are a collective from Manchester/Stockport who compiled a magazine that they themselves would like to purchase with there own hard earned and in doing so have crafted one of the best read publications you can buy out there.

We think its fantastic how in a age of digital media ( You just have to look at the amount of apps/smart phones there are and how newspapers have there own apps to purchase/subscribe to) that the magazine has gone from strength to strength that Issue 12 is on the horizon in the near future.

There articles have been as diverse from a summer camp in america to how Native craftworks are crafted and created into the quality shoe that they are known for, They also do some ace prizes on there website, For instance they are running one where you can create and have your own jacket made for you at one of the last remaining factories in Manchester.

You can purchase your copy over on :http://www.propermag.com/

Last thing Purchased.

2011-11-07T10:27:00.000-08:00

Here is a Frostline 60/40 gortex parka in 'Burnt Orange'. From all the way in the United States where it was made lovingly by some man/women who had a interest in mountaineering.
Frostline was a brand which sold kits to craft you own jacket and add what/take away what you want and create your own jacket.

They did not just stop at jackets - You could make your own sleeping bag/bags to take up in the mountains, Just needed a sewing machine and a little bit of creativity.

The company stopped trading in mid - 2010 however the brand can be found on
sites such as eBay, This one I purchased from a bloke in Cheshire.

Frostline is the brand which inspired Engineered Garments/Woolwich on there 60/40 jackets which continue to be a presence in there collection to this present day.

Images.

2011-11-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

Arctic Monkeys - Concert review

2011-11-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

Last night I took in the Arctic Monkeys at the Manchester Evening News Arena, With support from The Vaccines who are making waves with there music on the radio with songs like ' If you wanna' & 'Norgaard' gaining air play on Radio 1. They played a good set warming the crowd up and came across as a band that play really well live and could be destined for better things.

After a 30 minute interval, The Arctic Monkeys came on to ' You Sexy Thing' by Hot Chocolate, One thing I noted was that Alex Turner sported a Elvis like quiff and quickly got stuck into there set - Starting off with 'Dont Sit Down Cause I Moved Your Chair', ' Teddy Picker' & ' Crying Lighting' which came at you in a sound wave of rocking guitar riffs & fast paced yet interact drum beats.

The Monkeys took to the gig with ease as they blasted there way through the set list and got big cheers when they played tracks from there debut album - 'View From The Afternoon' & ' When The Sun Goes Down'.

It also must be noted that during the gig, Alex Turner took time to try and see which side of the 15,000 M.E.N crowd was loudest with boos & cheers and football inspired chants where sung.

The Sheffield indie group took up normal service and blasted out the tracks ' I Bet You Look Good
on The Dance Floor' & ' Do Me A Favor'

They then set up for a 3 song encore.

The set list for the night: with a 18 song set list and 3 Encore songs...The crowd got value for money!

Intro
("You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate)
Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair
Teddy Picker
Crying Lightning
The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala
Black Treacle
Brianstorm
The View From The Afternoon
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Evil Twin
Brick by Brick
Pretty Visitors
This House Is A Circus
Still Take You Home
Dance Little Liar
She's Thunderstorms
Fluorescent Adolescent
Do Me A Favour
When The Sun Goes Down
Encore:
Suck It and See
Mardy Bum
(Alternative live version)
505

In this town where I was born and raised.

2011-10-31T09:38:00.000-07:00

Pictures of old Wigan & the surrounding areas of the town.

My area of town - Appley Bridge in the early 1800's

And another from my area - In the Lino Works

Springfield Park - The old home of my football club Wigan Athletic

Maypole Pit - Abram, Wigan

Mesnes Park - Wigan

Globe inn pub - Standish, Wigan

Bird'th Hand - Hindley, Wigan

Soup Kitchen - For the miners on strike in 1893.

Wrightington Ponds - Wrightington

Wigan mill girls

Last thing swapped.

2011-10-27T12:08:00.000-07:00

Traded my Guy Cotton derby jacket for a Barbour quilted International jacket...Toasty for the winter.

Got some very nice details - 4 pockets, 1 is slanted, Quited...YKK bottom zip with the traditional Barbour branded circular zip, Throat buckle.

Happy days.

The nights are getting colder.

2011-10-07T09:34:00.001-07:00

Wake up in the morning its dark, Go home from work and its dark, Its also getting colder which means its time to think about what to wear on your head to the match/down to the local pub..

The Casual Connoisseurs have released what they are bringing out for winter head wear...And its a great selection, A new design the ' Mcmurphy' hat and the ever present and popular ' Weir' hat in its 4th year. In new colours. Strictly limited to 50 of each colour, These will fly out.

6876 x Rohan

2011-09-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

Collaboration between 6876 & Rohan due out early 2011. Here at red bricks and coal we love what 6876 do and some off there collaborations have come out fantastic ( Oki-Ni etc...) They also have a good attention to detail, They teamed up with leather goods/belt company Northampton Regent to produce there bags and leather goods range R6.

A closer look at...

2011-09-14T09:25:00.000-07:00

Wigan Athletic vs Grimsby Town

Wigan Athletics first ever football league game - after 34 rejections from the football league, My club Wigan Athletic where allowed to enter the hallowed '92'. In 1978 thanks to Southport FC who's ground did not meet the standards for the league, We took there place. And we have never looked back since.

During that historic season, Wigan Athletic would finish a very credible 6th place.

Here at red bricks and coal, We took a closer look at the programme from that very first game - Grimsby Town FC.

A closer look at Good Northern's Blog...

2011-09-04T02:44:00.001-07:00

I tend to stick to reading blogs that I have a keen intrest in and also write about myself - Be it Clothes,Music,Fashion,Film,Beer etc....I have been taking a keen interest in a North East lads blog for a while..He follows his local team, Likes his clothes music and ale ( very much like this blog it seems...)

Seems to come across very well in his posts & they are always a decent read...

If you have a spare minute take the time to go over and take a read: http://www.goodnorthern.blogspot.com/

Lets have a look at...

2011-09-04T02:25:00.000-07:00

Some nostalgia - I have been collecting 'old' Wigan Athletic programs for a while - This one is quite significant. Wigan Athletic vs Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup 2nd Round in 1977 - Wigan Athletics last non league season before entering the hallowed' 92 and we won the game 1-0! If you look at the pictures bellow ( Click on them for a bigger image of course) you can see the non league legends of this club & also some of the people we played during that year.

Last Thing Purchased....

2011-09-04T01:51:00.000-07:00

Norse Projects Aldar Jacket- Made in Britain and is also waxed British Millerain cotton, This jacket is just perfection.

The jacket has minimal detailing - Just a inside label stating that it is Norse Projects, You can tell its a quality 'garment' by the look,feel and the quality of the fabric - YKK Zips a different Zipper with a leather pull, toggles in the write places, slightly peaked hood, The jacket is made in England and is made with British 'waxed' Millerain cotton.

North of the border

2011-08-25T11:15:00.000-07:00

Spent the weekend up in Ediburgh where me and the girlfriend took in a Whiskey tour the castle and just the general delights of The Fringe festival, Fantastic and beautiful city will be there again in a few months, Will let the pictures do the talking.

Did the whiskey tour - Included a ride which went through the process of making whiskey and then selecting a whiskey from one of 4 areas where scotch whiskey is made and going through a process to decide which one you wanted - I chose a Single Malt Highland Whiskey. After this you went through to the largest Scotch whiskey collection in the world - 3,500 bottles of the stuff.

Heres me - ( Universal Works chambray shirt,Levis 501 & Clarks Desert Trek)

Then we spent the day just wandering and settling down to watch the world go by in one of the green areas down princes street - Great. We also went out for a meal that night in the city and had Italian, Fantastic food and also had a few bottles of Peroni.

On the Sunday we took in the delights of Edinburgh Castle..Fantastic views of the city and amazing history.

The days attire: Uniqlo lightweight jacket,Lyle & Scott l/s polo
Chino Shorts & Superga Cotu Classic.

Universal Works - Chambray Shirt

2011-08-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

This came through the post today - Universal Works chambray shirt.

Made in England, The shirt is 100% Cotton chambray and has two breast pockets one with a concealed pen pocket ( shown in picture), black buttons with contrasting red stitching and reinforced elbow patches, Easily the best shirt I have owned in terms of quality and fit.

Here is more info on the brand itself taken from another website -

Founder of Universal Works, David Keyte, spent years working for British fashion labels such as Paul Smith, before deciding to set up his own label in 2008. Keyte started Universal Works with the aim of producing well made, well considered, easy to wear, affordable menswear and accessories. The brands collections are loosely inspired by workwear using quality fabrics and produced in a number of small factories, often based in the UK, creating garments that are never mass produced and designed to last beyond a single season.

Pre Season: Marine FC away

2011-08-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

Found out as I got home last night that a Wigan Athletic XI where playing down the M58 in Crosby, So within half a hour four of us set off down the motorway to see a new ground have a drink ( one larger shandy for me) and stand on a terrace while watching the talent that could come out of our club in the next few years.

After a quick swift one in a Thwaites pub just near the ground, We paid our entrance fee and made our way to the terrace where the few traveling latics fans where.Wigan started off well and although I could not tell who was who due to not recognize anyone, We had people who where quick down the wing and making it hard for the Marine squad, Danny Redmond had a fantastic long rage effort early on in the game & Wigan athletic took the lead with a Joe Fowler header 35 minutes into the game. The game was quite fast paced through the first half and Latics held on to there 1-0 lead going into the break.
I don't normally go into detail about half time however during this game there where two acceptions. One was the fact i had a chippy tea which was swimming in the worse gravy I have ever tasted and then it all came back up during the second half, However while heading back over to the terrace, Someone pulled me to one side and asked " you right the Wigan website don't you?" Then it hit me, This very blog. He made some great comments about it and told me to keep it up and also that I look younger than on pictures on here...Maybe this will follow me on into further adulthood, Turns out he is a palace fan who moved up to Aintree, Very smart dressed as well, Thanks for the comments it is appreciated!

Into the second half latics kept there lead and slowly increased there attacking, While marine had a good couple of shots which I applauded.

Towards the end of the game, Latics managed to "roll" the ball accross the goal mouth for Rakish Bingham to do a text book finish into the net.

Attendence: 221

Last Thing Purchased...

2011-08-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

Oki Ni x 6876 collaboration sweatshirt in rust, Suitable branding and fantastic quality made out of 100% cotton, Its quite a heavy sweatshirt and the only branding I can only see on this sweatshirt is six eight seven six on the right hand sleeve.

Suitable branding

Casual Connoisseur Shirts

2011-07-24T13:19:00.000-07:00

North west based clothing brand The Casual Connoisseur have released there line of premium shirts,As a forum poster on there website, I have managed to watch this brand grow from screen printed tees to the Wier hats & ther first foray into jackets, The beat a storm cagoule, They have gone from strength to strength and are heading in the right direction, The shirts are:.

The Union Shirt - A workwear inspired Chambray shirt with loads of details - Ticket pockets and has a chinstrap collar detail.

The Seaton Shirt, a woven check shirt with a button down collar, Zippo pocket and contrasting button detailing.

The Dexy shirt - a purple gingham check design which features a small and button down collar is more than a suitable hint towards mod and as the name of the shirt derives from.

Teddy Boys.

2011-07-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

Teddy Boys

Pre mod & Pre punk, Teddy Boys was the original sub culture in where The Working Class took clothes from the superior ruling class and making it there own, unique style which took inspiration from the Edwardian era however later teddy boys where more influenced by American 50's Rock & roll.
The subculture started off in the east end of London, where gangs known as cosh boys who where identifiable by there style: Long jackets sometimes with velvet collar and cuffs, Drainpipe trousers and a slim jim tie, they took on the police they thought local gangs and where prevalent with the use of knives.
The actual name " Teddy Boy" came from a headline in The Daily Express which shortened the word Edward to Teddy, and thus the name " Teddy Boy" was born.

The Teddy Boy - The first generation of young boys & girls to be different from the rest.

Last Ale Supped Thread.

2011-07-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

Few pictures from a small ( two pub) pub crawl combined with a nice leasearly stroll to both, Situated in the Lancashire village of Mawdesley, Equidistant from Wigan & Preston - 10 miles.

Visited two pubs - The Red Lion in the center of the village & The Black Bull on a country lane, Both nice walks to each pub.

In the Blackbull they offered 5 guest ales, Brewers at the time where Unicorn, Thwaites, Moorhouses, Blacksheep & Marstons. The ales I sampled in here where in good condition.

While at the pub I supped - Marstons Engish Pale Ale ( EPA) at 3.6% which was a golden colour, Refreshing and hoppy.

Thwaites Wainright 4.1% again a stronger ale yet still golden when settled, Very moreish.

Next stop was The Red Lion, Mawdesley, Which was in the village center...Good location and tables outside allowed you to watch the world go by & enjoy the last of the weather for the night.

Here I had Jennings Cockerhoop "Golden" very nice light ale at 4.6% a golden bitter with a very hoppy flavour.

Jackets,Jackets,Jackets...

2011-06-07T12:04:00.000-07:00

Decided to post this up after a forum I am asked for what jackets you have etc...Nothing ground breaking however plan on adding more over the season and as the weather turns more grey and wet..

So here they are!

LL Bean Vintage Smock

Folk Rain Mac

6876 Sonora

Barbour Adventure

Guy Cotten Derby Jacket

Vintage Peter Storm Cagoule

Last Thing Purchased....

2011-05-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

Guy Cotten Derby Jacket
Something a bit different, Wont see many of theres around & sure I will get some piss take for wearing it.

The jacket itself is made up of 84% PVC & 16% Polyester ( Glentex), One of the main reasons I have got this is of course I love the look ( looks ace under a shirt & Jumper)

Will let the spiel of Oi-Polloi's website do the talking on the brand.

In 1964, Guy Cotten and his wife came up with their famous waterfproof cloth. Coated cotton oil skin fabrics were available at the time but weren't very comfortble and were famous for damaging easily. The Guy Cotten fabric was tougher, more comfortable and remained lightweight, a revelation for dockworkers across the globe.

The late 60s saw the emergence of sailing clubs, but nobody at the at time had come up with the ideal outerwear for the sport. The founder and director of the Rosbras Nautical Center, Yvon Hemery, wondered aloud, "How is it that noone's come up with a jacket that's as waterproof as the pea-jacket and at the same time as practical as conventional jackets?" Guy Cotten took up the challenge... within a few days, students at the center were testing the first oilskin jackets to have a double strap, which closed by sliding a plastic zipper on one side and using velcro on the other, the Rosbras jacket was born.

Southport Botanical Gardens...

2011-05-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

Went over there this morning/afternoon.

Nice park which was formed and built by a group of working men opened in 1875. Situated in the Churchtown area of Southport.

What I am wearing -

What Are You Wearing Today

2011-05-07T14:01:00.000-07:00

Middlebrook Retail Park - Film & Lunch

6876 Sonora
Lacoste Crewneck
Ralph Lauren Polo
Uniqlo Selvedge
Adidas Zurich

Later on in the evening - Meal up Standish.

Fred Perry BD Shirt
Uniqlo Selvedge
Deck Shoes

Eagle & Child 16th Beer Festival...

2011-05-02T05:58:00.000-07:00

Headed over to rural Lancashire to vist the fantastic country in that is the Eagle & Child in Bispham Green where they hold a Beer Festival every year - This year some 92 selections of Real ale and around 52 Ciders....

The list that I supped while there is as follows:

Prospect Gold Rush 4.1%

Samuel Smiths Strawberry beer & Rasberry Beer ( both 5.1%)

Ikley Pale Ale - Strong, Mellow & a Citrus finish - 4.2%

Elland - Elland Best Bitter - Dry & Aromatic Bitter with Maris Hops - 4.0%

Elgoods - Cambridge Bitter -Mid Brown Ale, Good Balance 3.8%

Lancaster - Amber 3.7%

Pride of Pendle

Triple FFF - Alton Pride - Full and Clean tasting 3.8%

The Crown at Worthington

2011-04-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

Decided to go for a drink at The Crown which is in Worthington today, Great weather and one of the best pubs in the Wigan area if you ask me......Won awards and has a selection of 10 guest ales, 40+ bottle beers & a local pilsner, I had Dudley Pale ale at 5.0% which was a lovely golden, pale ale which was dry and refreshing for this sort of weather.
Won : Wigan Pub of The Year in 2009,2008 & 2006 & Great Manchester Pub of The Year in 2009

This Northern Soul

2011-04-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

This Northern Soul is a collaboration of latics website to try and get latics supporters on one site, one common cause, To bring our fan base closer and also in a time where we may be needed more than ever.
The site has various articles based on the club itself and things that have spawned via fans, The Anthony Ramsdale Appeal, Which is a foundation set up to raise the much needed funs for a serverly disabled Wigan Athletic fans, With two "Northern Soul" nights already done which has been a success just shows how strong the community within this football club we all love.
The site has articles/blogs/forum/history and anything and everything to do with this proud Football Club.

This site can become a success and bring the web based ( and quite large) ammount of Wigan Athletic fans on the net.

Links:

Website: http://thisnorthernsoul.co.uk

Forum: http://thisnorthernsoul.co.uk/index.php?option=com_kunena&view=entrypage&defaultmenu=138&Itemid=137

The appeal: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Anthony-Ramsdale-Appeal/159486057394796?sk=wall&filter=12

What Are You Wearing Today

2011-03-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

Folk Rain Mac, Casualco Members tee, Uniqlo Selvedge, Adidas Beckenbauer All Round. NO head.

Wigan Pier

2011-03-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

Now when we shunt the back’s in front and the front part’s in the rear
If we survive then we’ll arrive alongside Wigan Pier.- On The Wigan Boat Express, George Formby

Wigan Pier, Is one of the main things that have made my town famous, When people hear the words Wigan Pier, They think of George Orwell or George Formby, The pier however was nothing more than a coal loading staithe where wagons from colliers around the town would unload onto canal boats.

The book - Road to Wigan Pier by Orwell, Shows us what life was like in post-war Britan and did not picture my town in a particular good light, The Other reference, A musical hall joke.

To finish off I will leave the quote what George Orwell found when he eventually got to end of Wallgate and found Wigan Pier.

"At one time on one of the little muddy canals that run round the town, there used to be a tumble-down wooden jetty; and by way of a joke someone nicknamed this Wigan Pier. ...to judge from the photographs it must have been about twenty feet long. ...I made a journey specially to see it in 1936, and I couldn't find it. ...I am afraid I must tell you that Wigan Pier doesn't exist. ...the place itself had been demolished."

Pica Post

2011-03-20T02:21:00.000-07:00

Pica Post is a publication from Manchester clothing store Oipolloi which is published twice-yearly and follows there popular part of the website, The Deck Out.

Including all brands that are available in the shop and put together in various outfits, Its intresting reading and the graphic design behind it is fantastic.

Check it out at the link bellow which is like a " E-Zine" format

http://issuu.com/oipolloi/docs/pica-post-no1

Interview: We Are TukTuk

2011-03-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks to TukTuk for doing a interview with us, As this is a brand which I am looking out for in the future and have also had one of the best fitting and quality in fabric shirts I have ever had ( Soft grey Chambray shirting fans) They take there inspiration from the tropical and sunny country that they are based in, With there bright colours and fabrics.

Here is what Mark has to say after we fired him over some questions...

1, How was the brand We Are TukTuk set up and what was your aim?

I had been working out in Sri Lanka for about a year, and was getting continually frustrated with not being able to buy any good clothing. I started getting some shirts and shorts made-up for myself at my local tailors and it all kind of took off from there really. I took some samples back to the UK around Xmas 2008 time, and showed them to a few shops around Manchester. The response was good, so when I got back after Xmas I decided to get stuck into setting up a label. We were officially founded at the beginning of 2009.

2, How did the brand name come about?

A tuktuk is the rickety three wheeler form of transport which is synonymous with most of Asia. In the early days of setting up the brand the majority of my time was spent in the back of one, mooching around from fabric market to fabric market - it seemed right to name the brand after one.

3. How do you find fabrics/patterns?

As well as fabric markets both in Sri Lanka and abroad, we also deal with some of the leading fabric mills across China & India. We source from all over.

4. I noticed from your blog that you take influences from the country you are in, Sri Lanka does this come out within your clothing/products?

Yes, definitely so. A lot of our clothing is bright and colourful, and Sri Lanka is certainly that. When the sun is shining 24/7 it’s hard to not be inspired by that and that certainly comes through in our clothing and accessories. As someone said to me the other day, we are a “sunshine brand”.

However, we try to not be too over bearing with the colour and patterns. Our Holdall bags are a good example of that, they have plain chambray and leather exteriors but then when you open them up you get a burst of colour and patterns; it’s a more subtle approach.

As well as the colours, the sunshine, the people, there are lots of other things to take inspiration from; day-to-day life is generally quite interesting out here.

5. What are your plans for the future and what can we expect?

We are launching a new website soon, which will have a fully functional ‘bespoke shirt’ section. To coincide with the launch, we are also starting shipping all on-line orders from our UK office to speed up order delivery times. Bespoke shirts and limited shirt runs will still be shipped from Sri Lanka as they are tailor made on order.

Product wise, we are currently working on a small A/W11 collection, which should be finished very soon. And S/S12 initial ideas and fabric selections have just started which is always an exciting time.

What are we listening to today?...

2011-03-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

Here are the sounds that are rocking Redbricks HQ at the moment...

"Headmasters Ritual" by the Smiths, A more refined sound that is a continuous from there first album.

Another one by The Smiths,Rusholme Ruffians this video is actually from The Peel Sessions, Fantastic.

Symarip - Skinhead Moonstomp, Classic SKA which makes me want to shave my hair, put on a pair of Docs and moon stomp away into the night.

Twisted Wheel - Who Stole The Sun, This is the video ( which a mate emailed me) which got me into this band and having seen them various times in there original and newly-formed state they are great live and I had a absolute buzz watching them.

A song which I cant help but shout at the top of my lungs, First of The Gang to Die. Amazing.

Chorley Town 2 Bamber Bridge 0

2011-03-09T00:29:00.000-08:00

Went along to Chorley FC vs Bamber Bridge FC which is a local derby tonight, Drove up in car with a few mates..

After driving up down near ground we walked there through a little back alley and to the turn styles - Very old school. Paid the 7 quid to get in and took place at the end where Chorley where attacking,

First half was alright and the one thing I did notice was the tackles going in, If that was the premier league half the fucking team would have been sent off. Chorley had the upper hand and had a few shots.

Half time came and we went up to the social club, Had a shandy ( 1.50) and settle down to just have a chat etc.

Second half comes and we do something which has been lost in the game and at our place since our all seater - Switching ends. Chorley score to make it 1-0. Same again decent tackles and turns out Chorley have decent pace down the wings...Bamber Bridge have a few chances yet in my opinion where out-played.
Was refeshing to go and watch them, May go next week against Lancaster City for the price it seems alreet however will never get the same feeling as watching my team.

On with the pictures, Decent ground....

bit of hipstamatic application..

Grassroots Football.

2011-03-06T01:38:00.000-08:00

Bentham FC vs Stories FC

This is the level where your lucky if a dog doesn't do a mix in the center circle.

Bentham FC vs Stories FC the game finished 5-1.

They play at Wenning Avenue which is not to bad for where they play, Sports club where you can get a pint at half time,Floodlights and a decent pitch, There was about 50 in attendance.

Looking at there website, They had a 500,000 refurbishment where there was changing rooms added and local people chipped in etc....A premier league player gets more than that a week.

Album Cover of The Day

2011-03-05T16:03:00.000-08:00

The Undertones - My Perfect Cousin (1980)

Track-listing:

01. My perfect cousin.
02. Hard luck again.
03. Don´t want to see (you again).

The Hacienda

2011-03-05T15:58:00.000-08:00

The Hacienda was a night club/music venue in Manchester which came to prominence in the 80's & 90's Joy Division & New Order got there early breaks in the venue, While "Madchester" band Happy Mondays also played there, It was also well known for house music and acid house, During a time when a little pill could last for hours and make you loads of new friends, Over the years it dwindled to what its former self was and was the site of shootings and the like..Here is some ace pictures via The CasualcoPictures are of fanzines/tickets/maps from the time.

There is a club in Manchester named after the Hacienda ( FAC251 "The Factory, Manchester")
Which hosts Manchester's various indie bands throughout the city.

Photography....

2011-03-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

My hobby outside of working is photography, And I personally think I have a good eye for it and can take a decent picture, I use a Fujifilm Finepix S ( 12 Megapixels) and has loads of diffrent settings.

Wigan Athletic vs Manchester United

2011-02-25T11:42:00.000-08:00

Big match preview over on redbricks...

Looks like it could be a decent game, Hope people can get down to the DW and enjoy the game. Cheer on the latics and don't give up.

We are on a decent form however we cant rule out a drubbing from that big coprate business that is Manchester United, We welcome the return of players coming back from Injury despite Boyce looking in doubt while Manchester have Ferdinand and evans while Anderson,Valencia and Park look in doubt, A chance for us? Maybe.

Head to Head

	Latics Wins	Draws	Man Utd Wins
League	0	0	11
League Cup	0	0	1
Total	0	0	12

What Are You Wearing Today

2011-02-22T09:48:00.000-08:00

Classic,Timeless. Cagoule ( Peter Storm) Victorinox polo shirt, Levis 501, Adidas Spezials.

Harris Tweed: Video.

2011-02-18T09:46:00.000-08:00

Above is a video about he history of the famous cloth, which is named after the island which it is from, Harris.

The cloth can trace its history back to way before but came to prominence in 1846 when Lady Dunmore when she had the Murray copied by Harris weavers in tweed, This proved sucessful that Lady Dunmore dedicated much of her time to market the cloth and soon the upper reaches of society was wearing this hand made cloth from the outer reaches of Scotland.

The King of Cool....

2011-02-07T15:03:00.001-08:00

Steve Mcqueen, The picture bellow says it all. One cool cat.

Live at the Herald...

2011-02-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

Went to my first gig of 2011, A small pub located in a back street in the seaside town of Southport, Not a stones throw away from the famous Lord Street.

Went there for a acoustic indie night which includes in my opinion a up and coming singer/songwriter from Manchester, Danny Mahon who I have seen quite a bit over the last year or so....He is due to release his debut album in early spring this year however, He has Beat Me Up over on Itunes for as little as 1.39 a bargain to be had, Anyway on to the acoustic night...

Got there early and parked up at the front where there where tables with candles and all that, Settled down with a coke ( Was driving you see.) and listened to the first support band who I did not know what to think off at the time, However towards the end of there set they did grow on me and seemed to be catchy...

The second where what I would call a Duo, Who seemed to be on just for a laugh, However one song I liked was about Thrush...What does that say?

Anyway, Chairs removed, Candles out and all that bollocks, Danny came on stage, And played a variety of old and new songs which I presume will be on his album and also a song about a certain music critic I think is the job title....

Decent little crowd turned up all had a good dance and a sing song, And by the looks of things a good swill was had.

Here are a few pictures from the night, One of the first band and the second, Danny Mahon.

The Cradle Of The Game...

2011-02-02T13:25:00.000-08:00

Some fantastic Pictures here via The Guardian.

You Spin Me Right Round.

2011-01-31T14:46:00.000-08:00

Northern Soul.Motown.Wigan Casino.Twisted Wheel.Talc powder. All this imagery that comes up when you mention the word and genre of music Northern Soul.

1960's England. A scene that came around after the mod scene was born and would come to the world to be known as Northern Soul.
There are a few famous night clubs that have gone down in local and music folklore - Wigan Casino, The Twisted Wheel in Manchester and Blackpool Mecca.
The Twisted Wheel club is associated with the start of this music scene. During the time, all nighters where promoted, The club soon became known as the place to here the latest music in Soul,Jazz and Rythem and Blues. The music toned down a bit and because more associated with the fast paced soul music.
Twisted Wheel closed in 1971.

The music that was played in this club and what would come to define the scene is mid-tempo heavy beat soul.

The club which is famous in my home town, The Wigan Casino was open in 1973 and closed in 1981.
People came from hundreds of miles to strut there stuff on the dance floor and listen to the up beat heavy music that was played.
The club closed in 1981 however by that time it had left a legacy, Not just in the north but within the music industry itself.

Where this mecca of Northern Soul once stood, Is a shopping centre called the Grand Arcade.

I have drifted myself into Soul Music and have started to listen to it a lot more, Mainly play lists etc..However I find the music up beating and makes me smile.

What Are You Wearing Today?

2011-01-31T08:24:00.001-08:00

Folk Rain Mac
Casialco tee
Uniqlo Selvedge
Vans Yacht Pump

Last Thing Purchased....

2011-01-31T03:28:00.000-08:00

Folk rain mac with occasional hood, In a fetching Yellow, Comes with a navy "occasional" hood.
Managed to pick this up of a forum I am on for a decent price and the jacket is fantastic quality, Comes with a small "ticket" pocked and two nice deep cut pockets, On the inside its got a the occasional hood pocket, One of the nice little details of this is the fact that Folk is written in Brail on the buttons and the zip. Also comes with a peaked hood.

Nice functional jacket, Suits me fine.

Occasional hood

Chambray Shirt

2011-01-23T13:39:00.000-08:00

essence of cool

A classic, Timeless and of course worn by quite possibly the coolest cat ever, Steve Mcqueen.

The chambray shirt is a staple in any wardrobe, and if you can pick up a quality piece of shirting, the look can be bang on.
I personally have a light grey shirt by the company tuktuk, And had it modified to the way I wanted, 1.5" collar and a top left breast pocket, everything to do with this shirt is pure quality, the fabric, the buttons and the locker loop on the shirt, Easily the best shirt in my wardrobe and one of my favourite labels in recent times, Anyway to continue with what this article is about, The Chambray Shirt.

The material that is used in Chambray, was used as early as the 1400's and was first used in cambric in France, and possibly named after the Baptiste of Chambrai the material itself is closely woven.

The shirt itself was what conned the term " blue collar" worker in the united states, the shirt itself when teamed with a pair of dark indigo jeans is known as "prison blues" in the United States.

another fact, is that the Chambray shirt is mentioned by the infamous artist, David Bowie - "You shall own a cambric shirt, You shall work your father's land, But now you shall play in the market square, Till you'll be a man".

Tuktuk Chambray Shirt

Arsenal vs Wigan Athletic

2011-01-22T03:35:00.000-08:00

15 years in charge at Arsenal...

15:00 At the Emirates stadium, London.

I wont be in attendance at this game since I can not afford to go and also we will more than likely get stuffed 4-0 however as we all know when following this team, there is always that glimmer of hope that we can come out and out play a "top" team.

We will need to put out the best team we can, And I know owd bob wont do it however play 4-4-2 and just give it all we can and maybe come away with a draw or even get a goal if luck is on our side? dont bow out and think we will lose 3 points - However all depends on how we turn up on the day.

Di-Santo is back and hopefully will make a return to the team.

Wigan League Form	Most Recent
Home	D	W	D	D	L	D
Away	L	L	L	D	W	D
Collated	D	W	D	L	D	D

Based on our form it doesnt look that good, However lets go out with some fight and show that we can still put two fingers up to the big teams and go all out for it.

Enjoy the game and cheer on the lads to 3 points.

Song: Will this mon be on fire after scoring 2 goals against Leeds?

La Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes

2011-01-21T11:27:00.000-08:00

I came about this information a book called " Gentlemen of Bacongo" and various websites that went into description of this culture of some sorts, so here at red bricks and coal we thought we would share this information with you and our own opinion.

from Le SAPE ( La Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes ) is a culture that has come out of The Congo Republic.

It, came around after the country was ruled by France, and the local's decided to have a bit of European Flair.
The people involved in this ( Known as sapeurs) dress themselves up in tailor made suits, shoes and the occasional cigar.

The Sapeurs believe in motivated and cultivating the body & the mind, Here is a quote from the book which goes into in depth detail and has some stunning photographs - “We respect other people, we don’t like war, we like peace, and we have a moral code that is very Christian,”

This cult, and the people that surround it have become cult icons in there home land and there towns.
What stands out for me in these pictures is how they clearly cut a striking image of upper class among the Poverty that surrounds them in there country and there continent, turning up in there best clothes amongst scenes of children starving and people living on the streets.

Twitter...

2011-01-20T10:38:00.001-08:00

Posted this a while back - Redbricksandcoal is on the "micro-blogging" site Twitter, @redandcoal is the twitter page/feed for this website which includes tweets about new posts,genreal musings from the writer of this website, and of course the ongoings at Wigan Athletic Football Club.

Tunes of the Day

2011-01-20T09:49:00.000-08:00

The Smiths - Headmasters Ritual

Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster

The Ramones - Blitzkreg Bop

New Order - Blue Monday

Danny Mahon - This and That

Catfish & The Bottlemen - Collide

The Rilfes - Science In Violence

Wigan Athletic vs Fulham

2011-01-14T11:46:00.000-08:00

BIG game at the DW Stadium tomorrow, A win could give us a massive boost a lose, Dont want to speak about.

Mark Hughes brings his London team up North probably expecting 3 points, I hope that bob plays a strong a team as he can and comes out all guns blazing for this game, With N'Zogbia due his return from his 3 match ban this could be the game to kick start and get some points on the board.

The last four meetings between the sides in Wigan have ended in draws
Clint Dempsey has netted five goals in seven appearances against Wigan, including a brace in this season's reverse fixture

We are going into this game on an unbeaten run and hopefully that will give the team a boost, However the statistics are not in our favour in this game - We have not beaten them since 2006.

Attendance - 19,000

Score: 1-0 (N'Zogbia)

N'Zogbia back after a 3 match ban.