Wigan Warriors will celebrate with a fitting end to a fabulous rugby season when they receive a welcome fit for heroes in Wigan this weekend.
On Saturday October 2, the Warriors will take on their old rivals St Helens at Old Trafford to decide who will lift the Super League Grand Final Trophy.
The day after this epic clash of the titans Wigan’s hometown favourites will be guests of honour at a special homecoming celebration right in the heart of the town centre followed by a civic reception at Wigan Town Hall.
The event which will take place regardless of Saturday’s result will begin at 11.30am on Sunday October 3 and soon after the Warriors will arrive at Market Place.
Leader of Wigan Council Lord Peter Smith and Mayor of Wigan, Councillor Michael Winstanley will be among the civic dignitaries to congratulate the Warriors on their monumental season.
Lord Smith says: “The Wigan Warriors are the flag bearers for sporting excellence in our borough. They are fantastic role models for our young people to aspire to and their success continues to secure Wigan’s place on the sporting map. We are all rooting for them to do well against St Helens on Saturday and bring the trophy back home to the borough where it belongs but win or lose we’ll be welcoming them back in fine style.”
The Warriors’ honours this year include finishing top of the Super League, winger and fullback Pat Richards was named Man of Steel and stand-off Sam Tomkins was crowned Young Player of the Year.
Warriors Head Coach Michael Maguire, who also picked up the Coach of the Year accolade, says: “Any game against St Helens is going to be a tough one but we’re going to Old Trafford to win. We are really pleased and proud to be representing Wigan. Our fans really are the best rugby supporters in the world, they’ve stuck by the team through thick and thin and this is our way of saying thank-you to them.”
The celebration will begin at 11.30am on Sunday at Market Place and fans are urged to arrive in plenty of time to avoid a rush.
There will be entertainment for the crowd in the shape of the Warriors’ cheerleading squad along with a live road show.
Fans travelling to the town centre for the event are urged to use public transport or walk into the town centre.
For those travelling in by car – all of the town’s surface car parks, such as Harrogate Street, Chapel Lane, Sovereign Road, Peppermill and Mona Street are free on Sundays. The Galleries, Water Street (opens at noon) and the Grand Arcade are pay car parks.
* In the event of Wigan Warriors winning the 2010 Grand Final there will also be an Open Top Bus Tour into the town centre which will head from:-JJB Sports HQ, Scot Lane, Robin Park Road to the Saddle Junction, Wallgate past Wigan Pier, Queen Street, Chapel Lane, Riverway to Powell Street, then Standishgate to Market Place.
* More information about the event will be released later in the week and for more information on the Super League Grand Final visit the Wigan Warriors website –
www.wiganwarriors.com (External Link)
