Darren Royle
and Jonathan Jackson joined the PWU Latics podcast crew for this week’s
recording at the Beech Hill Book Cycle studio.
The dynamic
duo spent close on two hours with us as we discussed all things Latics, got to
know a little of Darren’s background, how he became involved with the new
owners and the vision for the future.
A fascinating
insight and we felt very positive about the coming months and continuation of
the legacy that the Whelan’s have built at the club.
The
recording of the evening is available below, simply click play on the embedded
player and please feel free to leave any feedback.
Progress With Unity Podcast
PWU Latics Podcast - Epsiode 19 - Darren Royle & Jonathan Jackson
An emotional
day last Sunday as the Latics bid farewell to the Whelans. The 23rd
minute round of applause was a great tribute celebrating 23 years of the family’s
ownership of the club – and what a 23 years it has been.
Whatever
your thoughts on Dave Whelan’s reasons for buying the Latics back in the day,
and there are a vast array of opinions on this, one thing that cannot be
disputed is the success that he brought to what was a very small club,
struggling not only to retain its league status but also struggling to avoid
going out of business.
The first
game under his stewardship, a Tuesday night in late February, 1,452 fans turned
up to a dilapidated Springfield Park as we beat Hartlepool 2-0 in what is now
League 2, hardly an indication of what was to follow.
I was at
that very first fans forum when he declared that the aim was Premiership within
10 seasons, I didn’t laugh, I thought that is just what we need - ambition and
that had been missing at the club for a number of years where survival was the only
goal.
The journey
had started, the first promotion under John Deehan was achieved, the new
stadium being built gave us the focus that we were indeed on the up, exciting
players came to the club, great managers, two more promotions, eight years in
the top flight, the magic of the FA cup win and a European tour, what an
absolute privilege to be around to witness this.
So thank you
Dave Whelan, David Sharpe and all the family who have provided me, through the
Latics, with so much pleasure over the past 23 years.
Welcome to
Melvin Yan Min Zhang, Thomas Chan, Joe and Darren Royle, you have big shoes to
fill, hopefully you can build on the success and legacy that has been passed on
to you.
An emotional farewell to the Whelans and an excited hello to the new owners, IEC, or as we like to call them - Melvin and Tom.
Leeds United came, saw and beat us, they looked a good side but we are seriously hit by injury woes.
Latics Legends XI is now complete and what a team it is - also what a reserve sidee too.
We have a Boro preview with oppo fan Danny, unfortunately we have a technical problem with interference and have had to cut quite a bit of what was a great piece.
The
Latics are back on the road this week when we travel up to the Riverside
Stadium to meet high flying Middlesbrough.
The
man charged with keeping the game flowing will be Barnsley referee, the aptly
named, Darren England.
This
is England’s fourth season as a Football League referee.
The 33 year old born
and bred Barnsley man does have ‘big game’ experience, indeed his name should
be very familiar with Latics supporters, cast your minds back to the 13th April
2013, Wembley Stadium, FA Cup semi-final, he ran the line as the Latics beat
Millwall on the road to winning the famous old trophy.
England
has been running the line for several seasons in the Premier League, he also
ran the line the 2015 FA cup final between Arsenal and Aston Villa and he has
experienced Champions League games and international matches, but he decided to
swap the flag for the whistle and bowed out running the line in an international
friendly between Norway and Sweden.
England says about his decision to become a ref
– ‘I will miss being involved in Premier League and international and
European games but the aim is to be back there as a referee one day. It’s
short-term sacrifice for long-term reward. Being involved in the big games as a
referee would be even better than running the line in them.’
Darren
England is also a former academy coach at Barnsley FC, one of his former
players there is current Everton defender John Stones, he also worked for
Barnsley Community Trust before moving to the Football League Trust where he is
employed promoting the National Citizens Service for teenagers.
Darren
England last ref’d us back in September 2016 when we went down 2-0 at Brentford
back in September.
MIDDLESBROUGH v Wigan Athletic Referee - Darren England Assistants – Nick Greenhalgh &
James Mainwaring Fourth Official – Tom Nield
An emotional farewell to the Whelans and an excited hello to the new owners, IEC, or as we like to call them - Melvin and Tom.
Leeds United came, saw and beat us, they looked a good side but we are seriously hit by injury woes.
Latics Legends XI is now complete and what a team it is - also what a reserve sidee too.
We have a Boro preview with oppo fan Danny, unfortunately we have a technical problem with interference and have had to cut quite a bit of what was a great piece.
This feels a
little awkward to be honest, questioning the team after the midweek loss at
Millwall, but considering it was the 6th defeat from seven away
days, 7 from eight if you count the EFL Cup defeat at Rotherham, there is a
definite trend to be considered.
Our
performances and results at the DW Stadium are electric, unbeaten and 17 points
gained from a possible 21 is promotion form, so where does the problem lie?
At home we
play a high energy, high pressing game that keeps us on the front foot, on
Saturday against West Brom we never allowed them to settle in possession at the
back and harried and harassed what is undoubtedly a very talented team so much so
that, barring the opening 20 minutes, they never had a look in. It was a
typical Paul Cook side performance.
Move on to
Tuesday and the energy, drive and fire had vanished, lumping aimless long balls
up field, not closing down space or players and allowing what can only be
described as a very poor team in Millwall to somehow muster over 20 attempts at
goal, certainly leaves you scratching the old head as to what brings on such a
transformation in our play away from home.
If at the
start of the season I’d have been told that following 14 games we’d be 12th
on 20 points I would have been delighted, and I am, absolutely delighted, but
we need to sort out our away day blues as a priority.
We have
certainly missed the pace and directness of Gavin Massey. Will Grigg and
Michael Jacobs are also big losses at this time but Cook needs to find a
solution to this and keep us in the top half of the table as we approach winter.
I have every
confidence that we will break the away day hoodoo, it is just a little
frustrating and disappointing at the moment.
From West Brom to Millwall, the highs and lows of being a Latics fan.<br><br>A great performance and yet another home win on Saturday was reversed by an abject away display at the Den as the Latics away form continues to be a concern, just what is going wrong?<br><br>We have the latest debate around the Latics Legend XI, this time it is centre midfield and this is a very hard choice to make over the eight the nominees never mind the final selection.<br><br>Sheffield United preview featuring Blades fan Adam live from Kiev, 'Ref Watch' and #tics predicts.
We are back
in action at the end of a busy week on Saturday when Sheffield United will be
hosting us at Bramall Lane, to ensure that the play is within the laws of the
game Hartlepool referee Tony Harrington will be officiating.
Harrington, who is in his 6th season on the National List and part of the Select
Group 2 professional officials, has been in charge of six Latics games
previously, he had three games in our last Championship campaign, the 1-2 away
win at Huddersfield back in November 2016, he had a great game that night failing to
be conned by the theatrics of the Huddersfield players as he waved away two
stonewall penalty appeals, good lad, he was also in charge of our 2-1 win over
Wolves at the DW Stadium in the September, he issued six yellow cards that
evening, three to each side, Jordi Gomez, Shaun MacDonald and Nick Powell
picking up the bookings for us, Will Grigg banged home the winner right at the
death.
The 3rd
game that season was a very disappointing 0-2 home defeat to Aston Villa, that
was the first game of Graham Barrow’s final reign as boss having taken over
from the inept Warren Joyce the week before.
The other three games all came at the DW Stadium, a 2-1 Championship win in
November 2013, there was also a goalless draw against Brentford in October
2014, again in the Championship and last season’s final game in League One when
we picked up the title but got smashed by Barnsley 1-4 with Chris McCann seeing
red late on.
Of Harrington’s 9 games this season 8 have been in Championship, the other one
coming in the EFL cup.
Tony Harrington Card Watch 2018/19
Games – 9
Yellows – 28
Reds – 1
Sheffield United v Wigan Athletic
Referee – TONY HARRINGTON Assistants – Paul Hodskinsonand Geoff
Russell Fourth Official – Andy Halliday
From West Brom to Millwall, the highs and lows of being a Latics fan.<br><br>A great performance and yet another home win on Saturday was reversed by an abject away display at the Den as the Latics away form continues to be a concern, just what is going wrong?<br><br>We have the latest debate around the Latics Legend XI, this time it is centre midfield and this is a very hard choice to make over the eight the nominees never mind the final selection.<br><br>Sheffield United preview featuring Blades fan Adam live from Kiev, 'Ref Watch' and #tics predicts.
