Thank God I've got Rugby League to take my mind off this basket case of a club. It didn't matter who they appointed. Until Venky's do one, we are on a speedy, one way ticket to League Two.

Ian Lenagan, the Wigan chairman, was rather scathing towards the NRL, in a post match interview, in wanting them to better promote international Rugby League and I suppose you could say willing them to take the World Club Challenge more seriously but mainly to expand the competition and give the game in general more profile. Wigan have only played two friendlies and one Super League game this season and in the friendlies we played loads of young squad players, especially in the Leigh game. We seem to do this most seasons and only bring the regulars in for the first Super League game. The guy I sit next to told me he had been on a Cronulla messageboard and the general opinion was that they were going to smash us as was the opinion elsewhere of a couple of ex/current NRL players who thought their pack was going to bully us with their backs cleaning up. Well it didn't happen and didn't happen either in the Warrington/Brisbane game. There's no doubt that Cronulla pressed more in the second half and were a little unlucky with two video ref decisions (I haven't watched a re run of the game yet, so could only see the big screen which obviously isn't conclusive) but we defended well and at one point I thought we would nil them. I'm all for playing the competition mid season and also playing down under. We performed fairly well against the Roosters in Sydney in 2014 and prior to that had beaten New Zealand Warriors on their turf.

It's right up there Matt. I started off as an armchair fan, went to one Wigan game in 1994 then began going home and sometimes away in 2000. I missed the three previous times we became World Club Champions and after two recent losses in 2011 and 2014 I really wanted the win today. There's no doubting the Aussie game generally is a notch or two up from RL in this country (bigger salary cap, bigger talent pool, higher profile etc) so to get one (or two this weekend) over on them is a kind of yardstick as to where the top four or five teams over here stand.

Wigan RLFC World Club Champions. Great game this afternoon and a great atmosphere in front of 21k. Attacked and defended well, no one on the Wigan side had a bad game. A superb team performance. Whilst George Williams had a good game, I would have given the man of the match to either Joe Burgess (how can you not do after a hat trick?) or John 'I never take a step backwards' Bateman. But what the heck. Well done lads! Congratulations also to Warrington after their victory yesterday over Brisbane Broncos. RFL 2 NRL 0 How sweet is that?

The Riviera Express.

Finally, Rugby League returns. Superb first half by Wigan today, everything came down our left and Budgie soon back into his stride. Thought Escare had a very good debut and looked at home. Tommy L gradually got his kicking game going and Faz had a good game. Eased off in the second half although Salford had us pinned back for periods and deserved their scores. Overall result about right. That car park is officially the worst in the world and I definitely will not park there next season.

Yeah, I think it was Sunderland, a few seasons ago, that almost equalled/surpassed Darwen's record but, unfortunately, they still hold it.

AFC Darwen were visiting Barnton FC today and with Barnton only being two minutes away, I decided to attend. Facilities pretty poor to be honest, although I think Barnton were only promoted to this level last season. The pitch is surrounded by a perimeter fence, no terracing at all. There is a tiny (and I mean tiny) covered area more or less on each side near the half way line, one seats around 50, the other is standing only. That's it. Darwen were much the better side in the first half with most attacks coming via their tricky right winger. Barnton were on top for much of the second half and ran out winners 1-0. A draw would have been a fair result. The ref was lenient, too lenient in fact and, whilst he tended to let the play flow, there were two crunching fouls (one by each side) that should have resulted in yellow cards. All in all, a great advert for non league football, I enjoyed it thoroughly. A fiver to get in, a couple of quid for a programme, attendance approx 35.

Took in the Northwich derby yesterday which finished Witton Albion 1 Northwich Victoria 1, attendance 605 which is more than double Witton's average this season. Couple of pints beforehand in the Social Club. Not a bad game with Witton well on top and then Vics scoring against the run of play in the second half. Witton equalised on ninety minutes to deservedly get something from the game. They were easily the better side. The demise of Northwich Victoria is sad to see. Always one of the 'up there' non league outfits over the years it seemed they had a bit of money behind them a few years ago. They had a new stadium built which was very impressive only for their owner to be convicted of drug related offences and having to do time at Her Majesty's pleasure. I don't know the full story but it all fell apart. The new stadium and land was sold and a breakaway team called 1874 Northwich was formed and who are currently in the same league as AFC Darwen. Meanwhile, Northwich Victoria ground share with Witton Albion in the town whilst 1874 Northwich ground share at nearby Winsford. So, Northwich, a town of around 20k has two teams in the 8th tier of the English football pyramid and one in the ninth. Not bad at all.

Keep looking in on here, TS and keep posting. As the saying goes, 'don't let the bar stuards grind you down.' There'll only be one winner in this. It won't be Venky's.

I don't follow the NRL too much Dave but yes, will be good to play the Sharks. First silverware for some time? I was over in Brisbane in 2000 and we went to watch the Broncos v Sharks play off game. Sharks went something like 18-0 up, if my memory serves me right, before Broncos clawed it all back to win.

Life is sweet again! This injury hit, never say die squad is full of heroes. Great game yesterday and the switch a few games back from a more structured game to one of a more 'off the cuff' style has paid dividends. Well done Wigan.

Couldn't make the 2010 and 2013 Finals, so my Grand Final record is five defeats from five visits to Old Trafford! My tickets arrived yesterday.....

Quality DE and bl00dy good ammunition if we ever get before the FA again.

Hope the sculptor is a Rovers fan and has done Big Al in our McEwans Lager 1995 title winning kit. The look on those Geordie faces would be priceless. With the caption, "One Team, One Medal."

Looks like it is Merce. His name has been erased from my memory but wiki shows he played for Bury from 1965 to 1971. Blackburn born and bred.

John Connelly but not sure who against. He signed for us at the beginning of the 1966/67 season, so would never have played Leeds. My guess is against Bury.

The EFL game at Mansfield on Tuesday will be a good barometer as to our capabilities. My bet is we'll be playing them in two years time anyway along with the likes of Accy etc.

I could picture him straight away Tony and have just refreshed my memory by having a look at the 1973/74 team photograph. I too couldn't remember much about him from a playing point of view. Jackman book shows 34 appearances plus 4 as sub in a 6 year stint as a right back with us. Very sad, condolences to his family. That 73/74 third division team would have wiped the floor with the current set up, by the way.

Everyone buy season tickets and match day tickets in the Riverside only then the ground will look empty for every game!

Always good to get one over on Leeds, even if they're having a stinker of a season. Drowning out Warrington fans during their game was quality as well. Great long weekend in and around Newcastle. Nice city with eateries and bars. St James is also a mighty fine stadium. Another year in Geordieland please, then perhaps a move to the Midlands, say Villa Park?

Oops!

Should have played at the Anchor - proper ground.

The fat lady hasn't started singing yet. If they overcome Wimbledon and reach Wembley, they will expect to take around 10k fans. If they are up against Pompey, Pompey will no doubt have 40k fans there and, if it's Plymouth, they should have upwards of 30k supporters backing them. Will Accy freeze on the day? Hope not.

In their worst season for attendances, Burnley had six gates below two thousand. No Burnley fans remember that though. Regarding Stanley, I wish them all the best, including promotion. I went to quite a few of their games, home and away, during their rise through the divisions. I can't help feeling, that should they go up this year, it will be a bridge too far for them and could do them more harm than good. They already pay the lowest wages in the entire football league, so I suppose it will depend on what the new bloke will stump up in terms of funding to attract any players they wish to buy. A friend of mine who is a Jack Walker Upper season ticket holder, totally fed up with the Ewood experience, is going to Stanley this coming Saturday.