Previous to this, when the Wigan Wasps emerged in 1879 and were still at Upper Dicconson Street (Folly Field), the Club jerseys were navy blue jerseys with white 'knickers'. Shortly after the formation of the Wasps, the rugby bit connected with the Wigan Cricket Club disbanded and we became Wigan F.C. Being amateur at the time, the players had to buy their own equipment and playing jerseys. If you ever look at old photographs of rugby players their kits don't seem the same, with variations in (in Wigans case) the thickness of hoops or stripes, for example. No worrying about getting a Wigan jersey in time for Christmas then... just go to the local tailor and have one made!
For the first outing of the Cherry and White hooped jersey, against Swinton, the Athletic News wasn't impressed about the punctuality of the match:
"(There) was a disgraceful instance of unpunctuality seen on the Swinton ground last Saturday. When people advertise to commence a match at three o'clock they should have some guarantees that their own arrangement will be faithfully carried out. Three o'clock does not mean "half past three", or "four", or "half past four", it means simply three o'clock, an elementary fact which it is apparently necessary to enforce on the attention of Swinton or Wigan, or perhaps both. There is a lot too much of this advertising one thing, while they mean another, and if Swinton do not keep faith with the public, the people who travel from outside districts to see their matches - and a lot of people do so - will prefer to remain at home instead of running the risk of catching colds by having to wait an hour and a half or two hours before a start is made..."It carries on... so the famous Cherry and White jersey was somewhat delayed on the day of its' outting!
Cherry and White, Its in our blood, Ancient and Loyal, Until we die.
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