Review: Wigan Athletic - Season of Dreams

Last updated : 14 July 2006 By Paul Farrington

The book, Wigan Athletic – Season of Dreams charters the club's first season in the top flight. It was a bold move to devise the title before a ball was kicked, but on reflection a more perfect title could not be devised.

I must admit that I didn't have high hopes for the book and I had a preconception that it would be loaded with match reports that had been copied and pasted from the Wigan Observer. I also had a fear that it would be jam packed with over-sized pictures, too much statistical nonsense and all the usual clichés to describe the previous season.

I couldn't have been more wrong. Season of Dreams is packed with stories and interviews that you will not have seen before. It is full of inside information from the dressing rooms with stories about different players behind the scenes.

The individual chapters themselves not only reveal and re-live a wonderful season - bringing all those terrific memories flooding back - but they also offer invaluable insight into the workings of the club.

Alongside the expected detail charting the club's progress in individual games, I particularly enjoyed reading the in-depth features. These included amongst many, Steve McMillan's pre-Chelsea game diary, a superb interview with Graham Kavanagh and a history of Paul Jewell's life in football to date.

It was also particularly interesting to read the detailed chapter charting a typical regime for Sky Sports on covering a Wigan Athletic match. I was astounded as to how much work goes into making the production run so smoothly.

There are also contributions from Dave Whelan himself, an excellent review from supporter and journalist Phil O'Brien, and Stuart Maconie.

In particular, it was fantastic reading the two page spread detailing all the comical quips made by Paul Jewell throughout the season. This made me appreciate not only what a fantastic manager we have in charge of the club, but also how colourful and in-touch with life he is. I still love seeing the picture of Brenda Spencer presenting him with his 41st birthday shirt - fantastic.

The book begins with what can only be described as a wonderful introduction. It whets the appetite to read on and instils a strong sense of fantasy about just what Wigan Athletic have achieved this season.

The two page spread charting what was said by various newspapers and reporters before a ball was kicked makes interesting reading. I can remember that we were given no chance, but to look back at some of the down-right disrespectful comments that were made makes the phenomenal success of last season all the more satisfying.

Chapter 2 describes how the club prepared for their first ever season in the top flight. Excellent reading for a true fan and gives a top-notch insight into the working of the club and just how much hard work has been put into the club. The chapter unfolds a great deal of detail about the inside running of Wigan Athletic and you can see just how much changed inside the stadium as well as the club.

There is a cracking interview with young defender Leighton Baines, this reveals just what has driven the Kirkby youngster to the top and what his aims are for the future. Of course there is also information on the film which will make further history for the Latics, with a look behind the scenes and an interview with the producer.

The chapter charting the clubs rise to the very top is possibly the most interesting read for an outsider to the club. A terrific sense of humility will come across you when you realise just what a incredibly unreal achievement it is that has been accomplished by Paul Jewell and his team.

Supplementing the excellent coverage of the season and the interesting articles scattered throughout the flowing book are full-colour pictures that bring to life the content superbly.

I was delighted to discover that this book was not just match reports, over-sized pictures and tables full of statistics. Whilst there is plenty of this which will become all the more interesting in the distant future, there is also a great deal of fresh new material that makes superb reading for all Wigan Athletic supporters.

Make no mistake, this is a first class book for a first class season and club. A book that will stand the test of time and not only now, but in years to come, will help to recapture and relive the memories of a wonderful season for all Wigan Athletic supporters. After reading the book I guarantee you will feel as if you are a part of Wigan Athletic's remarkable story.

The book is for sale in all good Wigan book stores, while you can get the book online from Amazon.co.uk - click here.