From Wigan Athletic FC

Introducing Miranda Taylor, our Cayman Islands based Latics fan.

Meet Miranda Taylor, Wigan born and now based in the Cayman Islands.

Miranda used to contribute to the match day programme and Wigan Athletic TV!
Latics fans worldwide standing up to be counted for the Football League.
Meet Cayman Islands based Wigan Athletic supporter Miranda Taylor! She’s one of almost 500 Latics fans signed up across the world for the chance to win flights, tickets and accommodation through the Football League’s Stand Up and Be Counted campaign.

Miranda’s story actually begins in Wigan itself, growing up here and supporting her hometown team since 1997. We take a closer look below with our final instalment.

NAME: Miranda Taylor
AGE: 31
LOCATION: Cayman Islands

Why did you start supporting Wigan Athletic?

I’m from Wigan, so it was the natural thing for me to support my hometown club.

What was the first Latics game you attended?

I remember being taken to my first Latics game by my neighbour and her Latics mad family in 1997, it was at Springfield Park and I was instantly hooked.

The game was against Cardiff City, it was a midweek match and freezing cold, there can’t have been many supporters braving the weather that night, but I just loved how close knit the Latics community and club was.

So, tell us more about how your support turned into working for the club.

I started writing a column in the match day programme when I was 16-years-old in 2000. The idea was to give a younger persons dimension of the game and for me to relate to the next generation of Latics fans.

I would give my opinions on players, transfers, results, upcoming games and general goings on around the club. My column was featured for the next five seasons.

In 2005 I was offered the role as the anchor presenter for the pre game stadium production Wigan Athletic TV.

What is it like supporting Latics now that you’re in the Cayman Islands?

I work as a waitress over here and all of the American tourists are always asking me about football (or soccer as they like to call it!!!). When they ask me where I’m from I always tell them Wigan, which is a town in between Manchester and Liverpool. The next question is always “so who do you support, Manchester or Liverpool?”, I am quick to proudly tell them NEITHER! “I support my home team Wigan Athletic”, is my response, and then I tell them tales of promotion and our FA Cup triumph, as well as the importance of supporting your local team.

There aren’t many Wigan Athletic supporters on the island, but with a population of 50,000, I’m not that surprised. There is a great mixture of people from all over the UK though, which makes following football just as interesting.

I find it pretty easy to keep up to date with everything happening at Wigan, what with the influence of social media, and not to rub it in, but I often watch games live whilst enjoying a cocktail on the picturesque Seven Mile Beach – a complete contrast to a pie a pint wrapped up at half time at the DW – although that is something I really miss.

No matter how beautiful it is here, it doesn’t even begin to compare to the feeling and atmosphere of supporting my team live. Football is definitely one of the biggest things I miss about living here, and I have found it tough not being at a game in over four years.

I remember watching the FA Cup final live, as well as Skyping my friends whilst they were in Wembley Stadium soaking up all of the pre-match build-up. It was a such a proud moment, but at the same time upsetting that I wasn’t there to witness such a moment.

What are your hopes for the new season?

I hope we can bounce back from relegation quite quickly, I think we need a good start to the campaign to reignite confidence within the players, fans and the club as a whole. It’s definitely our time to re-emerge stronger than ever!

Are you a Latics fan living outside of the United Kingdom? Join our growing worldwide support on the Stand Up and Be Counted map by [clicking here].

IMAGES:
Springfield Park – The venue for Miranda’s first Latics match.
Miranda at Seven Mile Beach.

For more on this story go to: http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/news/article/cayman-islands-latics-miranda-taylor-2645441.aspx#umEqBpJaqddGgWXm.99