When 24-year-old Wigan forward Will Grigg signed for the Latics from Brentford for £1m at the start of the 2015/16 season, little did the Northern Ireland forward know that he’d become the centre of a fan-created chant, one that earned the fan in question a reward from the club.
But become the centre of a chant he has, albeit it with the distinct help of 25 League One goals that have helped propel Wigan back into the Championship at the first attempt after being relegated at the end of the 2014/15 season.
Taking the melody of Gala’s 1997 hit ‘Freed from Desire’, the terrace chant has morphed into something more than just a chant and has come to signify the momentum behind Wigan’s resurgent push towards promotion at the first time of asking after relegation to League One.
The lyrics are simple, yet like all football chants they are catchy and refuse to let themselves be shaken free:
“Will Grigg’s on fire, your defence is terrified. Will Grigg’s on fire, your defence is terrified. Na na nan na na na na, nan na na na na na…”
Such has been the way that this has caught on with the Wigan fans and, essentially taken social media by storm, that Wigan’s 23-year-old chairman David Sharp has sent the following offer to the man recognised as being behind the catchy terrace anthem, Latic fan Sean Kennedy (@KennoUTJ)
For inventing the best chant ever known to man, you've earned yourself a free season ticket for next season @KennoUTJ. Will Griggs on fire 🔥
— David Sharpe (@DavidSharpe91) May 16, 2016
Such is the wide-ranging reach of the ‘Will Grigg’s on fire’ mantra that it is even finding its way into favour with world-reknowned childrens’ favourite Peppa Pig who is seemingly proud of the fact that she doesn’t listen to the same ‘baby music’ of Chloe Pig, Simon Squirrel and Belinda Bear (below)
https://twitter.com/WillGriggFire/status/731577323707895811
