IT was quite remarkable.
Warrington Wolves fans teamed up with Catalan Dragons supporters in a bid to cheer the French club to the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley in 2007.
It was a mark of how far the special bond had travelled that around 800 Wolves fans swapped primrose and blue for red and gold on The Halliwell Jones Stadium terraces for the semi-final date with Wigan Warriors.
With Wolves having gone out of the competition against St Helens, the next best thing was to get behind their respected French friends as they pulled off a shock and created history as the first overseas club to reach the final.
It was a way of saying thank you for all the hospitality shown to Warrington fans when visiting Perpignan for Super League games and, at the same time, getting one over Wolves’ fierce rivals Wigan.
Also, Wolves fans understood how important it would be for the growth of the game in France if Catalans could achieve the unimaginable and reach the final.
Wolves fans got involved in fine style, buying red and gold flags to wave and joining in with the French chants. Dragons captain Jerome Guisset, the former Warrington player, highlighted what to chant in an article in the Warrington Guardian.
In a display of great sincerity, one couple famed for their extra large banner of Wolfie doctored the banner so that Wolves’ mascot was wearing a Catalan kit. The banner was on show to welcome Dragons to the stadium and was laid on the pitch prior to kick off.
To top it all off Wolfie – that furry bastian of Wolves patriotism – could not stay away and nailed his colours to the mast too, turning up in a Catalan Dragons kit.
Prop forward Guisset, well liked in his spell with Warrington, was delighted with the way Warrington fans got behind his hometown club and had also appealed for support through the pages of the Warrington Guardian and this website.
"If we could get as much Warrington support as possible to help us reach the final it would be something wonderful and unbelievable,” he said.
"If any Warrington supporter who used to support me could put a Catalan cap on for just 80 minutes it would be a massive bonus for us.
"I still say to everyone now that the Warrington fans are the best in Super League, they're proving that when they come over to Perpignan in high numbers showing their commitment to the club.
"With the support of the fans, winning against Wigan and reaching the final at Wembley next month will lift us to another level.
"It would raise our profile in France, where we still do not have the full media support for what we're doing.
"A win against Wigan now would definitely raise the profile of the club in France and that would be a massive boost for us and for the game in general."
Guisset said he was very proud of Warrington’s barmy army of supporters for the way they had got behind matches between Catalan Dragons and Wolves in France.
"The Perpignan people absolutely love it when the Warrington fans come over.
"Warrington are the only team that bring something else to their stay in Perpignan.
"All the feedback I get from the people I know in town is that they're really happy with Warrington fans.
"Obviously, the fans are complementing the business of our town while having a good time but they're so well behaved.
"Everything is done in the right manner and I'm quite proud of that because of my Warrington links."
Warrington’s then captain Lee Briers came out in support of Catalans that weekend and backed Guisset’s request for primrose and blue to be swapped for red and yellow for just one day.
Briers said: "Wigan are the old enemy and the last thing we'd want them to do is reach the first final back at the new Wembley.
"That's why I'll be donning a Catalan shirt and shouting for the Dragons.
"Wigan will bring loads of fans to the Halliwell Jones so I just hope a number of Warrington fans will turn out to cheer on the Catalan.
"So that the stadium isn't awash with cherry and white it would be great if they could come dressed in red, yellow and white."
Dragons coach Mick Potter heaped praise on the supporters who roared his team to their 37-24 victory over Wigan.
"We'd like to say a massive thanks to all the Dragons fans who followed us from Perpignan and the Catalan region and we'd also like to thank everybody from the UK who rallied round to support us,” he said.
"We certainly received a big vocal backing from the Warrington fans and I think there were plenty of neutrals in the stadium who also made their presence felt when they had to. It really was a big boost for us", said Potter.
Guisset echoed those words and added: "I think it did help.”
Were you at the game? What did you think of Catalan Dragons' win and the semi-final occasion? Tell us your memories using the 'have your say' link
How the Wolves and Dragons embrace started
Fierce fortnight as Wolves lose in France and then beat Dragons in Challenge Cup semi final
Supporters sing each other’s songs at paella party
Sharing in Catalonian celebrations
Meet those with a foot in both camps
The day Wolves fans cheered Les Catalans to Wembley
Back to our Warrington Wolves-Catalan Dragons celebration page
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