Opinion: Superb sign off to historic season

Last updated : 21 May 2013 By Paul Farrington

We’re so often accused of having no history and few supporters but Monday’s display was testament to our ever growing football club. Too often overlooked and discarded our FA Cup success this season will last forever in the history books and has truly written our terrific football club into the hearts of the nation. Those that attended the final have fantastic memories that will last a life time.

Even now just the thought of seeing Ben Watson’s header fly over the head of Joe Hart and crash into the netting of the City goal fills my heart with pride and makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Too often ridiculed in the past for supporting a team of no success it was a wonderful feeling to see my team, who I support for all the right reasons, lift the famous old trophy. It is therefore only right and true that this column make clear my thanks to all those at the club whose hard work and dedication to Wigan Athletic made this all possible.

From the tea lady to the chairman through the managers and the players, it is important that you take pride in the achievements you conquered this season. You not only made history for our football club, but you made our town immensely proud and firmly put us on the football map.

Of course the elephant in the room is our relegation from the Premier League which hopefully, as Roberto Martinez put it, does represent a temporary adjustment to our league standing.

And finally there is the optimism of a new football season and new away days to look forward to. We’re dropping down a division and so very quickly move from being a small fish in the ocean to being one of the bigger fish in the river.

We’ve gained the local derbies of Bolton, Blackburn, and Blackpool which are very much anticipated, as well as the guaranteed six European fixtures that the FA Cup provides. And all this follows our appearance in the season’s champagne opener, the charity Shield.

Whoever is leading our football club next season, we have an exciting challenge on our hands with an action packed campaign of at least 55 games, three of which will be on the continent, and we’re in better than ever shape both on the field, and financially, as a club than we have ever been.

Whatever Roberto Martinez decides to do he has been a terrific servant to our football club and is certainly fitting of an over used word, legend. From his on the field achievements to his managerial stewardship, Martinez has brought a freshness to our football club and if his legacy is to be the FA Cup victory, that is a terrific way to sign off a delightful reign.

Hopefully he will stay, lead us back to the top flight, and bring to fruition the excellent ground work that is now in place at the club. We’re starting to bring through our own players, we have a new on the field ethos, our finances are much more stable, and we’re looking to build a state of the art training facility and academy.

Relegation is a short term blip on the footballing landscape of our club and with any luck we will be back at the top table of English football. With Roberto Martinez at the helm we have grown as a football club and will hopefully continue to do so for the not to distant future. I truly think this football club could well be on the cusp of something special over the next decade.

As well as the prize money, the FA Cup has brought a lot to our football club and we should be immensely proud of this achievement. In football terms we are a very young football club and have a glorious local history in our own right.

This seasons victories at Wembley will last a life time in the memories of those that attended and were particularly sweet for the supporters who have been witness to some of the less successful periods of the not too distant past.

We’re more than ready for the challenges next season will present

Believe