Wigan Athletic - Our Club, My Club, Carl Davies

Vital Latics member Carl Davies, aka pienpeys, shares with us a few memories and thoughts on his time watching Wigan Athletic, it is quite obvious that Carl is bursting with pride in our great club, but we are also bursting with pride in Carl, for those who didn't realise, it was Carl that instigated the 'meet and greets' of the Latics players and rallied the troops just when times were getting desperate, more of that later, for now over to you Carl:

I started watching Wigan Athletic in 1975, all be it on my father's shoulders for the first couple of years.

Memories of watching our club range from mass hysteria to the edge of desperation. Coming up into the league was a fabulous occasion, which I will never forget. The Freight Rover Trophy versus Brentford was terrific especially after the match, with both sets of fans exchanging shirts and scarves in London Underground.

Had some great times, especially away in my younger days when I never made it to the ground after the amount of ale took effect.

A few times in the late 80's and early 90's, things looked desperate. During the Bill Kenyon era, relegation to Division 4, rattling buckets outside the ground to pay players wages and going cap in hand to our neighbours were hard times.

All this changed when Dave Whelan took charge and after a first season under Jewell that wasn`t great, we then wiped the floor with everyone for the following seasons. 100 points was a memorable season, 4000 fans at Huddersfield and so many more occasions that are too numerous to mention.

Fast forward to recent history and up to The Premiership was a dream realised. Then to go on a run that included a top 10 finish and a place in the Carling Cup final after knocking out Arsenal was simply majestic.

A few seasons since, we have had some great results. Avoiding relegation with some amazing games has been an achievement in its self.

Fast forward to last season, and we were bottom after a defeat to Swansea. The same desire that wanted me to collect for players wages when in desperation, made we want to do more again. As some sets of fans were protesting, Wigan Athletic fans came out to applauded and cheer the manager and players for the next match and every home game after.

A huge sense of achievement, pride in the club, pride in the best fans in the world and after the way we ended our last campaign, more than hope for next season.

Then, in a show of loyalty that will never be matched, our manager twice turned down Aston Villa and then Liverpool to stay with our fabulous club.

A club like no other, Wigan Athletic FC.

Carl Davies



By permission of Bernard Platt/Wigan Athletic

















Latics and Proud



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