Rewind thirty years and the red half of Liverpool were busy amassing their haul of league titles and conquering Europe whilst the round ball followers in Wigan were merely happy with the fact of being elected to league football from the abyss of non-league obscurity.
It is perhaps worth a moment to pause for reflection the progress that our great club has made in such a short space on time, just fifteen years ago we won the Division Three (League Two in new money terms) title.
The story is well heralded in these supporter columns and so this is not a piece that will dwell on our joyous rise through the football pyramid but rather serve as a reminder that our football club sits strongly at the top table of English football and season after season continues to punch above its weight.
On Monday evening I was listening to our regional radio station, although as far as I’m concerned Wigan is in Lancashire but that is another feature altogether, and my fellow Wigan Athletic columnist Martin Tarbuck was bestowing the virtues of our present set up.
The shows host was trying with all his might to get Martin to let go of reality, throw caution to the wind, and suggest we should be throwing Dave Whelan’s money around in the vein hope of success. Thankfully Martin is a sensible breed and didn’t fall for this.
Instead, much as our wonderful football club does day in and day out, Martin focussed on what Wigan Athletic means. We are true to our humble beginnings and our roots, we understand that our present success should not be taken for granted.
Working in Liverpool I have had a good dose of humility this week but behind every Liverpool fans taunts is the hollow thought that they used to be the best in Europe and it gave me pride as a Wigan Athletic supporter that their 3-0 win over us meant so much.
Once upon a time the mighty Liverpool wouldn’t have even acknowledged a fixture against Wigan Athletic.
As my final note I would like to make clear that whilst I have been none to critical of our 3-0 defeat, it still frustrates. Ambition and determination to better oneself is a terrific quality to have. From the chairman, through to the manager and even down to the tea lady, our club has ambition in abundance.
Our manager has spoken of how we can get to the next level, he has even spoken of targeting a top half finish, without throwing money around money we don’t have. For Wigan Athletic to managed a top half finish we have to be innovative given our small budget.
We are building from the ground up and the signing this week of Lee Nicholls for another year until 2015 is the best piece of news we could have hoped for.
Lee is a player who will be wrote about in columns such as this for years to come. In his short footballing career to date he has represented England at youth levels and is presently performing admirably for Northampton Town on loan.
Developing players such as Lee through our ever improving youth team and facilities is a major addition to the development of Wigan Athletic as a club. Imagine if we could develop a Leighton Baines each and every year.
Our defeat this week will have hurt, but continue to be humble, continue to be patient, and continue to believe. We’re Wigan Athletic, we’re living the dream, and we’re determined to fulfil our ambitions of a top half finish.