Martintheguinness thoughts & words on his and his family’s big day out.

Before the recent home FA Cup match against Bournemouth we went to collect Gary Caldwell’s shirt that my son Jack had won in a Latics kids club competition.

My four kids & myself arrived at the DW Stadium just before 12 .15 pm along with the team of the week, “The Pirates” an under tens team from Leyland, they were singing “we are the V.I.P.S” me and the kids grinned at each other knowing we were too.

We were met by Emily Bailey and along with the Pirates we were shown into, the players lounge,
were all the children were each given a scarf and a programme.

After a little wait, the official photographer arrived and we started a tour, we went along the corridor to the Latics dressing room, for any one who has not been in here the walls are covered with giant photos mostly of Wigan Athletic since the arrival at the stadium and one or two of the Warriors.

We then met Graham Barrow who seemed delighted when I told him in front of his coaching staff that he was one of my heroes in his playing days, my children said that they felt like they were in a dream and that it was not really happening to them, we then looked around the dressing room at all the players shirts and had some time to take pictures including the tactics board 

Next up was going out through the player’s tunnel and out into the technical area were Senor Martinez stands, a few photos later and the man himself arrives he has some picture with the Pirates in the dug out.

He then came over to talk to us pitch side and have his photo taken with us all (Lucky man), my youngest son Sam then asked him what he thought of the recent run of refereeing decisions against us Senor Martinez agreed with that it was terrible and we went back over the Figueroa incident at Newcastle and the Arsenal match amongst others.

After this senor Martinez had retired to the dressing room while then waited for the players coming in who all to a man singed every child’s programme as Gary Caldwell was not there Emmerson Boyce Jacks favourite player then presented Jack with Gary’s shirt.

All of us then went back into the corridor were we were greeted by the Bournemouth players as they arrived in the ground, sad to say none of them would sign any autographs and mostly they did not speak to the Pirates or my children.

I thought that was a bit rude of them and hoped that we would stick six past them, sadly that did not happen

We then left through the main entrance and went over too the usual pre match Club all in all a very enjoyable tour

A special thank you to Katherine Littlewood who organised it all and made us very welcome on a memorable day for the kids & me !

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