He stated before the final, he would take the FA Cup to show the kids at the launch of the Youth Zone, a project that the Latics players contributed £1m from bonuses, and Martinez himself gave £250k.

Football is football, as important as the game was, you can't let sport take precedence over everyday life. I would say the same for the final itself, when Boyce brought Joseph Kendrick onto the pitch, the importance of winning the game paled into insignificance.

Didn't know he'd broken his leg. Why has nobody said????

Its giving people the opportunity to discuss Latics, Whelan, their relegation, cup win, future relationship with Wigan Warriors, without over-zealous mods moving it to the "Other Sports" section.

I say let it run - lots of people have lots to say and the thread is actually rather interesting!

Never understood the hatred in the town. I'm glad Wigan Athletic won the FA Cup & I'm gutted they've been relegated. I take on board people's experiences with fans may not have been nice from either sets. I myself have taken abuse from Latics fans for my rugby affiliation. WAFC however, are not a person or a political party espousing their views on the public. Wigan Athletic are a football club representing the town on the pitch just like Wigan rugby and in the same way that drug addicts, violent offenders, thieves and rapists (of which there is,have been and will be in the future) don't represent the Wigan people as a whole neither do supporters. Wigan is my town, I'm proud of that.

There was some interesting stuff at the start but as is usually some people can't help themselves the longer it has gone on with the usual bile. I think a lot of it is jealousy at the profile the Latics have had the past week or so. More people probably watched Saturday's game around the world than have done in our entire history.

I give it a few pages before some over-zealous mod puts it out of its misery.

Well said.

I also have a lot of respect for anyone who has supported Wigan Athletic and/or Wigan Warriors through good times and bad.

They are the real winners and the ones that will get most enjoyment out of sporting success in the town.