This was my first final too I was 6 I am sure that the only thing on the shirt was the maker called buckta it was in small letters on the right of the chest.

I know that (and mention it) but when the team sheets were shown on the screen before kick off the Wigan team was shown with the metro crest. My question was did we ever change our official crest, ie if we had got to Wembley in 83 would we have had that on our shirts, or was it a BBC errror which it seems to have been.

It was bukta, the version IIRC was the bukta 'marauder', this was the last season we wore it as umbro took over the following year, strangely though we wore the old kit for the first 2 games of the season (both away) and the new one made its appearance at home v Leigh.

Oi! 1983 is not "Old"!!!!

I was in Riley's snooker hall once and there is an old programme on the wall with a Metropolitan borough crest on it. I thought it was a Latics programme until I looked closer and it was deffo a Wigan one.

I'm almost certain that the 1983 Bukta shirt was my first replica shirt purchased. No sponsorship, plain cherry and white with collar.

Does anyone know if this was the first year the club released replica shirts for supporters. One thing I remember is I was definitely in a minority wearing mine at the time.

You could buy Bukta rugby shirts at almost any sports shops at the time, they were the most common available around that period. I believe the first 'official replicas' would be the umbro kit in 1984, these had no sponsors on as JJB only came on board for the Challenge Cup semi final against York at the latter end of the season (there was then a mad rush to get the flock JJB lettering ironed on).

I've still got my pre JJB Wigan shirt complete with Wigan 'ancient & loyal' embroidered badge on it. Made of cotton.

How many wiganers know the significance of the towns motto ?

Roy I remember you telling me that you were there for the presentation.