Thousands celebrate Wigan Athletic promotion to Championship

Video report from Granada Reports Journalist Claire Hannah

Thousands of Wigan Athletic fans have joined the club in celebrating their promotion to the Championship.

The annual end of season Party in the Park was held in Mesnes Park in the town on Sunday May 1, but this time round with plenty to celebrate.

The Latics secured the League One title and promotion to the Championship with a 3-nil victory at Shrewsbury.

Wigan Athletic's motto in recent years has been 'believe'. Club captain Tendayi Darikwa said "If you believe you can achieve, I know it's a bit tongue in cheek saying it but look where we are now. Hopefully we can carry on making everyone proud".

The squad showed off the trophy to the crowds in Mesnes Park exactly a year to the day they avoided relegation to League two, and after a very rocky two years which saw the club go into administration, but then get new owners.

And the crowds turned out in their hundreds to show their appreciation, with Wigan's Crusty the Pie getting in on the action too.

This was the first full season under the ownership of Phoenix 2021 Limited and chairman Talal Al Hammad.

From the outside, promotion looked to be an audacious target for a side that had just a small number of senior players on the books after surviving relegation to League Two in the previous season.

However, for manager Leam Richardson, his squad and the Board, the belief was always there that the club could once again continue its history of defying the odds, which it truly has once again.

At Shrewsbury, the club chairman Talal al-Hammad made sure he went over to the stands to say thank you, to be greeted with the chant "Talal is a Wiganer".

The club said "On a proud afternoon for everyone associated with Wigan Athletic, the club would like to place on record their gratitude to everyone who has helped them on their way to lifting the League One title".