DAVID SHARPE reckons it was probably the first time tequila slammers were necked in the Royal Box.
It was also his 22nd birthday, Wigan had just won the FA Cup and his grandfather Dave Whelan ended half a century of Wembley heartache.
Triumph against Manchester City five years ago was also the start of a slide from the top-flight into League One.
But Sharpe would not trade glory for survival.
The now chairman said: “I am a Wigan fan — I’d never swap it. If I was finance director I probably would swap it because of the money involved in staying in the Premier League.
“But from an emotional point of view, my grandad’s point of view, and from all our fans’ point of view, it is something that may not happen ever again.
“To have a photo taken with the FA Cup that you’ve just won, compared to having a photo next to the table saying 17th place, I know which one I would choose.”
Sharpe, 26, was chairman within a couple of years, taking over from Whelan, but says Ben Watson’s last-gasp winner feels like yesterday.
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He said: “We went a bit over the top. I think we were the first to do tequilas in the Royal Box. It wasn’t champagne for us!
“We went straight out and had a great night. We didn’t go to bed — even grandad didn’t get to bed until 5am, which was a record for him.
“We didn’t expect to win it but the day went perfectly and now our name is on the trophy and can never be taken away.”
The footnote to Wigan’s giant-killing was Premier League relegation the following week when the hangovers had barely worn off.
The club should have been carrying on the celebrations, with Whelan getting his hands on the trophy 53 years after being taken off in the final with a broken leg while playing for Blackburn.
Sharpe said: “Why the FA Cup final was played with two games to go in the Premier League, I don’t know.
5 years ago I was sat with my grandad on his proudest day as we beat Man City to win the FA cup on May 11th, my 22nd birthday!!! Now we play them again in the 5th round and I will be watching on as chairman with my grandad sat next to me!! The magic of the cup!!
pic.twitter.com/4Sxvh2vBuc
— David Sharpe (@DavidSharpe91) January 29, 2018
“It was a very strange decision and one that you wouldn’t want to see again because it did affect us.
“How can you keep your mind focused on the Premier League when your players are in the FA Cup final?
“Hopefully they have learnt from that and it has always been the last game of the season since.”
The Latics have dropped into League One twice since Watson’s winner and are eyeing promotion to the Championship as a priority.
He added: “I don’t think we were prepared for relegation or for losing Roberto Martinez to Everton. It has been a knock-on effect since then.”
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There is a chance to relive the glory of 2013 when they face City and Pep Guardiola tomorrow. But probably no tequilas this time.
Sharpe said: “I’m looking forward to it and slightly scared. Our manager drinks Peroni. I don’t know whether Pep will drink Peroni or if we will need a nice bottle of red.”
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