Wigan Athletic fan's new tattoo depicts his love for the club

Lifelong Latics supporter Bradley Foster, from Hindley, now has on his calf an image of a young boy walking out at the DW Stadium and the club’s badge.

Bradley was a mascot on three occasions when he was young and spoke of the thrill of emerging from the tunnel beside his heroes.

He still goes to home and away matches, with a group of his family having established a routine for spending time together when games are at the DW Stadium.

And he hopes getting inked with a visual depiction of his dedication to the cause will cheer up fellow supporters dismayed by Latics’ plunge into administration and send a message to those determining the club’s future just how much it means to those on the terraces.

Bradley, 18, said: “I’ve supported Wigan Athletic all my life.

“I was a mascot three times when I was about six, I remember the players all seemed about triple my size.

“I walked out with Maynor Figueroa, Charles N’Zogbia and Gary Caldwell.

“I remember it like it was yesterday.

“When you have memories like that you don’t forget about them.

“I wanted to get a tattoo but didn’t know what.

“I told the guy I wanted the Wigan Athletic badge because I was thinking that with the situation as it is it might bring everyone together if they saw what I had done.

“He came up with the idea of the badge with the stadium in the background and it was perfect.“This club is more than just a badge. I go to the games with my family and it’s an all-day event on a Saturday, it’s not just 90 minutes of football and then you go home.

“It gets things out of your head, it’s good for mental health. “

Bradley’s dad Ian posted his son’s tattoo on several Latics groups on social media and hundreds of fans have replied with positive messages.

He had his first tattoo inked at Holy Trinity studio in Standish and was in the chair for four hours to get the design completed.

Wigan Athletic may currently be in a difficult position but Bradley remains defiant about Latics’ future.

He said: “No matter how far we go down hopefully we can come back. It doesn’t matter if it takes five, 10 or even 20 years, I won’t be going anywhere.

“Your club is your club. I was born and bred in Wigan and that’s who I love and who I support.”