David Perkins

It was sad to see the Latics fans’ favourite David Perkins leave this week after three years with the club. The 35-year-old has joined Rochdale on a two-year deal after getting limited game time this season. The diminutive terrier goes with a big thank you and the best wishes of everyone at Wigan Athletic.

Perkins had amazing energy for a player in his early 30’s and he always gave 100 per cent commitment. He is a very likeable character and was a bit of a joker in the dressing room.

Before joining Latics he played for many other clubs including Morecambe, Rochdale, Colchester, Chesterfield, Stockport, Barnsley and Blackpool but he had never achieved a promotion until he managed it with Wigan.

Perkins was ‘Mr. Consistency’ during his first season with the club. Who’d have thought that the free transfer from relegated Blackpool would have had such a positive impact in 2015/16.

Well Graham Barrow and Gary Caldwell obviously did and the 5 ft. 6 in midfielder was a revelation. The tenacious terrier seemed to win every contested ball, ran miles for the cause and always kept the play moving.

He formed a great partnership with Max Power and latterly with Sam Morsy in the centre of Latics’ midfield.

Perkins played 48 games that season and he just never seemed to stop running. He achieved a remarkable quadruple in that first season winning Player of the Season, Players Player, Away Player of the season and of course, a title winning medal.

Not only did he win those awards, but also it was his first promotion as a player, and everyone agreed it couldn’t have been more deserved. He was such a popular player and character that he had his own song, which likened him to the former Manchester United and England international Paul Scholes.

“It’s Perkins you know, can’t believe it’s not Scholes…..”

Perkins is not renowned for his goal scoring abilities however and it was not until this season that he came on as substitute to score his first goal for the club against former club Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

In some of the worst conditions I’ve experienced at a game, Latics came back from one down to win 3-1 with Perkins scoring a special third goal. It was a very memorable moment as the whole away end rose to celebrate with the fans’ hero.

Overall David Perkins appeared 98 times in a Latics shirt and scored just that one goal, but he will always be remembered as the engine that powered the League One title winning team in 2015/16.