Bobby relives magical moments
Goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms would relish a Wembley appearance with Latics...even though he is a veteran having played at the national stadium six times during his illustrious career.
As Latics' goal tomorrow is to inch one step closer to Wembley in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, when they play Notts County at Boundary Park in the Northern Area Quarter Final, Mimms knows only too well what it would mean should they progress through three further rounds.
Mimms (pictured) said: "It would be good for the club and would keep interest alive in the season.
"As a club, we have taken it seriously from round one because we want to progress. We know the importance of the competition, not just for the club but also fans who generally come on board more in the latter rounds.
"They will be looking at the result tomorrow thinking they may soon be having a day out at Wembley,
"I have been lucky enough to play at Wembley so I know what you are actually playing for in these early rounds.
"They are great days out, great for the club and for the fans and, as a player, you know the importance of such games as tonight."
Mimms has been reliving his own memories of playing on the hallowed turf.
He played for Everton in the FA Cup Final in 1986, when they lost to Liverpool, and for Blackburn Rovers who beat Leicester in the 1992 play-off final to win promotion to the Premier League.
Mimms said: "Though Everton lost, it was still a great day as it was the first all-Merseyside cup final and a massive occasion for the city.
"I had never been there as a kid and that was my first memory of Wembley.
"At Blackburn we beat Leicester 1-0 in the play-off final to get into the Premier League in 1992, the season it started which made it massively important for the club in terms of investment."
Mimms pointed that that he made four further Wembley appearances in the Charity Shield or Community Shield as it is known today.
He added his only visit to the new Wembley was to watch his son Josh who was substitute goalkeeper for York City when they were beaten by Oxford United in the Conference play-off final.
"It is a marvellous stadium and I would love to go back and be involved in a game there," he explained.
Mimms described Latics' 3-2 league defeat at Notts County a fortnight ago as their worst performance of the season.
He said: "It wasn't possibly, but definitely our worst game of the season.
"It was the worst performance, both individually and as a team and we definitely have to improve on that.
"We probably learned a lot about ourselves that night and not just about Notts County."
Mimms believes County will be an unknown quantity, even though it is only a fortnight since the teams last met.
He explained: "They are a different proposition as they have a new manager (Shaun Derry).
"They were in-between managers when we went there before and possibly tried to put a marker down for the new man coming in.
"They will want to carry on that, but we will be ready and I can assure you we will perform better than we did that night."