Bolton Wanderers F.C.

Bolton Wanderers F.C. are an English professional football club based in Horwich, Bolton. They are currently in the FA Premier League. In 2005–06 they participated in European competition for the first time but were knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the round of 32 by Marseille.

Bolton moved to the Reebok Stadium in 1997. Their former home was Burnden Park. Wanderers' President is Nat Lofthouse and their manager is Sam Allardyce. Their other personnel include, Sammy Lee (assistant manager) and Ricky Sbragia (first team coach).

History

Early history

Bolton Wanderers was founded in 1874, originally named Christ Church FC. They were one of the original 12 founder members of the Football League. Having remained in the Football League since its formation, Bolton have spent more time in the top flight (FA Premier League/old First Division) than out of it.

Bolton reached two FA Cup finals on March 31, 1894 losing 4-1 to Notts County at Goodison Park and on April 23, 1904 losing 1-0 to local rivals Manchester City at Crystal Palace before they won at their third attempt on April 28, 1923 beating West Ham United 2-0 in the first ever Wembley final. Bolton's centre-forward, David Jack scored the first ever goal at Wembley Stadium. They became the most successful cup side of the twenties, also winning in 1926 and 1929.

From 1935 to 1964, Bolton enjoyed an uninterrupted stay in the top flight- regarded by fans as a golden era, spearheaded in the 1950s by Nat Lofthouse. They would not return to the top flight until 1978, where they lasted but two seasons before a period of further decline set in.

Bolton Wanderers have not won a major trophy since 1958, when two Nat Lofthouse goals saw them overcome Manchester United in the FA Cup final in front of a 100,000 crowd at Wembley. The closest they have come to winning a major trophy since then is finishing runners-up in the League Cup, first in 1995 and again in 2004.

At the end of the 1986–87 season, Bolton Wanderers suffered relegation to the Fourth Division for the first time in their history. But the board kept faith in manager Phil Neal and they won promotion back to the Third Division at the first attempt. Neal remained in charge until the summer of 1992 when he made way for Bruce Rioch, who a few years earlier had won two successive promotions with Middlesbrough.

Bolton reach the Premiership

Bolton reached the Premiership in 1995, under the management of Bruce Rioch, thanks to a victory over Reading in the Division One playoff final. After being 2–0 down at half time, two goals from Bolton in the final 15 minutes of the game forced extra time and they went on to win 4-3 and return to top division football after a 15-year exile. They had been on the losing side at Wembley a few weeks earlier, having lost 2-1 to Liverpool in the League Cup final.

Rioch left to take charge at Arsenal after the promotion success. He was replaced by Derby County manager Roy McFarland, who was joined by his former assistant Colin Todd. Bolton were bottom for virtually all of the 1995–96 Premiership campaign and despite several new signings, Bolton dismissed McFarland on New Year's Day 1996 and appointed Todd in his place. Todd was unable to save Bolton from relegation but the board kept faith in him. It is worth noting, however, that Bolton's form improved noticeably under Todd with 19 points from their last 16 games.

The Bolton board's loyalty in Todd was rewarded when they won promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt thanks to a season in which they achieved 98 league points and 100 goals in the process of securing the Division One Championship.

A second relegation

Bolton were relegated on goal difference at the end of the 1997–98 Premiership campaign, going down to Division One with the previous season's other two promoted sides—Barnsley and Crystal Palace. Bolton reached the 1999 Division One playoff final but lost to Watford. Colin Todd resigned as manager soon after and was replaced by Notts County's Sam Allardyce.

1999–2000 brought disappointment for Bolton under their new manager, they lost in the semi finals of the Division One playoffs, the League Cup and the FA Cup. But in 2000–01 Sam Allardyce and his team got it right by beating Preston North End 3-0 in the Division One playoff final.

Staying up

Bolton went top of the Premiership after winning their first three games of the 2001-02 season, but failed to keep up their winning ways and wallowed away to 16th place in the final table - just enough to secure their first-ever Premiership survival, and their first top flight survival since 1979.

Bolton struggled throughout 2002-03 but managed to stay up after winning their final game of the season and condemning West Ham United to relegation. In 2003-04, Bolton enjoyed their best season for some 50 years. They finished eighth in the Premiership and reached the League Cup final, losing 2-1 to Middlesbrough. But Bolton had finished much higher than most pundits had predicted them to finish when the season began.

Qualification for Europe

Bolton's impressive progress continued in 2004-05 and they secured an impressive sixth place finish - equal on points with European champions Liverpool - and qualified for European competition (the UEFA Cup) for the first time in their history. Bolton's recent renaissance continued into 2005-06, and they achieved 8th place in the Premiership. Sam Allardyce was linked with the England manager's job when it was announced that Sven Goran Eriksson would step down after the 2006 World Cup, but the job went to Steve McClaren instead. He was also linked with the Newcastle manager's job until it was given to Glenn Roeder.

Cup history

Bolton Wanderers were the first team to win the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium, beating West Ham United 2-0 in 1923 in what would be remembered as the White Horse Final.

They also won the FA Cup in 1926, 1929, and 1958.

In 1993 Bolton Wanderers beat FA Cup holders Liverpool 2-0 in a third round replay.

In 1994 Bolton Wanderers beat FA Cup holders Arsenal 3-1 in a fourth round replay, and went on to reach the Quarter Finals, bowing out 1-0 at home to local rivals Oldham Athletic.

In 2000 Bolton Wanderers reached the Semi Finals of the FA Cup at Wembley but were defeated by Aston Villa in a penalty shoot-out. Record-signing Dean Holdsworth scored his penalty but Allan Johnston and Michael Johansen saw their efforts saved by England goalkeeper David James.

Honours

FA Cup (4) - 1923, 1926, 1929, 1958

FA Cup runners up - 1894, 1904, 1953

League Cup runners up - 1995, 2004

Football League War Cup North - 1945

Football League War Cup - 1945

FA Charity Shield - 1958

Second Tier - Football League First Division Champions - 1997, Football League Second Division Champions - 1909, 1978

Third Tier - Football League Third Division Champions - 1973

Sherpa Van Trophy Winners - 1989

Freight Rover Trophy runners up - 1986

Lancashire Cup winners - 1886, 1891, 1912, 1922, 1925, 1927, 1932, 1934, 1948, 1988, 1990

Central League Champions (reserves) - 1955, 1995

FA Premier League Asia Trophy - 2005

Memorable Games

1923 FA Cup vs. West Ham United. Bolton won 2-0 in the first ever final to be played at Wembley Stadium. The club went on to win the Cup twice more in that decade, in 1926 and 1929.

1953 FA Cup Final vs. Blackpool - argued as the most exciting Cup Final ever. Bolton led for the majority of the game, but Blackpool eventually came from behind to beat the Trotters 4-3.

1958 FA Cup Final vs. Manchester United. - having suffered the Munich Tragedy which claimed many members of Matt Busby's team, United reached the final, only to lose to Bolton with two goals from Nat Lofthouse.

1993 FA Cup 3rd round replay vs. Liverpool - this game really kicked off Bolton's resurgence under Bruce Rioch. Having drawn at home, Bolton went to Anfield to beat the holders of the FA Cup, goals from Andy Walker and John McGinlay.

1993 Division 3 vs. Preston NE - a tense game, the teams separated by a penalty from John McGinlay which sent Bolton back to Division 2 (now the Championship/Division 1) for the first time since their fall from grace in the early 1980s.

1995 League Cup semi final (2nd Leg) vs. Swindon Town - Bolton love their cup games! Having lost the away leg, Bolton fell further behind in the second half of the Burnden leg before Jason McAteer and Mixu Paatelainen leveled the game for John McGinlay to poach the winner with five minutes remaining

1995 Division 1 Play Off Final vs. Reading - a true epic. Having gone 2-0 down in the first 15 minutes, Bolton saved a penalty before half time, then leveled the game in the second half with goals from Owen Coyle and Fabian De Freitas. Mixu Paatelainen and De Freitas with a second put Bolton 4-2 ahead in extra time before Reading gained a late consolation. This game earned Bolton promotion back to the top flight for the first time since 1979.

2001 Bolton beat Preston North End F.C. 3-0 at the Millennium Stadium in the division 1 Play off final.

2004 Bolton were beaten 2-1 by Middlesbrough F.C. to become runners up in the Carling Cup for the 2nd time in 9 years.

2005 Bolton drew 1-1 with Portsmouth to qualify for Europe for the first time.

Colours and badge

Bolton Wanderers' home colours are white with navy trim, with white shorts. Their current away kit colours are fuchsia. Bolton did not always wear the white kit they do today, in 1884 they wore white with red spots.

The Bolton Wanderers club badge consists of the initials of the club in the shape of a ball, with red and blue ribbons beneath.

New stadium

After 102 years at Burnden Park, Bolton Wanderers relocated to the new 28,700-seater Reebok Stadium (named after the club's long-term sponsors) which was completed six miles away near the Bolton township of Horwich for the 1997–98 season. It has so far staged Premier League football for six of the last nine seasons.

Playing Squad

(captain)

Selected Youth Players

Previous Match

Bolton Wanderers 1 Vaz Té
Birmingham City 0

FA Premier League
May 7

Next Match

v Derby County (Friendly)
July 29 (Away)

Famous Former Players

Listed according to year of Bolton first-team debut (year in parentheses):

pre-war: Mike Fallows (1892)
- Fallows scored a famous 38 goals in his first season for the Trotters.

Alec Finney (1920)
- Finney was one of the members of the successful 1920's Wanderers side who triumphed in the famous White Horse Final in 1923.

1940s: Nat Lofthouse (1946)
- 'The Lion of Vienna', Nat is Bolton's most capped and probably most famous player. The club's leading goalscorer with 285 goals he is now Honorary President of the club.

1950s: Roy Hartle (1952), Eddie Hopkinson (1956)
- Hartle was a member of the 1958 FA Cup winning side and spent 11 years at the club
- Hopkinson is regarded as Bolton's greatest ever keeper playing 578 games for the club.

1960s: Francis Lee (1960), Roy Greaves (1967)
- Bolton born Lee made his debut for the club at 16 and played for the club for 3 years before joining Manchester City, going on to win England honours and becoming a millionaire businessman.
- Another Bolton lad, Greaves played for the club for fifteen years.

1970s: Peter Reid (1974), Frank Worthington (1978)
- An apprentice with the club, Reid spent 8 years there before joining Everton going on to win England caps and play in the 1986 World Cup.
- A noted difficult man to contain both on and off the pitch Worthington scored the goal that is considered the best ever in Bolton's history.

1980s: Brian Kidd (1980), Roger Walker (1984), Derek Scott (1985)
- A European Cup winning goalscorer with Manchester United in 1968 when just a teenager, Kidd came to Bolton late in his career, making them the third team in the Manchester area he played for.

1990s: Alan Stubbs (1990), Jason McAteer (1992), John McGinlay (1992), Gudni Bergsson (1995), Per Frandsen (1996), Eidur Gudjohnsen (1998), Claus Jensen (1998)
- A consistent performer in defence, after leaving Bolton Stubbs was successful in Scotland with Celtic, beating testicular cancer into the bargain, before joining his boyhood club Everton.
- Another Liverpudlian and another to join his boyhood club after leaving, McAteer is currently seeing his career out with Tranmere Rovers.
- 'Super John' is still well regarded at the club, being the last goalscorer at Burnden Park.
- A qualified lawyer in his home country of Iceland, Bergsson was captain of the team that kept Bolton in the top division for the longest period since the 1960s. Was persuaded to put off his retirement from football twice by manager Sam Allardyce.
- Frandsen's transfer to local rivals Blackburn Rovers was the final straw for manager Colin Todd who resigned soon after. Ironically, Frandsen did not stay at Ewood Park long and returned to Bolton. Saw out his career at another Lancashire club, Wigan Athletic.
- Gudjohnsen, now at Barcelona, moved from Bolton to Chelsea in the summer of 2000 after Bolton lost in that years play off semi final. It was Bolton who gave him a fresh start after injury threatened his career and, during his time at Chelsea, he was still greeted with affection whenever he played at the Reebok which was reciprocated.
- Now at Fulham, Jensen left Bolton at the same time as Gudjohnsen when they failed in their promotion bid in 2000.

2000s: Michael Ricketts (2000), Youri Djorkaeff (2002), Jay Jay Okocha (2002), Fernando Hierro (2004)
- The first Bolton player to be capped by England since Lofthouse, Ricketts subsequently lost form, fell out with Sam Allardyce and was transferred out of the club.
- Known as 'Le God' by Bolton fans, Djorkaeff was the first high profile name to sign for Bolton in the 21st century, paving the way for future big names like Okocha, Campo and Nakata. Initially signed on loan from Kaiserslautern to help in the survival battle of 2001–2002 (a move that helped him win a place in France's 2002 World Cup squad) he played for the club for a further two years.
- Real Madrid's European Cup winning captain, Hierro was only at Bolton for one year but became a firm fan's favourite. His signing proved that Bolton were becoming a name in European football.
- A member of FIFA's Best 100 living players, manager Sam Allardyce made Okocha captain when Bergsson retired. T-Shirts stated that he was so good they named him twice.

Famous Managers

Charles Foweraker 3 times FA cup winning manager from the 1920s. Manager from 1919–44.
Bill Ridding built an FA Cup winning team in 1958 at a cost of just £110. Manager from 1951–68.
Bruce Rioch took the club into the Premiership for the first time in their history following two promotions in three years, during that time the club saw a number of good cup runs in which higher placed teams, often from the Premiership, where defeated. Manager from 1992–95.
Colin Todd secured promotion to the Premiership in 1997 with a club record 98 points tally. Manager from 1996–99.
Sam Allardyce took Bolton to the Carling Cup Final in 2004 and brought European football to the club for the first time in its 111-year history when qualifying for the UEFA Cup in 2005. He is nicknamed Big Sam by the media and fans of the club. Manager from 1999–present.

Previous Managers

1874–1885 Tom Rawthorne as secretary
1885–1886 J.J. Bentley as secretary
1886–1887 William Struthers as secretary
1887 Fitzroy Norris as secretary
1887–1895 J.J. Bentley as secretary
1895–1895 Harry Downs as secretary
1896–1898 Frank Brettell as secretary
1898–1910 John Somerville
1910–1915 Will Settle
1915–1919 Tom Mather
1919–1944 Charles Foweraker
1944–1950 Walter Rowley
1951–1968 Bill Ridding
1968–1970 Nat Lofthouse
1970–1970 Jimmy McIlroy
1971–1971 Jimmy Meadows
1971–1971 Nat Lofthouse
1971–1974 Jimmy Armfield
1974–1980 Ian Greaves
1980–1981 Stan Anderson
1981–1982 George Mulhall
1982–1985 John McGovern
1985–1985 Charlie Wright
1985–1992 Phil Neal
1992–1995 Bruce Rioch
1995–1996 Roy McFarland/Colin Todd (as joint managers)
1996–1999 Colin Todd
1999–present Sam Allardyce

Shirt sponsors

1874–1980: No sponsor
1980–1981: Knight Security
1981–1982: Bolton Evening News
1982–1983: TSB
1983–1986: HB Electronics
1986–1990: Normid Superstore
1990–present: Reebok

External links

Official Website

Bolton Wanderers F.C.

Other sites

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