Bolton began life in 1874 when the boys of Christ Church Sunday School, led by their master Thomas Ogden formed a football Club under the Christ Church name.
Their links to the church were emphasised when the Vicar of Christ Church was appointed President of the Club. The original membership fee was six old pennies.
Their links to the church were emphasised when the Vicar of Christ Church was appointed President of the Club. The original membership fee was six old pennies.
However when their President began to be overzealous in implementing club and Church rules the club broke away and formed Bolton Wanderers in 1877. Early meetings were held at the Gladstone Hotel. The Club earned the name Wanderers because they moved home so frequently in their early years.After short spells at The Park Recreation Ground, Cockles Field and Pikes Lane, the Wanderers settled at Burnden Park which was to be their home for 102 years.
Losing FA Cup finalists in 1894 and 1904, Bolton were winners of the first FA Cup Final to be held at Wembley Stadium in 1923 in what became known as the 'White Horse Final.' An estimated 200,000 packed into the Empire Stadium with thousands more locked outside unable to gain access.
Further FA Cup success followed in 1926 and 1929 as the Wanderers lifted the Trophy three times in seven years. FA Cup Final defeat was experienced in 1953 against Blackpool but a much depleted Manchester United were overcome in the 1958 Final as the legendary Nat Lofthouse scored both goals, including his infamous shoulder charge against United keeper Ray Wood, in a 2-0 victory.
In the League Bolton enjoyed unbroken spells in the First Division between 1911-1933 and 1935-1964. The Club's best position has been third which was achieved in 1892, 1921 and 1925.
Following a slow but steady downturn in Wanderers fortunes life in the Third Division was experienced for the first time in 1971 although Bolton were promoted again two years later and regained First Division status at the end of the 1977/78 season.
However their yo yo existence continued and by 1987 Bolton were playing in the Fourth Division for the first time. Thankfully their stay lasted only one season.
However their yo yo existence continued and by 1987 Bolton were playing in the Fourth Division for the first time. Thankfully their stay lasted only one season.
An upturn in fortunes led to promotion into the Premier League at the end of the 1994/95 season following a dramatic play-off final against Reading. It was a season which also saw Bolton reach the Final of the Coca Cola Cup before losing to Liverpool.
Burnden Park celebrated its Centenary in August 1995 with Wanderers members of the Premier League. It was only to last one season however, but the Wanderers ran away with the First Division scoring 100 League goals and amassing 98 points to bounce back into the Premier League at the start of 1997/98.
Their second spell in the Premier League began in their new state of the art Reebok Stadium. Unhappily the club and its fans were to suffer cruel disappointment once more.
After going back into the summer transfer market to secure the services of full-backs Neil Cox and Robbie Elliott, central defender Mark Fish, striker Arnar Gunnlaugsson and the experienced Peter Beardsley, disaster struck as early as the season's second game.
After going back into the summer transfer market to secure the services of full-backs Neil Cox and Robbie Elliott, central defender Mark Fish, striker Arnar Gunnlaugsson and the experienced Peter Beardsley, disaster struck as early as the season's second game.
Neil Cox was forced out during the Coventry game with a hamstring problem that was to sideline him until just before Christmas. And worse followed. Half an hour into the opening game at the magnificent Reebok Stadium, Robbie Elliott suffered a double fracture of the leg and was to play no further in the Premier League season.
The season had its high spots. Two terrific draws against Manchester United and a closing run which brought five wins and a draw in the last ten matches and the hope of a reprieve from relegation. It proved to be a vain hope and the Wanderers went down on goal difference after finishing level on points with Everton in 18th spot.
First Division life proved tougher that expected for Todd's troops and after runaway leaders Sunderland secured automatic promotion and Bradford joined them on the final day with a win at Wolves, Wanderers only sneaked into the play-offs with a final day win at Portsmouth.
Second favourites as they entered the semi-final stage to face George Burley's Ipswich Wanderers made it through to Wembley with an extra-time 4-3 away goals victory at Portman Road after securing a 1-0 win at the Reebok in the first leg.
Watford, whose late surge had seen them emerge as the outsiders of the four play-off qualifiers, were Bolton's opponents but dreams of an immediate return to the top flight were scuppered by Allan Smart's goal and Nick Wright's bicycle kick in a 2-0 defeat.
In 1999 unable to strengthen his squad in the transfer market and already having been forced to sell Arnar Gunnlaugsson and Nathan Blake to Leicester and Blackburn respectively the previous season, Todd was unable to replace them with players of the same quality.
Rumours of Todd's increasing disenchantment came to fruition on the 22nd of September when with Wanderers 19th in the table, on the same day that the £6.25 million sale of the old Burnden Park was completed, against Todd's wishes star midfielder Per Frandsen was sold to Blackburn for £1.75M.
The manager had been told that, along with the funds from the sale of Wanderers old home, the transfer monies would be used to satisfy the bank and faced with the prospect of further financial hardship he left the club.
On October 19th the board, under new Chairman, Phil Gartside, announced that former player, Sam Allardyce was the man to succeed Colin Todd. Allardyce had two spells as a player at the club. Phil Brown who had stood in as caretaker boss was appointed as Assistant Manager. The two had worked together at Blackpool in the mid nineties.
Misfortune dogged the Wanderers as Sam began to build for a push to the play off positions. Ricardo Gardner was injured at Barnsley at the end of February and sidelined to the end of the season. Defender. But two short term buys proved to be astute signings by Sam.
Defender, Paul Ritchie came from Hearts at the turn of the year, while winger Allan Johnston arrived at the end of January from Sunderland with both rumoured to be destined for Rangers at the end of the season.
The Wanderers reached three semi-finals only to fall in each one. In the Worthington Cup they were beaten in a two legged semi final by Tranmere after claiming the scalps of Premiership sides, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Wimbledon.
A magnificent 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic at the Reebok booked the side a place at Wembley in the semi final of the FA Cup against Aston Villa where in the closing minutes Dean Holdsworth missed a sitter when he blasted over the bar just a few yards out. The game went to penalties, with Villa the undeserved victors in the shoot out.
In a remarkable end of season run the Wanderers booked a place in play offs after beating Norwich on the last day of the season at the Reebok, while Huddersfield lost to Fulham at Craven Cottage. The result paired the Wanderers with Ipswich for the second successive year in the play off semi finals.
The Wanderers let slip a 2-0 lead at home with the game ending all square at 2-2. In the second leg at Portman Road they were without the club's top scorer, Eidur Gudjohnsen and were denied a place at Wembley when Ipswich levelled the scores two minutes from time when the Wanderers were leading 3-2.Ipswich went on to win 5-3.
More To Follow....