Welcome to the latest instalment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.
For this instalment, we returned to Lancashire to watch Bolton Wanderers take on Cheltenham Town in League One. Cheltenham Town were looking to consolidate their position in League One, while the Trotters were looking to strengthen their position in the promotion race. The game was held at the University of Bolton Stadium.
It's All In The Name
The nickname "The Trotters" has several claimed origins, including that it is simply a variation on "Wanderers," that it is an old local term for a practical joker, or that one of the grounds used before the club settled at Pikes Lane was next to a piggery, requiring players to "trot" through the pig pens to retrieve the ball if it went over the fence.
The most popular theory holds that boiled sheep's and pig's feet, also known as trotters, are a popular dish among the people of Bolton, and that a large supply was provided for visitors during a famous match. Piles of pig feet were displayed in the shop window and they created such an impression that Wanderers were at once dubbed the "Trotters". The nickname lives on, though it is not as widely used as it once was.
Some Notable People From Bolton
Peter Kay - Comedian
Amir Kahn- Boxer
Vernon Kay- TV Presenter
Paddy McGuinness- Comedian
Jenny Ryan- 'The Vixen' From The Chase
Some Notable Former Players
Nicolas Anelka
Nat Lofthouse
Jason McAteer
Jussi Jaaskelainen
Gary Speed
Jay Jay Okocha
Gary Cahill
Emile Heskey
A History Lesson From AFC Finners
Reverend Joseph Farrall Wright founded Bolton Wanderers as Christ Church FC in 1874. They left the churchyards three years later, renaming themselves Bolton Wanderers, with the suffix referring to the fact that they had played in many different locations before settling. In 1888, they became a founding member of the Football League, and in 1894, they reached their first FA Cup final, losing 4-1 to Notts County. The following year, they moved into Burden Park, where they would live for the next 102 years.
They lost another FA Cup final in 1904 to Manchester City, but their results were still promising, as they finished outside the top eight of the league only twice between 1912 and 1928. Bolton would win the FA Cup for the first time in 1923, when they faced West Ham in the first ever final at Wembley Stadium. The game was delayed due to the large crowds, and the crowds were dispersed by a police officer riding a white horse, earning the game the moniker "white horse final." Bolton won the trophy for the first time with a 2-0 victory.
This set the tone for their subsequent cup victories, as Bolton also defeated Manchester City in the 1926 FA Cup final and Portsmouth in 1929, completing a hat-trick of FA Cup wins that decade.
On the other side of the war, 33 fans were crushed to death in Burden Park during a match against Stoke City in 1946. They returned to Wembley in 1953, competing in a legendary final against fellow Lancastrians Blackpool, which Stanley Matthew's side won 4-3. Nat Lofthouse, their hometown hero, would lead them to victory five years later.
The 1958 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium pitted Bolton against Manchester United. Manchester United were still reeling from the Munich air disaster, but Lofthouse scored twice to help Bolton win their fourth FA Cup, their last major trophy to date.
Their long reign in the top flight ended in 1964, and they were demoted to the third division for the first time in 1971. They were promoted in 1973 and returned to the top flight in 1978, but were relegated after two seasons and relegated again in 1983.
The 1990s saw them perform a number of giant killings in cup competitions. A 4-3 victory over Reading in the 1995 First Division playoff final sealed their return to the top-flight. They reached the League Cup final in their first season back, but lost to Liverpool, and were ultimately relegated. They were relegated to the fourth tier in 1987, but were quickly promoted and won the Football League Trophy in 1989.
They were promoted immediately after scoring 98 points in the Second Division, but were quickly relegated, and moved to the newly built Reebok Stadium in 1997. They lost the playoff final to Watford in 1999, and the following season they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, League Cup, and playoffs, all of which they lost. A 3-0 victory over Preston North End in the 2001 playoff final saw them return to the Premiership, where they would remain for many years under Sam Allardyce's management.
They fought relegation on points and lost the 2004 League Cup final to Middlesbrough, but a sixth-place finish in 2005 saw them qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time. They advanced to the last 32, where they were defeated by Marseille, and Allardyce would lead them to four consecutive top-eight finishes before leaving in 2007. The following season was a mixed bag, as they advanced to the last sixteen of the UEFA Cup, drawing with Bayern Munich and defeating Atletico Madrid along the way.
They were relegated from the Premier League in 2012, a season that was largely overshadowed by Fabrice Muamba's near-fatal cardiac arrest during an FA Cup tie against Tottenham.
Since then, they've faced a winding-up petition due to debts of nearly £200 million, and they've been relegated to League One. Phil Parkinson led them to promotion in 2017 before narrowly avoiding relegation the following season. Bankruptcy reared its ugly head once more in 2018, with players not receiving their wages on multiple occasions and being unable to fulfil some of their fixtures. They were demoted and couldn't even afford water for their training ground at the time.
They miraculously survived liquidation after being bought out by Football Ventures, but were relegated to League Two in 2020. Ian Evatt led them to promotion in 2021, and now, with their dark days behind them, Bolton are vying for a playoff spot as they look to re-establish themselves in the Premier League.
And here's a fun fact: Kenny Davenport scored the first ever goal in the Football League on September 8, 1888, against Derby County.
Honours
🏆 Second Division / Championship (Champions: 1908–09, 1977–78, 1996–97) (2nd place promotion: 1899–1900, 1904–05, 1910–11, 1934–35) (Play-off winners: 1995, 2001)
🏆 Third Division / League One (Champions: 1972–73) (2nd place promotion: 1992–93, 2016–17)
🏆 Fourth Division / League Two (3rd place promotion: 1987–88, 2020–21)
🏆 FA Cup (Winners: 1922–23, 1925–26, 1928–29, 1957–58) (Runners-up: 1893–94, 1903–04, 1952–53)
🏆 Football League Cup (Runners-up: 1994–95, 2003–04)
🏆 FA Charity Shield (Winners: 1958)
🏆 Football League Trophy (Champions: 1988–89) (Runners-up: 1985–86)
An Interview With Bolton Wanderers Supporter, Susan Nichols:
GG: Could you tell us how long you've been a Bolton Wanderers fan and how your experience with the club has been?
SN: I've been a fan of Bolton Wanderers since we were promoted to Division One in 1978. I then witnessed us drop to the Fourth Division, then back to the Premiership, then back to the Fourth Division. During the Teo seasons, I was concerned that we would be relegated from the league. One season, I was concerned that we would enter administration. Finally, one season, I believed we would qualify for the Champions League.
It's never boring for sure we are always getting promoted, relegated or in a cup run .
GG: How has the owner of Bolton Wanderers made an impression on the club?
SN: After the previous owners nearly drove us out of business, the current owner has restored stability and pride. We are living within our means and enjoying our football without drama... that is all we want.
GG: Who is the star player for Bolton Wanderers this season?
SN: Personally, I believe Dion Charles. 100% contributor even when the goals aren't coming in, but Eoin Toal has recently arrived and is probably the show's star for most fans.
GG: Could you give us an overview of Premier League football and how it compares to football around the world?
SN: Well, I believe most fans believe the standard of officials is lower in the lower leagues, and we at Bolton agree. Most teams come to 'rough us up and waste time, and I often think a neutral spectator would think the football is of poor quality. However, Bolton and ot her good teams try to play and win, and the extra time for wasting is now a godsend. When comparing lower league football to comparable levels in other counties, it is, of course, superior. We have international players on our team, which is a good sign.
GG: Who is your all-time favourite player?
SN: Alan Thompson who played for Bolton during the Bruce Rioch era.. absolute leader and my favourite ever player starring in cup runs and promotions, but I shed a tear when the likes of Gary Speed ran out in a Bolton shirt, showed how far we had come to have someone of his quality play for us.. god bless him.
GG: What has been your favourite football match as a Bolton Wanderers fan?
SN: There are too many to count. When we knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup twice on their turf. When we defeated Manchester United three times at their stadium. When we defeated Birmingham in the FA Cup quarterfinals, Elmander gave my daughter his shirt. Bayern Munich drew 2- 2 away.
Sorry lots of years to consider
GG: Which managers have left the most impressions on Bolton Wanderers supporters? What are those recollections?
SN: I'd say Bruce Rioch. We competed with anyone starting in the third division and feared no one. He catapulted us from the third division to the Premier League. Cup runs beat everyone and everything. It was a pleasure to assist the team.
GG: Who do you think was the most popular team to play at Bolton's stadium?
SN: Arsenal's Invincibles
GG: Can you tell us about Bolton's playing style in general?
SN: We primarily play up the wing and like to pass the ball around, but we are still forming in my opinion and are constantly in transition. Contrary to popular belief, we do not score from set pieces and do not play long ball. Last week, we scored a 20-move goal against Barnsley.
Matchday: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Cheltenham Town
We were back on the road as Robins Travel Club took me up to Lancashire for this match. It was a solo journey for myself this time, the excitement of seeing a former Premier League ground was palpable. The travel club cost £22 which isn't a bad price for a journey that will be around 250 miles for the round trip. We set off at 9:30, and hey presto we were on our way. There was some dirty football fan that decided to keep farting on the bus, which made the journey a bit difficult, but hey ho, better out than in.... nope definitely better in.
We arrived at the ground at around 12:30, and we did our customary circuit of the stadium. There are multiple talking points: there is a beautifully crafted statue to honour football legend Nat Lofthouse, it is overlooked by a Bolton Wanderers crest, which is a lovely touch. There is a football that appears to house a study centre which is interesting, and there is a hotel in the stadium, which is something quite impressive. There is an industrial estate directly adjacent to the ground, with a McDonalds, KFC and a Subway. I would wager that Bolton make a lot of money from this estate, so FairPlay to them for that.
The fans and stewards at the ground were friendly enough. The only complaint I would have is that the stewards said that the ground would open its gates at 13:45, but it was a lot later when they let us in. This is time that could be used to encourage supporters to spend their money at the ground, and not in nearby pubs and restaurants. The stewards were very helpful and helped us find our way to our stand- the Franking Sense Stand- and were very willing to chat.
The food at the ground was reasonable. There was a wide variety of food on offer, which was also reasonably priced. The pies were delicious and I would probably give them a perfect score. The hot drinks were absolutely vile, it was like drinking dishwater. I think an average score will suffice for this one.
The atmosphere was okay for the most part. The Bolton supporters were frustrated with the obvious Cheltenham timewasting and that was where their energy was naturally focussed for the majority of the game. They didn't really start singing until they went ahead in the match. After that, they were loud and it was an amazing atmosphere. The banter that Bolton fans exuded was exemplary, I have to say.
Teamsheet
Bolton Wanderers
Manager: Ian Evatt
James Trafford
Gethin Jones
Declan John
Ricardo Almeida Santos (c)
Dion Charles
Aaron Morley
Shola Shoretire
Eoin Toal
Conor Bradley
Kyle Dempsey ⚽️
Victor Adeboyejo
Substitutes
Joel Dixon
Josh Sheehan
Kieran Lee
Lloyd Isgrove
Luke Mbete
Cameron Jerome
Nelson Khumbeni
Cheltenham Town
Manager: Wade Elliott
Luke Southwood
Charlie Raglan
Caleb Taylor
Sean Long (c)
Ryan Jackson
Ben Williams
Elliot Bonds
Taylor Perry
Ryan Broom
Will Goodwin
Alfie May
Substitutes
Shaun Macdonald
Liam Sercombe
James Olayinka
Elkan Baggott
Christian Norton
Charlie Brown
Aiden Keena
Cheltenham made their intentions clear from the start, slowing play whenever possible and creating a frustrated atmosphere around the ground. Wanderers got into some decent attacking positions but couldn't find the quality they needed to score. Dion Charles' shot on the turn was blocked, and Adeboyejo and Eoin Toal both skewed shots high and wide from the area's edge.
Will Goodwin got on the end of Alfie May's cross but could only flick a header over James Trafford's crossbar early in the second half, nearly giving the visitors the lead. Bolton took the lead when Dempsey dropped his shoulder, shifted the ball to his right foot, and drilled a shot into the bottom corner. After taking the lead, Bolton appeared to be unsure of themselves. Alfie May caught James Trafford off his line, and Toal turned his shot off the line. Trafford was then called upon in the final minutes to make a crucial save from Liam Sercombe. Bolton held on for three points, which will help their promotion push as they try to close the gap on League One's top two.
Scores On The Doors
Atmosphere: 7/10
Food and Drink: 6/10
Stadium: 8/10
Welcome: 8/10
Overall Experience: 8/10
GG