1980 - 1989: THE MAJOR signing prior to the 1980/81 season was that of Brian Kidd who joined for a £150,000 fee from Everton. He made his League debut for the club in an opening day 2-1 defeat at Notts County and opened his goal account in the third game when he hit a hat trick in a 4-0 home win over Newcastle United.
Three days later he became the villain when he missed a penalty in a League Cup defeat at Crystal Palace as it became obvious that the Wanderers would struggle to win back their First Division place at the first attempt.
Another plus that season was the return of Peter Reid, after sorting out his contractual difficulties, when moves to other clubs fell through.
George Mulhall, former assistant to Ian Greaves in the promotion year of 1978, returned as coach and his influence had an immediate effect with a 2-1 win at fellow strugglers Preston North End. Results then picked up dramatically, only one defeat being sustained in the final eight games, but it wasn't until the penultimate match, a 2-2 Sunday morning draw at Orient, that the Wanderers were mathematically safe from relegation.
Manager Stan Anderson paid for a disastrous season with his job and George Mulhall took over a the club's financial problems began to take hold.
The following season, an old face in the form of goalkeeper Jim McDonagh returned to Burnden in a deal that saw Mike Walsh go to Everton and £90,000 making it's way into the Wanderers coffers. Another departure was that of Neil Whatmore who joined his former team mate Frank Worthington at First Division Birmingham City in a deal worth £340,000 which made him the club's record sale.
John McGovern, appointed in 1982 as player-manager
The close season prior to 1982 saw another change in manager. After rumours that Pele was about to be interviewed for the job, the board invited former European Cup winner John McGovern to become the club's first player-manager. His first signing was the experienced Ian Moores from Orient. He was followed by Ray Deakin, from Port Vale, both players arriving on free transfers.
Peter Reid played his last game for the Wanderers in a 4-1 win over Charlton. Reid, after turning down a number of clubs in previous season's, joined Everton for a mere £60,000, some half a million round down on what could have been earned.
That season Wanderers needed to win their final game of the season against Charlton to stay up. Unfortunately Wanderers slumped to a 4-1 defeat suffering relegation to the Third Division on the same ground, and by the same result, as they had done in 1971.
The club began it's third stint in the Third Division in 1983/84 without the services of some of the more experienced players who had left the club on relegation. Paul Jones, Jim MacDonagh, Ian Moores, Mike Doyle and Steve Whitworth all departed leaving manager John McGovern with a young and inexperienced squad.
That same season, Wanderers registered their best League win since 1934 when Walsall were thumped 8-1 at Burnden. Tony Caldwell grabbed five goals in this game to set a club record for the most goals scored in a League match and, but for a last minute goal by Ally Robertson for Walsall, the record League win would have equalled.
In 1984/85 Coach and former Wanderers 'keeper Charlie Wright took over as caretaker manager. It was inevitable that Wright would be appointed manager and his first game in full charge was a 2-0 defeat at Plymouth.
Burnden Park celebrated its 90th Birthday in 1985/1986 by witnessing a 1-1 draw with Rotherham United in the opening game of the season. Tony Caldwell struck Bolton's goal which was the club's 250th in the Third Division. Experienced faces were added to the squad during the summer with Dave Sutton, David Cross, Asa Hartford, Derek Scott and the return of Sam Allardyce giving what appeared to be a steady base to build on.
Charlie Wright took charge for the last time that season in a 2-0 defeat at Bristol City, a game that saw Oghani sent off for a second time. Nat Lofthouse was put in temporary charge and he instilled some pride until the appointment of former Liverpool and England international full back Phil Neal on a player-manager basis. His first game in charge was a 2-0 win over Doncaster Rovers at Burnden.
In 1986/87 The Football League turned back the clock to introduce end of season play off matches in a similar format to the old test matches that were part of the League in the 1890s. A failure to score goals that season cost the Wanderers dearly with only seven going into the opponents net in the final seventeen League games, which left the team with no real chance of escaping from the bottom four.
The goal that sent the Wanderers tumbling into Division Four
There was however, a lifeline when the club finished in a play-off position. Aldershot proved to be too much of a handful, winning 3-2 on aggregate, although it must be said that it was only in extra time, and after injury to goalkeeper Dave Felgate, that the Wanderers finally succumbed to relegation to Division Four for the first time in their history.
1988/89 saw a topsy-turvy season both on and off the field culminated with a club record unbeaten twenty game spell and success in the Sherpa Van Trophy final at Wembley. Strengthened in defence with the acquisition of full backs Phil Brown and Barry Cowdrill, the team made a steady start to the Third Division campaign. They climbed as high as third place after a 2-0 home success over Sheffield United on the opening day of October, only one defeat being suffered in the opening seven League games.
February that season saw the resignation of chairman Barry Chaytow after he had failed to gain enough support to oust Phil Neal from the manager's chair. The turnaround is results was nothing short of incredible, as, after a 1-0 defeat at Wolves in early March, defeat was a word that didn't exist in the Wanderers vocabulary for the remainder of the season. The character of the team was highlighted when the Wanderers fought back from three down at half time to earn a point at home to Notts County but it was success over both Crewe and Blackpool in the Sherpa Van Trophy that set the town buzzing with Wembley fever.
Defenders Winstanley and Brown got the goals in a 2-1 extra time win at Crewe and then, in the Northern Final, the Wanderers took a slender one goal lead thanks to a Julian Darby strike to Bloomfield for the second leg. The Seasiders levelled the scores but a Steve Thompson penalty in extra time earned a Wembley trip.
Bolton skipper Phil Brown shows the trophy to the Wembley crowds
The Wanderers climbed into the top half of the League with consistency finally coming through. Brown, Darby, Felgate, Thompson and Winstanley missing only seven League games between them. Goalscoring form returned with fifteen goals coming in the final five games of the season and a 4-1 success against Torquay at Wembley after the Devon side had taken the lead.
1990 - 1999: By mid October in 1990, Bolton were languishing next to the foot of the table, but the tide turned after a 2-2 draw at locals rivals Bury. A club record 23 League games without defeat put the Wanderers into the promotion frame by the New Year. A first half goal from leading scorer Tony Philliskirk defeated Swansea City at Burnden to record the club's 1,000th home League victory.
The play-offs that season saw the Wanderers reach Wembley after a 2-1 aggregate win over Bury but, in the final, an extra time goal from Chris Malkin condemned the Wanderers to another season in the Third Division and won promotion for Tranmere Rovers.
The signing of Andy Walker the following season, initially on loan from Celtic, proved to be a godsend. He scored within seconds of his introduction as substitute in a 2-2 draw at Exeter City and became a revelation with his goals helping to eventually keep the club away from relegation danger.
Later that season Phil Neal ended his six and a half years in charge at Burnden and parted company along with coach Mick Brown.
The Wanderers made 1992/93 a season to remember with a magnificent FA Cup run that saw them gain national prominence and put together a run that finished with promotion being won on the final day of the season, from what was now the Third Division, after the formation of the Premier League and consequent re-numbering of the divisions.
Bruce Rioch joins as manager in 1992
The goal of promotion that had slipped through the clubs hands in the recent past, despite setting many a new club record along the way, was finally secured under the new regime. Bruce Rioch took over as manager and appointed Colin Todd as his assistant, and they got the team playing some attractive football with the final goalscoring tally of 80 in the League being the best by the club since 1965.
The turnaround and perhaps the watershed in the club's fortunes since, began with a 2-2 draw at Chester City. Two down at half time, new signing John McGinlay headed his first goal for the club as Bolton hit back to go on a run of fifteen League and Cup games without defeat in which both McGinlay and Andy Walker became the scourge of opposing defences.
The final game of the season and a crowd of 21,720, the club's best League gate since April 1980, saw John McGinlay's penalty win promotion, send Preston North End into the Third Division and create a new club record points total for a season of 90.
For a second successive season the Wanderers gained national prominence in 1993/94 from their exploits in the FA Cup. New arrivals for the return to the second tier of English football were Alan Thompson from Newcastle, Owen Coyle from Airdrie and the return of Jimmy Phillips from Middlesbrough.
1994/1995 saw two Wembley appearances which were just reward for some exciting football and culminated in a seven goal play-off thriller and a return to the top flight after fifteen years absence.
The loss of Andy Walker, who returned to Celtic, was covered by the signings of strikers Mixu Paatelainen from Aberdeen and Fabien De Freitas from Vollendam, the latter setting a new record transfer fee paid by the club of £40,000. In the play-offs that season the Wanderers appeared to gain a second wind. Wolves were beaten in the semi-final thanks to a memorable performance in the second leg at Burnden to overcome a 2-1 deficit at Molineux. That game saw Peter Shilton become the oldest player ever to wear a Bolton shirt at 45 years 239 days of age.
The Wanderers were full of confidence going into the final against Reading who had finished the season two points in front in second place. That confidence was severely tested when Reading stormed into a two goal lead inside twelve minutes and had the opportunity of making it three from the penalty spot just before half time. Keith Brannigan's penalty save from Stuart Lovell proved to be a watershed as the second half saw Bolton get on top as Reading began to wilt. Goals from Coyle and De Freitas levelled the game and there was only going to be one winner in extra time with Bolton securing a 4-3 success.
Bruce Rioch leads his team out for the 1995 Coca Cola Cup Final at Wembley
In previous season's the Wanderers had made a name for themselves in the FA Cup, but during 1994/95 it was to be the Coca-Cola Cup that earned the club more national headlines.
At Wembley, Liverpool ran out 2-1 winners but the country saw how much progress Bolton Wanderers had made under the new management of Bruce Rioch and Colin Todd. Alan Thompson scored a spectacular goal but it was two efforts from Steve McManaman that took the Cup to Merseyside. Icelander Gudni Bergsson made his Wanderers debut in the final as a substitute and was to become a cornerstone of Club's ups and downs over the forthcoming seasons.
The Wanderers went into their first Premiership season as favourites to return to the First Division, in 1995/96. By Christmas the pundits looked to have got their forecast spot on but a spirited recovery at least gave the supporters something to shout about and took the issue to the penultimate game.
Bruce Rioch left to take over at Arsenal and a new joint management team of Colin Todd and Roy McFarland were put in charge. Pre-seasons additions to the squad were Gerry Taggart, Andy Todd and Chris Fairclough. The Wanderers had a baptism of fire in the first few weeks. In the first week of the new year, after a 4-2 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, Colin Todd took sole charge with McFarland leaving the club and Ian Porterfield coming in as coach.
Results didn't go Wanderers way that season and unfortunately the final six games of the season produced just one win and the clubs fate was sealed in a home defeat by Southampton which was the last top flight game at Burnden Park.
The following season, manager Colin Todd led the Wanderers to what could arguably be described as the club's most enthralling season in their 102 years at Burnden Park. The team set standards and broke records that had been set before the war but the so called experts didn't fancy the club's chances of a quick return to the top flight after the pre-season build up. Danes, Michael Johansen and Per Frandsen joined the club from FC Copenhagen. The latter performed so well he regained his international place.
The team didn't take the run in easy and in the final games went all out for the double ton of 100 goals and 100 points. The 4-1 win over Charlton Athletic in the last ever game at Burnden Park was a tearful evening for many supporters. The Wanderers made the final 45 minutes something to remember, with John McGinlay netting the final goal before the presentation of the Championship trophy.
Wanderers players celebrate their elevation into the Premiership
The season's FA Cup giantkillers Chesterfield ran out 3-2 winner in the fourth round at Burnden before going on to reach the semi's. In doing so they became the last visiting club to win at Burnden Park and had a Kevin Davies hat trick to thank for that.
The following season Wanderers moved to their new home of the Reebok Stadium. The opening game at the Reebok Stadium saw Everton as opponents. They had also been the first League visitors to Burnden back in 1895, and a TV audience of millions saw a scoreless draw that wasn't without incident. Gerry Taggart's second half header was clearly over the line, but, unfortunately for the Wanderers, referee Steve Lodge didn't have the benefit of the TV replay. Of more concern to Bolton was the broken leg sustained by record signing Robbie Elliott that put a premature end to his season.
Another League success wasn't registered until the end of October when Chelsea were beaten 1-0 at the Reebok thanks to a Dean Holdsworth goal. He has been added to the Wanderers ranks for a new club record fee of £3.5 million whilst Mike Whitlow rejoined the club from Leicester City. John McGinlay ended his five year fairytale spell with the club when he joined Bradford City in November, but not before becoming the Wanderers record scorer in the League Cup. He notched his 14th in a 4-4 draw with Orient as Bolton ran out 7-5 aggregate winners. Middlesbrough put Bolton out of the competition at the fourth round stage.
It all came down to the last game of the season yet again for the Wanderers, if Bolton could match Everton's result they would avoid relegation. The Wanderers had to visit Chelsea, who had the final of the European Cup Winners Cup the following mid-week, whilst Everton faced Coventry at Goodison.
At half-time the Wanderers were drawing in London whilst Everton led Coventry by a single goal. A Coventry equaliser increased the tension but then, with just seventeen minutes remaining, a Vialli goal killed Bolton's hopes. Morris, almost regretfully, scored a second for Chelsea and the Wanderers went down on goal difference.
The Wanderers set out their stall for a quick return to the Premier League and strengthened the squad during the summer with the signings of Claus Jensen from Lyngby, for £1.6 million and Jamaican World Cup star Ricardo Gardner for £1 million from Harbour View. Leaving the club was Northern Ireland international Gerry Taggart who joined Leicester City.
Nathan Blake made a £4 million move to Blackburn Rovers whilst the defence was bolstered with the loan signing of Jon Newsome, from Sheffield Wednesday and Paul Warhurst, from Crystal Palace. The first ever FA Cup tie at the Reebok Stadium put an end to an unbeaten nine game run when Wolves won a third round tie 2-1. Paul Warhurst then became a fully fledged Wanderers in a £1 million deal and he helped the Wanderers to a 3-0 home win against his old club before the TV cameras.
Bolton had accounted for lower League opposition in the form of Darlington in the first round of the Worthington Cup but the second round game, against Gilligham at home, proved to be Colin Todd's last game in charge of the club. Phil Brown the took over as caretaker manager. During October took over as Chairman from Gordon Hargreaves.
New boss Sam Allardyce and his assistant Phil Brown joined
Wanderers' mascot Lofty the Lion on their appointment in 1999
Formed Wanderers favourite Sam Allardyce was appointed manager. Whilst both Neil Cox and Andy Todd left the club, Gareth Farrelly was brought in, and he scored 82 seconds into his debut, on loan from Everton, in a 2-1 win at Sheffield United.
Later that season, the Wanderers reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup for the first time since 1958, by defeating Charlton Athletic, 1-0. The Wanderers had the opportunities to defeat Aston Villa in the semi-final played at Wembley. After a scoreless two hours the Premiership side won through to the final by winning 4-1 on penalties with only Dean Holdsworth converting his kick.
The season came to a disappointing and frustrating end at Portman Road. The Wanderers led three times and were 3-2 to the good in the final minute only for Ipswich to level and win 5-3 in extra time. By then the official, Barry Knight, had awarded Ipswich three dubious penalties, one of which was saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen, and showered the Wanderers with ten yellow cards and two reds.
To assist with the compilation of these history pages, extracts were taken from 'Heroes, Heartbreakers & Headliners', The Official Bolton Wanderers History Book by Simon Marland.
The book is priced at £23.95 and can be purchased from the Club Superstore or online at www.bwfcsuperstore.co.uk
