Sat on my own tonight drinking 8% Polish beer, always gets me thinking..... what's your top 3 bolton fan moments and why? There will be popular moments shared by the majority...and some ad hoc moments..... For me....

1. Aaron Wilbrham v Forest 2018. Doesn't need much explanation....if it does, Google it ha 

2. Bolton 6-1 Spurs. 1996. First season supporting Bolton, was footballing homeless at this point in my life, being a armchair Newcastle fan cos me dad was contracting up there. Totally spoilt that season, won nearly every home game, dished out some batterings.  Banging a star studded spurs was beautiful as a Newby fan

3. Shrewsbury 0-1 Bolton, 2022. We where just on the turn here, it was the first away game / stop over with both my boys and we won 1-0 last minute thanks to a Dion thumper. Best mate was also in tow and we had a few hundred quid on us to win at 5/2 or there abouts....paid for a fee days on a golf course in Spain. Plus the lads saw pure away last minute ecstasy on their first outing! 

Last night at Burnden

Prob a most memorable but not best?

25 minutes ago, Alf Hartigan said:

 Just out of interest have we ever had a poster on here who was at the 58 final?

I think @Mounts Kipper drove a minibus there.

21 minutes ago, RONNIE PHILLIPS said:

 

Goodison League Cup semi final..... Mayhem when we equalised & I was convinced I was going to Wembley for the first time to watch the Whites. 

There was a thing on Twitter recently,which game did you miss that you would go back in time to watch?  That was mine. My dad went, we were too young, and I can still remember him buzzing the morning after, promising to take us to Wembley.

Just now, Duck Egg said:

There was a thing on Twitter recently,which game did you miss that you would go back in time to watch?  That was mine. My dad went, we were too young, and I can still remember him buzzing the morning after, promising to take us to Wembley.

Dad picked me up from school, im prob a couple of years older than you

That goal and the ground erupted

Mate at school had listened to good old radio 2 and he said the comms were spine tingling

4 minutes ago, Duck Egg said:

There was a thing on Twitter recently,which game did you miss that you would go back in time to watch?  That was mine. My dad went, we were too young, and I can still remember him buzzing the morning after, promising to take us to Wembley.

Home game, 50k on  - but I'd just started going the game before and using a family friend's compo tickets. So didn't get to this one, had to listen on R2. Would love to jump in a tardis with a ticket to witness 50k at Burnden. But at least got to 36k plus games after the Lever end was seated. In the first season up we got spanked by Liverpool towards the end of the season, but the crowd there...God alone how they expected to fit another 6k in to get to the official capacity. After getting the bus in from Howfen and then walking from the bus station, you could genuinely smell the atmosphere around the area, like the whiff of cordite on bonfire night...spine tingling even before the ground came into view. Few, if any,  have come close since in that respect.

BWFC 3-2 Stoke City, one of the first ever Sunday games, beaten only by Cambridge who kicked of earlier, Johnny B hattrick before SCFC scored two late goals, 40.000 at Burnden, it was scary for a young lad. 

BWFC 1-1 Everton, new years day in a blizzard, called of at half time, Frankie W goal and Fat Bob Latchford equalized, Black Labrador invaded the pitch and was escorted off by FW on a lead 🤣priceless.

Arsenal 1-3 BWFC white Hot, Nuff said.

If, by moments, we are talking about goals, then, in no particular order...

DeFreitas equaliser against Reading

Wilbraham against Forest 

Holden against Blackburn.

 

Proper moments in time where you cannot explain that feeling for a few seconds. Absolute euphoria. No feeling like it. The highest of highs.

1. Old Trafford - Frankie’s double

2. Ewood - promotion game - took the place over

3. Wrexham - Savage

All away games when footy crowds were a bit shit but Bolton travelled in big numbers, you could pay on the gate, and we were all over grounds

They are just the top 3. So many other top moments but those 3 will live with me to my dying day

 

0-0 v Coventry was mentioned and I'd almost forgotten how important that game was in my personal Wanderers journey. I'd lapsed a little bit in the previous couple of seasons, but the lead up to that game (which doesn't need revisiting) meant I'd have sold my mum to see us for just one last time.

The whole situation was so dark, we had a fanbase who were genuinely talking about watching Colls or sofa shopping on Saturdays. Seeing the kids sweating their all for the badge and getting a result, was, for me, as spine-tingling as Forest, as seeing us win an actual trophy v Plymouth, or staying up late on a school night to watch us get a late draw at Munich on Channel 5. 

Edited August 15, 20241 yr by TM Trotter

38 minutes ago, Casino said:

Shout

Love these debates. So many. Really hard to choose. That is right up there. 
 

colossal joy though

Wembley95

Anfield 93

Forest 19

For a bit of context, I've been watching Bolton for around 22/23 years roughly now, ever since I could start to remember.

1 - Wembley Vs Plymouth 2023 - I think just purely for the day as a whole, it literally couldn't have been more perfect. Sunny day, 4-0, 35,000+ Wanderers fans in amongst it, and with all my family and a lot of close friends. It was just amazing. Especially considering how bad my only previous Wembley experience was, against Stoke 2011.

2 - Although I was still quite young, about 11, the 2008 UEFA Cup Round of 32 tie Vs Atletico Madrid at the Reebok. In my opinion still to this day, the best atmosphere I have ever seen at a Bolton game. I only wish I could have appreciated those European nights more, I didn't realise at the time that this was not normal for Bolton.

3- Probably got to give it to the "Aaron Wilbraham match" Vs Forest 2018. Not much needed to be said, probably our version of City's Aguero moment, but to stay up, followed by a pitch invasion. I have particular memories of going into the town centre in Level at night and the club was full of Aaron Wilbraham chants - Scenes.

Honourable Mentions:

- Blackburn 2-1 2012, Fabrice Muamba tribute. 

- Peterborough 3-0, 2017, promotion and pitch invasion 

- Sunderland 6-0, 2021, the scoreline itself 

- Lastly a bit of an odd one, but against Burton 2-1 in 2022. I just remember celebrating this win more than anything in recent memory. Cold, wet horrible night game,  1-0 down 87th minute, then Bakayoko scores an equaliser and then in the last kick of the game, 96th minutes, Jon Dadi smashes it in, finally ending the Burton curse. I just remember celebrating the goal with my mum so much

Edited August 15, 20241 yr by Lostock Whites

Wrexham

Leicester (with 9 men)

Beating Utd 1-0 at home (Anelka?). First time I'd seen us beat them at home.

 

9 hours ago, Traf said:

I think @Mounts Kipper drove a minibus there.

Sadly not true, wish I was present, lucky anyone who was there. 

Fulham 0-0 in 1978 already up but needed a point to win league. Pitch invasion at the end swept onto pitch in a sea of fans. We are the champions blasting out,Allardyce chucking his boots into crowd. That game made me a wanderer for life 

Reading playoff not only result but the only day I have shagged 2 different birds in the same day. 

Kids v Coventry . The game that reminded us all what the club meant to us.  We all turned up and showed the world that the new era had begun.

 

One game not mentioned yet the 1/4 final win away at the baseball ground against the title winning side of the season before, that was a superlative performance, our support that night was breathtaking a night of pure football passion at a fantastic atmospheric venue, and the night I ditched my second team (Derby) and was all in for BWFC. 

Edited August 16, 20241 yr by Mounts Kipper

A few other memories came to me overnight.

Freddie Bobic hatrick vs Ipshite in 2002. Relegation 6 pointer.

Okochja vs West Ham

Stuart Holden vs Blackburn in 2010

Bergsson 35 yarder on Boxing Day 1997

 

22 minutes ago, batton carrier said:

 

Reading playoff not only result but the only day I have shagged 2 different birds in the same day. 

 

And you got to the game too?!

You're either one silver tongued lothario or a reet good looking lad! Or they were from Farnworth 😉

1 minute ago, Duck Egg said:

And you got to the game too?!

You're either one silver tongued lothario or a reet good looking lad! Or they were from Farnworth 😉

I didn't go to the game I was a bit hard up so I watched it in the white horse in Westhoughton.  I was going through a bit of a couldn't give a fuck stage in life ,the only thing I cared about was my dog . I woke up on some random floor on king street in the morning no recollection of how I got there. An ex was there and I did what had to be done . Went home ,went pub then after game in walks the woman I had just split with and couple hours later I was smashing her.

For the record I am an ugly cunt but I had a good run in the early/mid 90s when life was a bit simpler.,

😂

9 hours ago, desperado said:

Hull - amazing result with 10 men in such a big game, with such carnage 

Munich - Celebrating a result in Bayern Munich’s stadium

Utd (Rickets) - Just knew we’d made the big time after this 

 

I’m going to be greedy. Above was pre-kids. These 3 are special ones with the family, sharing the love with them,

Plymouth final

Wilbraham goal & Celebrations

Wimbledon away 2021 - a unique one that probably needs some explaining.

Pre-Covid we were a basket case, nearly went pop. But for moments like Wilbraham and the Peterborough pitch invasion the kids of the 2010-2020 generation had absolutely fuck all, it was as bad if not worse than the 80s. That decade with young kids wasn’t a time for away games for us. 

We’d spent the previous 18 months in lock-down, those Ifollow  (as shit as it was - Fergal Sharkey etc) Bolton games were the highlight of the week. We were craving to watch Bolton live again.

That Wimbledon away game was just pure magic (yes result wasn’t spectacular,  throwing 2 late goals away to draw 3-3), but each of those 3 goals were just pure joy, ecstasy (home game MKD, similar), the look on their faces, to be back live watching the team we love. It was the spark which is still lit for us attending lots of away games together.  

Very special. 

Too young for Reading / white hot

Missed PNE in the play offs (family holiday)

Away on a mate’s stag do for Forest 

Away for the Coventry 0-0

So I’ll go with

Munich - first and only time I ever watched us away in Europe and to do it there with that result and a late equaliser is the stuff of dreams

Blackburn away 1-0 (Jussi 2x pen saves) - just about old enough to properly enjoy the full experience of away days. 8,000 fans, local derby and the way we won it

Papa John’s final - zero expectation for that game but @Lostock Whites has summed it up perfectly.

Honourable mentions - beating United 2-1 away in 2002, although I was 11 and in the Stretford End with my uncle so couldn’t do it justice. Still remember the buzz of watching Ricketts stick it in the top corner though. Madrid at home. Southend away, Beevers late winner. City away 1-0 when they hit the Woodwork 24 times. Probably loads more but they stick out.

Arsenal 1=1 in 2001 - Unjustly down to 10 men and Ricketts scored an absolute pearler. Think we could have almost won it at the end. 

Leicester 2-2 also in 2001 - Like the above it wasn't a win but both games genuinely felt like we were part of the team rather than them just entertaining us. 

Sherpa Van Trophy against Torquay - Just an amazing day out with my dad on a coach from the pub. And we won at Wembley.

Nobody mentioned Sunderland christmas 1975, 40 odd thou on Burnden. Best atmosphere I've ever known, big match with the top 2, we won (and Sam's header).

Only a nipper and first time dad ever took me in the stands (Manny Road) instead of standing on them massive cinder steps at the back of the Embankment so I could see over folks' heads.

Fuck me, what a happy world Burnden seemed in them days.

16 minutes ago, Nowack said:

Arsenal 1=1 in 2001 - Unjustly down to 10 men and Ricketts scored an absolute pearler. Think we could have almost won it at the end. 

 

How did I forget that game.

I flew down on team plane from Bae Warton.

Met up with players in a lounge at Stansted after game.

I got Gudni to phone my daughter who was in bed after major surgery on her leg.Colin Hendry kicking off on flight back because folk were taking photos.

Gudni was an absolute gent him making that call and making my daughters day got me out of a world of shit with the wife 

 

18 minutes ago, batton carrier said:

got me out of a world of shit with the wife 

Is she the one from the morning or the evening? 🤣

44 minutes ago, desperado said:

I’m going to be greedy. Above was pre-kids. These 3 are special ones with the family, sharing the love with them,

Plymouth final

Wilbraham goal & Celebrations

Wimbledon away 2021 - a unique one that probably needs some explaining.

Pre-Covid we were a basket case, nearly went pop. But for moments like Wilbraham and the Peterborough pitch invasion the kids of the 2010-2020 generation had absolutely fuck all, it was as bad if not worse than the 80s. That decade with young kids wasn’t a time for away games for us. 

We’d spent the previous 18 months in lock-down, those Ifollow  (as shit as it was - Fergal Sharkey etc) Bolton games were the highlight of the week. We were craving to watch Bolton live again.

That Wimbledon away game was just pure magic (yes result wasn’t spectacular,  throwing 2 late goals away to draw 3-3), but each of those 3 goals were just pure joy, ecstasy (home game MKD, similar), the look on their faces, to be back live watching the team we love. It was the spark which is still lit for us attending lots of away games together.  

Very special. 

Good call on that MK Dons game, actually. Really good match, crowd bang up for it and just it felt great to be in the ground again. Baptiste’s celebration in the rain with the crowd going bananas behind was a cracker of a picture.