As I will be a new name to many of you I thought it only fair to share with you my top 10 of Bolton legends. If only the players of today had the passion and skill of these 10 players.

 

John McGinlay

 

My all-time BWFC hero. While he may not be the best player to ever wear the white shirt he was certainly one of the most committed and inspirational players we will ever have. Anyone who witnessed the victory over Reading in October 1996 will know what I mean. Having scored Bolton???s second goal to put us 2-1 up, McGinlay was forced to go in goal after the sending off of Keith Branagan. For over 20 minutes he kept Reading at bay. Real Roy of the Rovers stuff.

 

Fabian DeFreitas

 

I have touched on this already this week. Fab wasn???t exactly Thierry Henry but he tried his best and played his best (which became his catchphrase). His goals in the 1995 Play-Off Final meant our first ever promotion to the Premiership. For that reason alone he gets legendary status.

 

Robbie Savage

 

No, not the long-haired girl from down the road but the original and best Robbie Savage from the promotion winning team of the late 1980???s. In our first ever season in the basement division we were looking for promotion. We needed to beat Wrexham at The Racecourse Ground and hope Torquay and Scunthorpe dropped points to gain the third automatic promotion place. With 20 minutes left Torquay and Scunthorpe were both losing but we were locked at 0-0. Andy May??????Mark Came???..now Robbie Savage??????YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Has a goal ever been so wildly celebrated? 20 minutes later the Bolton fans were on the pitch and it was all over. And so started our rise to the Premiership top 6. We salute you Robbie Savage.

 

Keith Branagan

 

You could always rely on Branagan. In my opinion a much more polished keeper than Jussi. Branagan didn???t flap when the ball was in the air or find touch with every kick. He was rock solid and our march up the leagues was based on his sound judgement. By saving a spot kick in the 1995 Play-Off Final he started the famous comeback that will never, ever be forgotten.

 

Ricardo Gardner

 

Still only 27 but seems to have been around forever. One of the best signings of the last 10 years for any club in any league. Will always be remembered for the third goal in our 3-0 Play-Off Final victory over PNE.

 

Bruno N???Gotty

 

Shockingly let go by our manager at the end of last season, this great player deserved better. Mr Consistency was his nickname, rarely did he make a mistake and despite not being the quickest he never seemed to be beaten to the ball. He cannot be replaced.

 

Mark Winstanley

 

One of the unsung heroes of the Phil Neal/Bruce Rioch eras. With the strength of John Terry and the pace of Rio Ferdinand he was the complete defender. Strangely overlooked when the England squads were being announced. Anyone who saw his 45 yard belter against Wrexham in the Sherpa Van Trophy winning season will know he could score goals as well!

 

Gudni Bergsson

 

One of the bargain buys of the century, we got an awful lot for our ??65k. Kept his head when everyone around him was losing theirs. People say Jay Jay Okocha kept us up in 2003 but he only played a handful of games that season, it was actually Gudni who kept us up with his superb defensive skills. Even today he???s still better than Jaidi. And he scored a few goals to, his header in the Play-Off Semi Final at The Hawthorns gave us belief to go on and secure promotion.

 

Steve McAnespie

 

Easily the best BWFC right-back in my lifetime. This little gem was signed for less than ??1million by Colin Todd and what a player he turned out to be. For a 3ft5 defender he was outstanding in the air, got forward more than Ashley Cole, and wore his heart on his sleeve. It was a big mistake to let him go, he could still do a job for us now.

 

Per Frandsen

 

Everyone loves Per. Totally committed during both spells at the club. He scored some wonder goals, my favourite being the first goal against Boro that kept us up in 2003. He also helped destroy Leicester when we thrashed them 5-0 on the opening day of the 2001-02 season. Great memories.

Steve McAnespie

 

Have to question this one the most. McAnespie over Jay Jay or even Youri? [-X

Steve McAnespie

 

Have to question this one the most. McAnespie over Jay Jay or even Youri? [-X

 

You mean Jay Jay ???come and sign me please even though I have two years left on my contract??? Okocha and ???Youri ???greedy french plonker??? Dork? Surely not.

No, i mean 'Youri and Jay Jay' that kept Bolton in the Prem and drove us forward to become where we are now. Helped attract other big names and put Bolton on the map.

You're that wind-up merchant off the BBC football site, you're probably a Bury fan with nowt better to do.

 

It's got a bit boring on here lately, maybe you'll perk it up with your pearls of wisdom....................or maybe you'll get ripped to shreds for your lack of football knowledge/wit/common sense.

 

PB

Mark Winstanley

 

One of the unsung heroes of the Phil Neal/Bruce Rioch eras. With the strength of John Terry and the pace of Rio Ferdinand he was the complete defender. Strangely overlooked when the England squads were being announced. Anyone who saw his 45 yard belter against Wrexham in the Sherpa Van Trophy winning season will know he could score goals as well!

 

This is a f??ckin wind up!!!!!!!

 

Strangely f??ckin overlooked, JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESUS

 

F??ck Off

Steve McAnespie

 

Have to question this one the most. McAnespie over Jay Jay or even Youri? [-X

 

You mean Jay Jay ???come and sign me please even though I have two years left on my contract??? Okocha and ???Youri ???GREEDY FRENCH PLONKER??? Dork? Surely not.

 

This wouldn't be Natasha Whittham fishing by any chance?

This wouldn't be Natasha Whittham fishing by any chance?

 

If so, she caught me!

Not been watching Bolton long then , Try going back a bit futher and half of those would not get a look

 

Try Frank Worthington , McGinlay (who I admire a lot) is not fit to lace his boots

If you are looking for a defender who was overlooked for England then look no futher then Paul Jones , again Winstanly was not fit to lace Jones boots.

Then we have Frances Lee , John Byrom too add 2 more and of course may as well add Nat to that list as will, oh and dont forget Eddie Hopkinson good as Branagan was he was not in Hopkinsons league

Not been watching Bolton long then , Try going back a bit futher and half of those would not get a look

 

Try Frank Worthington , McGinlay (who I admire a lot) is not fit to lace his boots

If you are looking for a defender who was overlooked for England then look no futher then Paul Jones , again Winstanly was not fit to lace Jones boots.

Then we have Frances Lee , John Byrom too add 2 more and of course may as well add Nat to that list as will, oh and dont forget Eddie Hopkinson good as Branagan was he was not in Hopkinsons league

 

Fair enough, but you???re talking about the olden days. I wasn???t around to experience them hence none of them make my top 10.

Not been watching Bolton long then , Try going back a bit futher and half of those would not get a look

 

Try Frank Worthington , McGinlay (who I admire a lot) is not fit to lace his boots

If you are looking for a defender who was overlooked for England then look no futher then Paul Jones , again Winstanly was not fit to lace Jones boots.

Then we have Frances Lee , John Byrom too add 2 more and of course may as well add Nat to that list as will, oh and dont forget Eddie Hopkinson good as Branagan was he was not in Hopkinsons league

 

Fair enough, but you???re talking about the olden days. I wasn???t around to experience them hence none of them make my top 10.

But you called it Bolton Legends it should have been Bolton legends in the last 12 years

You???re taking the fun out of this.

Never mind Natasha. Now about this hotel chain you work for. Can you get us discounts?

You???re taking the fun out of this.

 

There's no fun to be had with you

 

Your posts scream 'pomposity'

 

You're ruining my dinner hour

Robbie Savage

 

No, not the long-haired girl from down the road but the original and best Robbie Savage from the promotion winning team of the late 1980???s.

 

Been reading my signature?

She's on a permanent fishing trip...Ignore her.

She's on a permanent fishing trip...Ignore her.

 

Why is it that anyone who doesn???t declare their love for Sam Allardyce is classed as fishing or a wind-up merchant?

 

To buy a season ticket at BWFC do you have to sign a declaration that you will love the manager at all times?

You can't be serious, really you can't.

 

Just in case you are, who would you replace Sam with?

The BBC boards have shut down or whatever and the girl/man has decided to bless us with her wisdom instead!!

 

fcuk off!

You can't be serious, really you can't.

 

Just in case you are, who would you replace Sam with?

The million dollar question , I will now wait with baited breath for his/her reply

The guy I wanted at the time has just moved to Derby County ??? Billy Davies. Similar to Allardyce in many respects i.e. limited budget, average crowds etc but he???s done it playing entertaining football. He goes out to win games, not avoid defeat.

The guy I wanted at the time has just moved to Derby County ??? Billy Davies. Similar to Allardyce in many respects i.e. limited budget, average crowds etc but he???s done it playing entertaining football. He goes out to win games, not avoid defeat.

 

he's had 18 months of medicore success in a lower league!

 

then he shit on preston to go to a more 'glamourous' club.

I assume you were Mrs Respectable in a past life?

 

Didnt you get barred before your reincarnation as Natasha?

The guy I wanted at the time has just moved to Derby County ??? Billy Davies. Similar to Allardyce in many respects i.e. limited budget, average crowds etc but he???s done it playing entertaining football. He goes out to win games, not avoid defeat.

 

he's had 18 months of medicore success in a lower league!

 

then he shit on preston to go to a more 'glamourous' club.

 

And failed where Sam succeded , got Bolton into the prem .

The guy I wanted at the time has just moved to Derby County ??? Billy Davies. Similar to Allardyce in many respects i.e. limited budget, average crowds etc but he???s done it playing entertaining football. He goes out to win games, not avoid defeat.

 

he doesn't get teams promoted though