Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Wanderers Ways. Neil Thompson 1961-2021

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Bolton Legends

To be honest I was looking for something else when I stumbled across a site with some pictures of players from years ago.

 

So I thought I'd take the opportunity to bring back a few memories!

 

 

Neil Whatmore

 

342486-3.jpg

 

Whatmore burst onto the Bolton scene in a blaze of glory when scoring twice on his debut in an away game against Swansea at the Vetch Field. These two strikes in Wales where to be the first of over 120 goals for the club in three seperate spells.

 

Full Name: Neil Whatmore

 

Born: 17th May 1955, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England

 

Position: Forward

 

Nationality: English

 

International Honours:

 

Club Honours: Division 2 1978

 

Signed From (1st spell): Apprentice, May 1973

 

Sold To (1st spell): Birmingham City, August 1981, ?340,000

 

Signed From (2nd spell): Birmingham City, December 1982, Loan

 

Sold To (2nd spell):

 

Signed From (3rd spell): Oxford United, March 1984, Loan

 

Sold To (3rd spell):

 

Former Clubs: Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers (loan), Oxford United, Bolton Wanderers (loan), Burnley, Mansfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Mansfield Town, Worksop Town

 

Coaching Career: Mansfield Town (Reserve Team Coach)

 

Bolton Debut (1st spell): 4th April 1973 versus Swansea City (A), Division 3

 

First Goal (1st spell): 4th April 1973 versus Swansea City (A), Division 3

 

Bolton Debut (2nd spell): 4th December 1982 versus Cambridge United (A), Division 2

 

First Goal (2nd spell): 11th December 1982 versus Charlton Athletic (H), Division 2

 

Bolton Debut (3rd spell): 17th March 1984 versus Exeter City (H), Division 3

 

First Goal (3rd spell): 24th March 1984 versus Newport County (A), Division 3

 

Notes: Had a fourth spell with the club in 1987 which was funded by a supporter but never made it past the reserves

 

 

David Reeves

 

341664-3.jpg

 

Hardworking striker who came to the Wanderers from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 1989. Reeves formed an instant and successful partnership with Tony Philliskirk which was to last for four seasons. The likeable Scouser continues to score goals at non-league level to this day.

 

Full Name: David Edward Reeves

 

Born: 19th November 1967, Heswall, Merseyside, England

 

Position: Forward

 

Nationality: English

 

International Honours:

 

Club Honours: Division 3 1995

 

Signed From: Sheffield Wednesday, August 1989, ?80,000

 

Sold To: Notts County, March 1993, ?80,000

 

Former Clubs: Heswall, Sheffield Wednesday, Scunthorpe United (loan), Burnley (loan), Bolton Wanderers, Notts County, Carlisle United, Preston North End, Chesterfield, Oldham Athletic, Chesterfield, Ards, Scarborough, Gainsborough Trinity, Buxton, Alfreton Town, Sutton Town

 

Coaching Career: Alfreton Town (Assistant Manager)

 

Bolton Debut: 19th August 1989 versus Cardiff City (A), Division 3

 

First Goal: 29th August 1989 versus Rochdale (H), League Cup 1st round, 2nd leg

 

Notes: Twin brother of Alan Reeves who played for Rochdale, Wimbledon and Swindon Town amongst others

 

 

Tony Philliskirk

 

314788-3.jpg

 

Wanderers favourite of the late 1980's and early 1990's who was an expert from dead ball situations. Philliskirk formed an excellent partnership with David Reeves during his time at Bolton but his half century of league goals for the club could never bring about promotion from the Third Division.

 

Full Name: Anthony Philliskirk

 

Born: 10th February 1965, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, England

 

Position: Forward

 

Nationality: English

 

International Honours: Schoolboy level

 

Club Honours:

 

Signed From: Preston North End, June 1989, ?50,000

 

Sold To: Peterborough United, October 1992, ?85,000

 

Former Clubs: Sheffield United, Rotherham United (loan), Oldham Athletic, Preston North End, Bolton Wanderers, Peterborough United, Burnley, Carlisle United (loan), Cardiff City, Macclesfield Town (loan), Oldham Athletic

 

Coaching Career: Oldham Athletic (First Team Coach)

 

Bolton Debut: 19th August 1989 versus Cardiff City (A), Division 3

 

First Goal: 19th August 1989 versus Cardiff City (A), Division 3

 

Notes: Both himself and Reeves earned the nickname the Bros brothers due to their likeness of the 1980's group

 

Philliskirk later went into coaching with Oldham Athletic

 

Once trained to become a Football League referee

 

His son Danny Philliskirk is also a footballer

 

 

George Oghani

 

63468-2.jpg

 

Oghani became the first black player to represent Bolton Wanderers when appearing against Wimbledon in 1984. His first full season brought about twenty one goals in all competitions but he struggled to match that in the seasons that followed.

 

Full Name: George William Oghani

 

Born: 2nd September 1960, Manchester, England

 

Position: Forward

 

Nationality: English

 

International Honours:

 

Club Honours:

 

Signed From: Hyde United, October 1983

 

Sold To: Burnley, June 1987

 

Former Clubs: Bury, Hyde United, Bolton Wanderers, Wrexham (loan), Burnley, Stockport County, Hereford United, Scarborough, Evagoras (Cyprus), Carlisle United, Northwich Victoria, Guiseley

 

Bolton Debut: 14th January 1984 versus Wimbledon (A), Division 3

 

First Goal: 4th September 1984 versus Oldham Athletic (A), League Cup 1st round, 2nd leg

 

Notes: His name appears in the lyrics of the Chumbawumba song "A lament to the best"

 

 

His time at Burnley was not without controversy and he will forever be linked with ironing boards after been involved in an incident in a store with a security guard. The club backed him on that one but when he was involved in a training ground incident in April of his second season he never played for the club again.

 

 

 

Paul Fletcher

 

342883-2.jpg

 

Homegrown forward who made a goalscoring debut for the club as a 17-year old in November 1968. Fletcher had aimed to be playing First Division football but with his hometown club this was never to be. He later went on to become a top flight star at nearby Burnley and is now a successful businessman.

 

Full Name: Paul John Fletcher

 

Born: 13th January 1951, Bolton, Lancashire, England

 

Position: Forward

 

Nationality: English

 

International Honours: U23 level

 

Club Honours:

 

Signed From: Apprentice, November 1968

 

Sold To: Burnley, March 1971,

 

Former Clubs: Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Blackpool

 

Bolton Debut: 2nd November 1968 versus Crystal Palace (A), Division 2

 

First Goal: 2nd November 1968 versus Crystal Palace (A), Division 2

 

Notes: Awarded the MBE in 2007 after successfully overseeing new stadium constructions/redevelopments at Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Wembley and Coventry City. He is currently back at Burnley as Development Director.

 

 

Once again a massive thanks to the Manny Road site for all the background info -

 

http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/main/s474/st80524.htm

Featured Replies

Great stuff

What about Stuart Lee, Garry Jones and Ralphie Wright?!

Great stuff

What about Stuart Lee, Garry Jones and Ralphie Wright?!

 

ralph wright now your talking

then theres GOD eyes left chaps

Edited by twiggy47

wasn?t a legend but I did think Steve Taylor was a decent striker

Edited by benidorm white

oh Garry oh Garry Garry Jones Oh Garry Jones Garry Garry....those of you old enough will know the tune!!!

 

 

what about Tony Caldwell...5 goals in the 8-1 drubbing of Walsall....who else was in the seats in the Lever End that day?

Reevesy scored a hat trick !

 

 

 

I was there :) cant own up to much but I even dragged a brfc fan to that game.

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.