Left at the starting blocks when Fulham and Watford started blitzing all the opposition, and yet Watford fell apart and the Roovers took over. The inbreds beat us at the Reebok at the latter end of the season and made sure they got up. A tricky first leg at the Hawthorns and a convincing win against WBA in the return game. I always knew they would beat PNE in the final.

 

A great season in hindsight. I was in the first year of high school and my two best mates were Rovers and PNE fans, which also added some serious spice.

 

Amazing that Ricketts scored so many goals that season yet hardly ever started. To be fair though, he was so much more effective from the bench in a similar vain to Klasnic.

Ian Marshall and Colin Hendry were a revelation. Gudni scored a shed load. Gareth Farrelly silenced some of his critics before getting shown up in the Prem. Deano had a great season too from what I recall.

 

Particular memories:-

Ricketts coming off the bench at half time against Burnley just before Christmas and putting two past them.

Frandsen equalising at home to Huddersfield with a 30 yard free kick in about the 96th minute.

Losing at Crewe; I remember Warhurst getting penalised by that awful 10-yard dissent rule and them scoring the winner as a result of the free kick. He got dogs abuse after that.

Playing Rovers so many fucking times. We never looked like beating them that season. I absolutely despised the thought of playing them and I dreaded going to school to face some of their fans every time we lost. Even when we were something like 9 points ahead of them in third it was inevitable they'd overtake us.

The goalkeeper crisis and having to put up with Steve Banks before he got injured, a 65 year old Tommy Wright and Jurgen Sommer. I'll be forever grateful for Matt Clarke, who was a very solid replacement.

West Brom away in the play offs. Remember thinking 'here we go again' at 2-0, especially considering we were so much better away from home that season. That was an amazing, yet undeserved comeback. Talk about angry fans outside, they were absolutely livid.

As for the second leg, we changed it up and decided to play facing the BEN stand in the first half. The 60 yard crossfield pass from Barness to Gardner for our second goal was a particular highlight.

 

Edit: Forgot to add losing 4-3 at Stockport. Three down at half time. Ian Marshall changing the game and us pulling it back, only for Aaron Wilbraham to score down the other end. Absolutely gutting.

 

 

Typical Bolton that Stockport game. Contemplated leaving at half time. When we got it to 3-3 there was only going to be one winner. Oops.

That burnley match. Colin hendry blocking a shot with his bollocks and then getting straight up to sliding tackle a bloke, he only collapsed when the danger had passed. He was a monster that game and they hated him great day

anyone have the highlights video still?  its like rocking horse shit!

I'm sure Megson was Stockport manager at the time, and loaned the Blackburn keeper for that one game.

Nothing to do with the fact that we were a promotion battle with Blackburn at all.

 

was Andy Kilner, remember the fat bald bastard running up the touchline and joining in with their players when they scored in winner

 

wasn't he from Bolton?

was Andy Kilner, remember the fat bald bastard running up the touchline and joining in with their players when they scored in winner

 

wasn't he from Bolton?

 

Yes, it was a fact the Evening News pointed out most days. 

played for bradshaw, i think

Some great games that season.

 

I remember being absolutely heartbroken when Blackburn sealed promotion at Grimsby midweek. Thought we'd cock up in the playoffs.

 

That day in Cardiff though against Preston. Amazing. Absolutely loved every minute of it!

 

One memory that sticks out from that season is Fulham tearing us apart at the Reebok, Louis Saha.

 

I think we drew 1-1 down there? Sunday lunchtime KO. Frandsen free kick?

was Andy Kilner, remember the fat bald bastard running up the touchline and joining in with their players when they scored in winner

 

wasn't he from Bolton?

Yeah

 

He played for County too; a winger with bad asthma IIRC

 

One memory that sticks out from that season is Fulham tearing us apart at the Reebok, Louis Saha.

 

I think we drew 1-1 down there? Sunday lunchtime KO. Frandsen free kick?

 

Live on Sky, possession read something like 80% to Fulham at one point. Boa Morte got sent off for spitting at Robbie Elliott. 

 

When they beat us at the Reebok earlier in the season it was obvious they would walk the league. A class above.

Some great games that season.

 

I remember being absolutely heartbroken when Blackburn sealed promotion at Grimsby midweek. Thought we'd cock up in the playoffs.

 

That day in Cardiff though against Preston. Amazing. Absolutely loved every minute of it!

 

One memory that sticks out from that season is Fulham tearing us apart at the Reebok, Louis Saha.

 

I think we drew 1-1 down there? Sunday lunchtime KO. Frandsen free kick?

 

Aye and Boa Morte got sent off for putting a gobful in Robbie Elliotts direction.

 

Some good away's that season. Burnley and Sheff Wed spring to mind. Was that the season Ricardo Gardner buried one from about 50 yards against Barnsley?

 

A few videos for reflection...

 

http://youtu.be/tq9kazN6OUg

 

http://youtu.be/Euit-43UjBM

 

http://youtu.be/7f9dTk8esLI

Edited July 17, 201412 yr by Walkden26

Some great games that season.

 

I remember being absolutely heartbroken when Blackburn sealed promotion at Grimsby midweek. Thought we'd cock up in the playoffs.

 

That day in Cardiff though against Preston. Amazing. Absolutely loved every minute of it!

 

One memory that sticks out from that season is Fulham tearing us apart at the Reebok, Louis Saha.

 

I think we drew 1-1 down there? Sunday lunchtime KO. Frandsen free kick?

 

was it not PNE?

 

only reason I recall is that was seeing a bird at the time who was a leeds fan - so, on a hot date, we went the pub and instead of talking to each other she was watching leeds v valencia in the CL semi on one tv and I was watching Rovers V PNE hoping they'd lose on another

Live on Sky, possession read something like 80% to Fulham at one point. Boa Morte got sent off for spitting at Robbie Elliott. 

 

When they beat us at the Reebok earlier in the season it was obvious they would walk the league. A class above.

My abiding memory from that season is you crying on the way home from the 4-1 Rovers debacle 

My abiding memory from that season is you crying on the way home from the 4-1 Rovers debacle 

 

Think you've got me mixed up with another poster 

was it not PNE?

 

only reason I recall is that was seeing a bird at the time who was a leeds fan - so, on a hot date, we went the pub and instead of talking to each other she was watching leeds v valencia in the CL semi on one tv and I was watching Rovers V PNE hoping they'd lose on another

Ah, they might have sealed promotion against PNE then. Think the win against Grimsby pretty much finished off our hopes of getting 2nd spot.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1292205.stm

 

Bolton, too, were hoping for a favour from the Cleethorpes side , with Blackburn gradually pulling clear of the Trotters in the chase for the second automatic promotion spot.

 

But Bolton fans would probably have stopped looking for score updates after Matt Jansen put Rovers out of touch 12 minutes into the second half.

 

Edited July 17, 201412 yr by bwfcdan

yeah, that result must've pretty much done it if not mathematically

 

or i was just watching them hoping they'd lose

When we were 2-0 down at the Hawthorns with about 15 minutes to go, I turned to my old man and said 'Dad, I think we've had it'

 

To this day I've never heard the end of that.

Live on Sky, possession read something like 80% to Fulham at one point. Boa Morte got sent off for spitting at Robbie Elliott.

 

When they beat us at the Reebok earlier in the season it was obvious they would walk the league. A class above.

I was in Nice the day of the away game. Just walked into a random bar for a cheeky afternoon drink. Couldn't believe they had the game on.

There were a few angry faces outside after that Blackburn 4-1er. Fuck me.

My mrs first and last game at the reebok ????

King Gudni's header with the turban at The Hawthorns. Our last proper captain.

A classic season that doesn't get spoken about as much as the promotion seasons under Rioch and Todd.

 

The derby wins still stand out for me. Obviously the play off final but also 2-0 wins home and away over Preston and the 2-0 win at Turf Moor just before Christmas. Although the home game against Blackburn was a shocker the away draw at Ewood was a good moment with a very late equaliser from Bo Hansen.

When we were 2-0 down at the Hawthorns with about 15 minutes to go, I turned to my old man and said 'Dad, I think we've had it'

 

To this day I've never heard the end of that.

I remember it being fooking hot that day

Edited July 17, 201412 yr by DirtySanchez

Just like the famous Branagan save at Wembley 95 the course of our recent history changed in that last 10 minutes at the Hawthorns I believe. Who knows what another season in the then Division 1 would of brought. Cheers Gary Megson :-D

Missed out on tickets for the semi and my old

Man drove me round all day the day before sorting some out. He was fucking ace like that

the west brom semi is the last time i can remember not being able to get tickets for a match

I skipped sixth form to go and queue for tickets.

 

Got on the train at Layton at 6am and when I arrived the queue was already round to ESL.

 

Glad I had my priorities sorted straight from the off. :-)