How many BWFC fans on here are long enough in the tooth to remember Charlie Wright's only pre-season summer in charge of Bolton thirty years ago?

 

We'd barely made any summer signings of note for years. Reading the Evening News each night was quite exciting to my young eyes as Charlie made his mark in the transfer market.

 

Household names like David Cross and Asa Hartford signed. We brought back Big Sam Allardyce! Dave Sutton and Derek Scott also joined. I failed to spot they were all over the hill. I also failed to take account of the loss of Jeff Chandler and Brian Borrows. As a result I had us nailed on for promotion. We didn't win any of our first four games - including a 1-4 rout at home to Bury who were playing us for the first time since 1969. Charlie lost his job before Xmas and in came Phil Neal.

 

Highly built up expectations cruelly dashed. Such disappointments shape Bolton Wanderers fans!

Edited May 16, 201511 yr by paulhanley

aye, that 1-4 with bury

 

boiling august night

 

hartford wasnt the worst sighing ever, to be fair

Remember Hartford scored a wonderful Sunday league OG off his shin at the Lever End

 

David Cross fractured his skull

 

Sutton for England

 

Derek Scott made Nicky Hunt look like Cafu

 

Great days indeed

Went every game home and away that season

Every game? Cruel. There were worse season's in Bolton's history - but probably only two!! Yet it ended at Wembley.

I remember a trip to Swansea think we got battered only Asa Hartford looked remotely like a footballer, did we have Peter Barnes that season? Remember him playing at Sheff U for us that was another battering that team was devoid of any spirit or heart. Shocking times.

I remember a trip to Swansea think we got battered only Asa Hartford looked remotely like a footballer, did we have Peter Barnes that season? Remember him playing at Sheff U for us that was another battering that team was devoid of any spirit or heart. Shocking times.

 

Remember him being subbed at Sheff Utd.

Phil Neal brought himself on to replace him and Barnes threw his shirt at him.

I think Peter Barnes came to Bolton in 86/7 and then again in 87/8.

That 3-1 at Swansea was characterised by some horrendous goalkeeping by Simon Farnworth.

I think Peter Barnes came to Bolton in 86/7 and then again in 87/8.

That 3-1 at Swansea was characterised by some horrendous goalkeeping by Simon Farnworth.

Can't believe we signed Barnes twice utter shithouse.

My first season this, the lethal partnership of chicken George and TC must have had opposition defenders quaking. Didn't we sign Mark Gavin this season?

My first season this, the lethal partnership of chicken George and TC must have had opposition defenders quaking. Didn't we sign Mark Gavin this season?

 

Yes, March 1986

Gavin scored in his first game for us didn't he? A very unlikely 1-3 win at Wigan in a gale force wind. They'd gone 30 or 40 home games unbeaten and this ended the run. Bolton fans all over the home terraces at Springfield.

My first season also. I think I played a pivotal role in the upturn at the club

Can only remember most games from that era if the opposition brought a mob or if Bolton went on the rampage (apart from the odd more memorable game), the football was dross.

My first season this, the lethal partnership of chicken George and TC must have had opposition defenders quaking. Didn't we sign Mark Gavin this season?

 

 

whatever our problems were, they werent oghani and caldwell

 

the managerial genius that was jon mcgovern had them 2 and chandler all score 20 and nearly get us relegated!

whatever our problems were, they werent oghani and caldwell

 

the managerial genius that was jon mcgovern had them 2 and chandler all score 20 and nearly get us relegated!

Go on I'll admit I was too young to offer a sensible opinion on that season other than Mark Gavins fancy hair flick. Don't really remember much before seeing a JT turn, sumo and Robbies backside. I did enjoy Chandler attempting an overhead kick once and catching a Wigan player square in the mush (Bobby Campbell then scored a hat trick). I was convinced Came would play for England.

Chandler had been sold before the start of 85/6. He went to Derby. My memory is that when be came back to Burnden with his new team that Autumn he got absolute dogs abuse from all parts of the ground but mainly the Manny Road North Terrace. Can remember stuff being lobbed over the fence at him including a meat and potato pie!

I remember that Bury game...wasnt it bank holiday Monday night or on the Tuesday?

 

I don't think I'd even heard of Bury then.

 

Not much change I suppose.

I remember Charlie Wright would talk to the crowd behind his goal when the ball was down the other end.

Chandler had been sold before the start of 85/6. He went to Derby. My memory is that when be came back to Burnden with his new team that Autumn he got absolute dogs abuse from all parts of the ground but mainly the Manny Road North Terrace. Can remember stuff being lobbed over the fence at him including a meat and potato pie!

 

 

golf ball, too

golf ball, too

A Titleist Pro V1 from memory.

My memory is fookin awful, never realised that Phil Neal managed us for over six years, thought it was about three.

Edited May 16, 201511 yr by HR

Who'd have thought a mere decade later we would be on our way to the premiership after a cup final with a brand new stadium being built down the road.

 

Ten years isn't a long time.

Didn't see the golf ball. Doesn't surprise me though. The Manny Road North lads let Chandler know that his move to Derby was not popular! Derby got promoted that year. One of Chandler's team mates was Steve McLaren!

Rermember Jeff Chandler handed a transfer request in, which may explain the abuse.

 

Once cycled into the back of his Lancia parked on Thornham Drive, near Sharples School