Bolton Wanderers (H) F A Cup 1st round, Nov 2nd 3pm

“Wanderers in that happy valley” (POE)

Well, after playing one of the founder members of the League yesterday (Accrington) we have another one in Bolton Wanderers, currently occupying 9th place in League One - just a couple of points below the play-off zone. Fixtures between the two clubs go back to 25th November 1899 when we drew 2-2 with them in a home game. We didn’t see them at all for 70 years after that season as they were predominantly a top-flight club while we acted as a ping-pong ball between Divisions III (South) and (North). However, we met regularly from 1972 onwards in League 3, the highlight (or lowlight) being on 10th September 1983 when we were on the wrong end of an 8-1 thumping.

As far as the F A Cup is concerned, The Trotters can lay claim to a prominent pedigree in that direction - F A Cup winners in 1923, 1926, 1929 and 1958 - finalists 1894, 1904 and 1953, semi-finalists 12 times.

No doubt there are other players who have featured for both clubs, but top of the list would be Michael Ricketts. He started as a trainee with us, scored quite a few goals as a young man and was sold to Bolton Wanderers for £400,000. Whilst with them he was awarded his England cap for a friendly with Holland, and when Bolton sold him on to Middlesbrough for £2.5 million we received a windfall of £420,000 thanks to our sell-on clause. He has retired from playing now, of course (he is 45yrs old) but for the past 7 years he has been the President of the Jamaica Football Federation.

Bolton’s current League One form, just to give you an idea of their abilities…

28th September Crawley (A) WON 0-2
1st October Northampton Town (A) WON 2-4
5th October Shrewsbury Town (H) Drew 2-2
19th October Burton Albion (H) WON 2-1
22nd October Birmingham City (A) Lost 2-0
26th October Peterborough Utd (H) WON 1-0

There’s a nice touch of humour almost linking the two clubs - the naming of their stadium … when we moved from Fellows Park there was much debate on what the new ground should be called, and in view of the fact that it was built on the site of what had been a sewage farm some suggestions were voiced in favour of “W C Fields” - sadly that didn’t catch on. But in Bolton’s case their newly built stadium having gone through a few names in its brief history is currently (for 5 years) sponsored by a building materials recycling company, the stadium having the delightful name of The Toughsheet Stadium. Bolton’s chairman is on record as saying he’s looking forward to seeing the TV presenters trying to keep a straight face when announcing it!

Forecast? Based on our performances so far this season against higher League opposition I think it’s reasonable to say that we have a good chance of progress. This is, after all, THE cup competition, with the prospect of money spinning fixtures for any progress from Round 3 onwards. I would expect to see Mat Sadler start his strongest XI, but possibly giving Uncle Albert and DJ a bit more time than the 10-minute cameo plays seen so far. We don’t seem to have any new nasty injuries … a possible spanner in the works could happen if Loan Player clubs insist that their men will be cup-tied - we shall see.

Anyway, here’s to an almost full Bescot, and that forecast? I’ll go for a 2-1 home win!

UTS

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Thank you for an excellent introduction.

I reckon Sadler ought to ring the changes a bit. I would be amazed if Daniels does not play , likewise Comley, and would also like to see McEntee play a part. Adomah and DJ should also be heavily involved. For once, our reserves are strong but they do need game-time.

It’s going to be tough for both sides and regardless of what happened in previous encounters we can go up against Bolton with a degree of confidence.
We’ve played Exeter Huddersfield and Birmingham and more than held our own so as far as I’m concerned bring it on. I do hope there’s a good turnout though because the team deserve that.

Love your previews @Welsh_Saddler.Always so much thought and effort put in.:clap:t2::clap:t2:

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Great preview as always.

I’m not doubting your knowledge at all, I always thought we got our big windfall for Ricketts because of his England cap.

I remember watching him in the reserves before he made it into the first team, always looked a class above.

I saw him in a few reserve games when he hadn’t yet become a regular in the first team. In one he got the ball more or less from the kick off in the centre circle, set off for goal by shouldering a couple of players aside, swerved round a couple more and rifled the ball into the roof of the net. Then he shrugged as if to say “that’s what I can do” and did sod all for the next 89 minutes. :laughing:

I wish Ricketts had played from the start of the 99-00 season instead of Robins.

Ricketts had a superb game in that 4-3 at the Reebok in the April, I’ve always wondered how much that influenced Big Sam to sign him.

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I used to go to a fair few reserve games. I think they used to kick off at 2pm on a weekday afternoon? I worked shifts, I’d go and meet my Grandad, I’d miss a bit of the game but it was a good chance to meet up with my Grandad and see a bit of football. There was a point where some games had quite a few first team players playing. I think it was if they had been a naughty boy and not lived up to Sir Ray’s expectations in one way or another.

Ricketts didn’t really fit the Graydon player profile, did he? Mind you, I’m surprised he gave Robins so much leeway, I was telling the kids about him yesterday cos the Coventry game was on the TV. Despite it being a season of struggle, it was still a very enjoyable one I thought. Us against the world and we almost did it.

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It was a fun season, despite the struggle and ultimate disappointment. I just wish we had either not signed Robins at all, or had signed someone better, someone who gave a shit.
Anyway, 25 years ago. :astonished: Where did it go?

I used to enjoy the reserve games, I saw us play some at The (old) Bucks Head and also at Bromsgrove.

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Thanks for the preview.I expect a few changes for this. A close 2-1 win for us is my prediction.

Talking to a Bolton fan there form has improved recently due to players coming back from injury and they look stronger than they did a month ago that said i think we can win this at home
3-2 Saddlers Lowe Jellis and DJ

Home advantage could be absolutely colossal in this game with a bumper and vociferous audience anticipated. We shouldn’t underestimate Bolton, all whistles and bells, and we will have to be at or near our best to overcome them.

He also said Evatt usually plays his strongest available side in cups.

Brandon Comley amongst our current squad.

Another was the Turkish Messi who left us to join them.

Liam Gordon !!!

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Alan Boswell and John Manning.
In later years Dean Holden. Also David Holdsworth when he wasn’t being sent off.

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And Nat “the Lion of Vienna” Lofthouse was the headliner at a packed Walsall Town Hall for a big announcement while Terry Ramsden was in charge and we were all eager about the move to a new ground and other innovations - which actually turned out to be the launch of the club’s new lottery. :joy:

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And Jack Earing.

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Got a feeling we will thrash them !!!
Let’s do this walsall all the way !!!

Steve Elliott, Amadou Bakayoko and Keith Andrews played for both.

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Maybe it would be easier to just name those who haven’t played for both. :laughing: