Bolton Wanderers History

Bolton Wanderers FC History – Dates and Events

Prominent dates of the Bolton Wanderers history:

  • 1874 - the idea of organization a football club was belonged to Thomas Ogden (the schoolmaster at Christ Church). First name of the club was Christ Church FC.
  • August 28, 1877 – Christ Church FC changed its name to Bolton Wanderers.
  • 1881 – Wanderers moved to Pikes Lane. The club spent £150 on its improvements.
  • 1881 – 1882 – the team took part in the F.A. Cup for the first time, but was defeated by Blackburn Rovers.
  • 1885 – 1886 – the great season for the club. Bolton Wanderers won the Lancashire Cup by defeating Blackburn, and also won the Bolton Charity Cup and the Derbyshire Charity Cup. Billy Struthers took over a post of secretary and Peter Parkinson became a President of the club.
  • February 1887 – Billy Struthers was replaced with Fitzroy Norris.
  • April 17,1888 – the Trotters were among the founder members of the Football League.
  • 1890 – 1891 – Boltons won a victory over Darwen 3-1, getting the County Cup in the final at Anfield.
  • 1894 – In spite of reaching the F.A. Cup, Wanderers lost to Notts County and to Everton 3-2 at the last League game.
  • August 10, 1895 – Burnden Park was completed. James Sutcliffe became the first Bolton player to be sent off at Burnden Park when Wanderers beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1. He was given his marching orders for bad language directed at the referee after he had allowed a goal that the custodian claimed did not cross the line.
  • April 23, 1904 – Wanderers became F.A. Cup runners-up losing 1–0 to Manchester City at Crystal Palace.
  • 1908 – 1909 – the club won the Second Division and John Somerville was given the title of the Secretary-Manager.
  • 20 January 1910 – Will Settle took over a post of manager.
  • April 26 , 1911 – the Trotters defeated Chelsea with a score 2-0. Chelsea lost their final match to Gainsborough and the Wanderers became the runners-up of the Second Division.
  • 1911 – 1912 – the game against Manchester United at Burnden Park was finished with 1-1 draw. Boltons as a result were left in fourth place.
  • 1912 – the club was in sixth place.
  • 1913 – 1914 - George Lillycrop was signed for a record fee of £1,300 .
  • November 16, 1918 – the club won a game against Southport Vulcan 3-2 at Burnden. It was the first match that showed the return of peacetime football.
  • July 12, 1919 – Mr Charles Foweraker became a new manager of Wanderers.
  • 1920 - the team held a record when paid £2,500 for full back John Elvey. Also a new goalkeeper was signed from Southern Leaguers Swindon Town.
  • April 28, 1923 – the Trotters won the cup, defeating West Ham United 2–0 in the first ever Wembley final. This match also well-known as the White Horse Final. It was the first FA Cup victory for the club.
  • 1926 – Boltons got the FA Cup trophy again.
  • April 27, 1928 – Wanderers won the FA Cup for the third time. it was a game against Portsmouth.
  • 1930 – 1931 – Bob Howarth was appointed captain. He started his career from a 3-0 home victory over Middlesbrough.
  • 1935 – it was a start of golden era for the club. They became the Second Division runners-up. Wanderers defeated 6-2 the Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
  • 1935 – 1936 – Burnden Park’s capacity was increased.
  • 1937 – Charles Foweraker became a Secretary-Manager. The keeper Fred Swift received a £50 bribe to concede two goals at Brentford. He told about this incident to the manager who brought to the League notice, but nothing happen and the match ended a 1-1 draw.
  • 1938 – 1939 - goalkeeper Fred Swift joined the club.
  • 21 October, 1939 – a North West regional tournament was organized. The first match ended with a 1-1 draw at Burnley. The club finished in 4th place.
  • 1949 – 1950 - Bobby Langton from Preston North End was signed for a record fee of £20,000. He played in a match against Manchester United that ended with 3-0 score.
  • 1950 – 1951 – Bolton lost 4-3 to Charlton Athletic.
  • 1958 – the Trotters won FA Cup final against Manchester United at Wembley.
  • 1960 – 1961 – Bill McAdams joined the club. He scored 2 goals in a game against Chelsea. As a result Wanderers won 4-1. McAdams was sold to Leeds United for £12,000. Dennis Stevens was sold for a record fee of £35,000.
  • 1961 - 1962 – McAdams was sold to Leeds United for a fee of £12,000 having scored 26 goals in 44 League appearances in just over a year.
  • 1964 – 1965 – saw the Wanderers, for the first season out of the top sphere. Barry Fry was signed from Manchester United.
  • 1966 – 1967 – John Byrom was brought in from Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £25,000.
  • 1967 – 1968 – Wanderers were beaten by Nottingham Forest with a 4-2 win on the City Ground.
  • 1968 – 1969 – Nat Lofthouse became a new manager. Ted Rothwell was accepted as secretary.
  • 1969 - 1970 - changes in club colors – the side reappeared sporting an all white kit. Roger Hunt joined the Wanderers from Liverpool for a £32,000.
  • 1970 – 1971 - the club was relegated to the Third Division for the first time.
  • 1972 - 1973 – Bolton became the champions of the Third Division.
  • January 6, 1974 – Stoke City were beaten by the Trotters with a John Byrom hat trick which earned Bolton a 3-2 win in the third round of the FA Cup.
  • 1974 – Ian Greeves was appointed manager.
  • 1976 – 1977 – Jim McDonagh was signed for a £15,000 fee. The League Cup semi finals were reached for the first time after defeating Derby County 2-1 at the Baseball Ground.
  • 1977 – 1978 – the club became the Second Division champions.
  • 1980 – 1981 – Brian Kidd joined the team for a £150,000 fee from Everton. His debut was in a 2-1 defeat at Notts County and opened his goal account in the third game when he hit a hat trick in a 4-0 home win over Newcastle United.
  • 1982 – John McGovern took over a position of the first manager. He signed Ian Moores from Orient and Ray Deakin, from Port Vale.
  • 1983 – 1984 – Paul Jones, Jim MacDonagh, Ian Moores, Mike Doyle and Steve Whitworth left the club. This season Bolton defeat Walsall 8-1 at Burnden. It was the best League win since 1934.
  • 1985 – 1986 – Burnden Park celebrated its 90th Birthday. Tony Caldwell scored the goal that was the club’s 250th in the Third Division.
  • 1986 – 1987 – Bolton Wanderers were relegated to the Fourth Division for the first time in their history.
  • 1990 – 1991 - the club new record – 23 League games without defeat.
  • 1992 - 1993 – after a perfect FA Cup run (the team beat FA Cup holders Liverpool 2–0 ), they gained a promotion.
  • 1994 – the Trotters defeated FA Cup holders Arsenal 3–1.
  • 1995 – Reading were beaten by Bolton in the Division One playoff final and reached the Premiership.
  • 1996 – Colin Todd became a new manager.He couldn’t save the club from the relegation, but the Trotters won the promotion to the Premiership from the first attempt.
  • 1996 - 1997 - Bolton were champions of the First Division. They achieved 98 league points and 100 goals.
  • 1997 - 1998 – the club was relegated.
  • 1999 – they reached the First Division playoff final, but lost to Watford. Colin Todd was dismissed and Sam Allardyce was brought in.
  • 2000 – 2001 – in the play-off final Preston North End were defeated by Bolton thus the club was promoted to the Premier League.
  • 2004 – the team reached the League Cup final, but were beaten by Middlesbrough. The club was in the 8th place.
  • 2005 – the Trotters finished 6th and in such a way earning qualification for the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history.
  • 2006 – 2007 – Sammy Lee was appointed manager. Under his guidance the team secured qualification for the 2007–08 UEFA Cup.
  • October, 200 7 – Gary Megson took the managerial reigns.

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