What do we actually want to see when we go to watch BWFC?

A friend of mine ( he of boltonbandits in the fantasy league) recently lent me a hardback volume of newspaper clippings compiled about BWFC matches since the 1923 Cup Final. soem of you may have it or have read it. His was a family present. I have really enjoyed reading old reports of matches, many of which from the late fifties onwards I can remember attending. One in particular caught my eye:Bolton 6 QPR 4. I remember a very frosty day- they wouldn't play now and it wouldn't be like that (something lost or just romantic nostalgia?). The ball was bouncing ridiculously and the defenders struggled to stand up. It made for great entertainment. Rodney Marsh was playing and played memorably-no running about like a headless chicken, no real defensive duties, just 10-20 touches of sublime skill..and I remember emerging aglow with excitement

And then there was the magical Arsenal replay on 6 Feb in the early 90s- I remember the date because I went with a schoolfriend whose birthday it was and when Andy Walker off the bench after injury came on and fired home the winner--marvellous

And then 1995 with the league cup final visit I'm currently using as an avatar and shortly after Reading play off.

But also the 1920s cup runs- wasn't there obviously and 1958 remember my father cheeering- which he never did- when I was playing in the front room. And the Buff which arrived in fog saying BWFC 6 Man Utd 3. And all the times it arrived before I could go to matches and said LOFTHOUSE whenever Nat scored

And so on, you will all have your favourites eg 1996/7 v Charlton or earlier v Preston and McGinlay's penalty ( couldn't get a ticket for that one) or that brilliant midweek league cup game in the 60s where we beat Shankly's Liverpool or the Tuesday where we beat Chelsea in th cup ( Matthew Harding's last game) or when we slaughtered Spurs and the likes of Sheridan and late on Scott Taylor ( a young player signed from Millwall I think- familiar? scored the final goal.

In thinking about all this I reflected that when I attend I'm looking for two separate outcomes : a) a BWFC  victory ideally in an entertaining game and b) a memory which someday will sit fondly with all the above

And then when I went round to give the book back and was discussing this season with boltonbandit who hasn't yet been able to attend I found I could neither remember how many games we have played this season nor what happened precisely in the two home games I had seen- and on which I've written reports just a few weeks previously!

Now on current wages we aren't going to have Okocha, Diouf, Campo, Djorkaeff etc nor even a Frank Worthington, Roger Hunt, Willie Morgan..but we could have a Jason McAteer on the up or an Alan Thompson (19 when Bruce bought him) and we might find a John McGinlay or a Branagan ( Millwall again) and we could be trying young players even if for exciting one offs ( I remember Chris Duffy, Jeff Smith and even Daniel Braaten's goal)

I'm here trying to set up a thread which is positive and have only indulged a bit of negativity in the last but one para.above.


I think I'd be arguing for DF to set out his teams to play positively and leave us with some immediate excitement and some lasting impressions even memories. I want to see youth and promise- even if we have an abysmal season and risk relegation and I want to see some wins and entertaininment- and I won't get that if the opposition have the ball for 60% of each game but nor will I get it if we don't have any shots or wing play or breakaways. Maybe these next four games will be memorable or have memorable incidents ( Elmander's goal at Wolves certainly was--much more so than all his ineptitude in other games). istill remember our league cup game v Rotherham in the 60s, I still remember the scary Sheff wed team of thearly 60s with Kay, Layne and Swan soon to be banned for life but on that night superb. I want to rmember these upcoming games next month! !!