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Adam Le Fondre - Exclusive interview with Wanderers Station

28/8/2018

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Two weeks ago, Wanderers fans were shocked when half way through our cup defeat at Elland Road, it was announced that Adam Le Fondre would be leaving the club. A new challenge awaited, as Sydney FC came calling with a fantastic opportunity for the popular striker.

A few days ago, Liam from Bolton Nuts presented me with the incredible opportunity of interviewing Le Fondre on his time at Bolton and life after BL6.

We started off by asking ALF if he had recovered yet from his 24 hour flight and acclimatised yet to being in glorious sunny Sydney.

“To be fair the transition has been real easy! Of course everyone talks about jet lag but I can safely say I hardly struggled with it! It’s always nice to go somewhere and fit in straight away and I feel like I have done so here!”

Talking of fitting in straight away, it didn’t take long for Le Fondre to make an impact at Bolton. The former Reading striker became a huge fans’ favourite with the Wanderers supporters, and even had his own chant. I asked Adam if he ever imagined he’d make such a big mark at Bolton when he had first signed.
“I would lying if said I expected that to happen” said Alfie, “but I always believed in my ability to score goals regularly, which obviously endears you to fans more! The fans were unbelievable with me!”

We then discussed his time as a member of the Wanderers squad, beginning with on the pitch matters: his favourite strike partner.
“In my first spell Cloughy and I had a great understanding and partnership which flourished. However when I came back and played with big Gaz I enjoyed that as a typical big man little man combo! If pushed for an answer I would say Cloughy, we just seemed to click with everything when we played together in training or games!”

Then onto off the pitch matters: the best and worst banter in the dressing rooms…
“Wheats – the worst banter and gear. Terrible effort! The best banter was Jem until he left! To be fair there’s a great group of lads there!!”

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During just a few years of association with Bolton Wanderers, Adam has been a part of some incredible achievements. However, one in particular trumps the rest.
“I think staying up on the day tops promotion. Everyone had us relegated after Burton but we stuck in there and did it in some fashion! An amazing day I got share with my family – it was unreal!”

In response to being asked whether he might make a fourth return to Bolton, in either a playing or non-playing capacity, Le Fondre replied “never say never in football! Who knows?”

Finally, ALF left a message to the Wanderers fans, saying “I just to thank them for their unwavering support for me throughout my time there! Great bunch apart from Wes!”

So there you have it. I’m sure you can all join me in thanking Adam for his time here and service as a Wanderers player. No matter what the circumstances, it was clear that he always gave his all for the club, and was a real hero for us on many occasions. We wish Adam and his family all the very best for their new life in Australia.
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I’d like to also thank Liam and the team at Bolton Nuts for setting up this interview.

Interview brought to you by Wanderers Station http://www.wanderers-station.com in partnership with Bolton Nuts Forum forum.boltonnuts.co.uk. 

The original article can also be viewed here: wanderers-station.com/2018/08/28/adam-le-fondre-the-exclusive-interview/
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Bolton Nuts Competitions

2/8/2018

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There's only 2 days to go until our new Championship campaign gets underway against newly relegated West Bromich Albion.  This summer we have released 14 players and loaned Ben Amos out for the remainder of his contract.  We have recruited, to date,  9 replacements.  The majority of Bolton fans see these players as improvements over the squad we had for our last campaign.  So how do you expect us to perform this season?  Most pundits have us as one of the teams likely to be relegated.  Lets hope we can prove them wrong!

Bolton Nuts again will be running a few season long competitions so why not get involved.  The following competitions will be run again this season:

The Prediction League - Simply predict the score and first Bolton scorer and get points based on your predictions.  League table updated after every game.
The Betting Shop - Put your virtual money where you mouth is.  You start with a balance of £1000 and can place a maximum of 3 bets on what you think will happen using the bets posted up before each game.
Fantasy Leagues - We have created our own leagues on fantasy.premierleague.com and the Telegraph's Championship fantasy League.  We have also created out own Super 6 League where you can win £1million!
What's the point - Predict how many points the Wanderers will achieve in this coming season in the Championship.  The winner will get £25 donation to any charity of his choice.
£4million Drop - Based on the once popular £1million drop hosted by Davina Mccall.  You put bet your £4million on what you think the outcome of our local derbies will be.  You can split the bets or bet the full amount.

To take part in these competitions you must register in the forum and place your entries here.

Don't forget we will usually have a audio stream of the all the Bolton games throughout the season, which we like to call Radio Nuts.  As well as lively debate on the forum.

Hope to see you on the forum soon.

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The Burnden Park Disaster - Remember the 33

9/3/2018

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On the 9th March 1946, 33 lives were lost and over 400 fans were injured in the Burnden Park disaster.  The game being played was the 2nd leg of the FA Cup Quarter-Final which was being contested between Bolton Wanderers and Stoke City.  The FA Cup games that season were being played over 2 legs to make up for the lack of league football which had yet to start after the Second World War.

There was much more interest in the competition than just the locals, because this was the first post-war FA Cup competition which had been competed for.  People also wanted the chance to see top players who were returning from the forces back to their clubs, Stokes’ Stanley Matthews being one of them.

Bolton fan’s would have been quite confident of progressing to the next round after winning the first leg 2-0 thanks to Ray Westwood scoring both goals. 

An estimated crowd of over 85,000 people packed into the stadium.  This being 20,000 over the official capacity and dwarfing the previous highest attendance of 43,000 that Burnden Park had seen that season.  

The disaster happened at the Railway end of the ground, which was in a very poor state, like many other post-war grounds.  There was just a bank of dirt and a few slabs of flag stones acting as steps.

The overcrowding was enhanced further due to part of the Burnden Road Stand having yet to re-open after the Ministry of Supply requisitioned it for use as storage during the War.  In addition a set of turnstiles at the east end had been closed since 1940 meaning the crowd were all forced to enter the from one side of the embankment.

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​The turnstiles were closed 20 minutes prior to kick off, but by this point the stand was already overly full.  15,000 people were still outside many still managing to get in by climbing walls and entering a gate which had been left open by a father and son escaping the crush inside.

The game kicked off on schedule at 3PM, but minutes later it was halted as fans split onto the pitch.  The pitch was cleared but two barriers gave way which caused the fans to surge forward again, crushing those underneath.  Bill Cheeseman was at the game with his sister, who had wanted to see Stoke's Stanley Matthews. described how “All of a sudden those that were in front of us seemed to go – all falling down like a pack of cards.  We managed to get out and I was glad about that."

Nat Lofthouse was by the referee when the official, George Dutton, was informed of the horrendous news of what was happening behind one of the goals.  A police officer said “I Believe those people over there are dead” pointing to the bodies placed on the ground.  After the referee called the two captains, Bolton’s Harry Hubbick and Stoke’s Neil Franklin, both teams were taken off the pitch and the field began to look like a military hospital where the dead and injured were laid on it.

After half an hour the unpopular decision to continue with the game was made by the then Chief Constable of Bolton, W J Howard.  As the players were coming out with the bodies of the dead lying alongside the pitch covered with their coats, one of the spectators grabbed hold of a Stoke player and hurled abuse at him for continuing with the game. 

A new sawdust lined touchline separated the players from the bodies.  There was no half time interval, the sides simply changed ends presumably to get the game finished.  The game finished 0-0.

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"It was a sad day," Lofthouse remembers. "But I think the referee did the right thing restarting the game. You couldn't think about kicking a football, your mind was on those poor people. They had died in the stand where I had used to climb in and if I'd not been a player it might have been me."

Stanley Matthews described the events, “As we trotted on to the pitch I noticed the crowd was tightly packed, but this was nothing unusual at a big cup-tie. Our boys began well, and after ten minutes we had reason to feel confident as we were having the best of the game. It then happened! There was a terrific roar from the crowd, and I glanced over my shoulder to see thousands of fans coming from the terracing behind the far goal on to the pitch.”  

A Home Office inquiry, chaired by Moelwyn Hughes, was launched to examine the events surrounding the disaster, but before the inquiry began the police, club officials and journalists were quick to pay the blame solely with the fans, stating holes had been torn in the fencing at the top of the embankment.  Rowley stated, “Holes have been torn in the fencing at the top of the embankment in almost every conceivable place.”  The Chief Constable alleged “There was no disorder … among those who gained entry in a legitimate manner.  The trouble began when hundreds of people broke down the fences on the railway embankment.” He also said the police were “overwhelmed by the thousands of people rushing to the fence”.

The disaster brought about the Moelwyn Hughes report which recommended more rigorous control of crowd sizes.  It also advised local authorities should inspect grounds with a capacity of 10,000 and safety limits should be in place for grounds holding 25,000 or more.  Turnstiles should mechanically record spectator numbers and grounds should have their own internal telephone systems.

Immediately after the tragedy a Disaster Fund was set up by the Mayor of Bolton to help the families of the dead and injured.  This raised £52,000 (about £2 million in today’s money), and was boosted by the proceeds from an international friendly between England and Scotland, playing out a 2-2 draw, at Maine Road on 24th August 1946, which sold out.

Bolton left Burnden Park in 1997 and Nat Lofthouse unveiled a memorial plaque in 2000 on the site of the old ground, which was now a supermarket. 

Club chaplain Phil Mason said: "The Burnden Park disaster is often seen as the forgotten disaster within the football world. So it is very important that on the 70th anniversary we mark it in a significant way."

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The thirty-three who lost their lives on that day:

WILFRED ADDISON Moss Side, Manchester
WILFRED ALLISON (19)  Leigh
FRED BATTERSBY (31)  Atherton
JAMES BATTERSBY (33)  Atherton
ROBERT BENTHAM (33)  Atherton
HENRY BIMSON (59)  Leigh
HENRY RATCLIFFE BIRTWISTLE (14)  Blackburn
JOHN T. BLACKSHAW  Rochdale
W. BRAIDWOOD (40)  Hindley
FRED CAMPBELL (33) Bolton
FRED PRICE DEARDEN (67)  Bolton
WILLIAM EVANS (33)  Leigh
WINSTON FINCH  Hazel Grove, Stockport
JOHN FLINDERS (32)  Littleborough
ALBERT EDWARD HANRAHAN  Winton, Eccles
EMILY HOSKINSON (40)  Bolton
WILLIAM HUGHES (56)  Poolstock, Wigan
FRANK JUBB  Rochdale
JOHN LIVESEY (37) Bamber Bridge, Preston
JOHN THOMAS LUCAS (35) Leigh
HAROLD MCANDREW  Wigan
WILLIAM MCKENZIE  Bury
MORGAN MOONEY (32) Bolton
HARRY NEEDHAM (30)  Bolton
DAVID PEARSON Rochdale
JOSEPH PLATT (43) Bolton
SIDNEY POTTER (36) Tyldesley
GRENVILLE ROBERTS  Ashton-in-Makerfield
RICHARD ROBEY (35) Barnoldswick
THOMAS ROBEY (65)  Billinge, Wigan
T. SMITH (65)  Rochdale
WALTER WILMOT (31) Bolton
JAMES WILSON Higher Openshaw, Manchester.
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Interview with Daniel Izza - Chairman of the Supporters Trust

18/8/2017

2 Comments

 
1) What made you decide to get involved with the Supporters Trust?
I have been a supporter for 40 years.  I had become increasingly frustrated that the club was becoming more remote from the fans in the Gartside era. The events of winter 2015/16 convinced me that the ownership of the club should be broader with greater fan involvement and look to integrate the club further into the Bolton community.

2) What role is the Trust currently playing?

To support the club, support the specific aim of promoting young talent, improve the matchday experience, keep the views of the fans in the mind of the club, hold the owners to account in respect of major decisions

3) How much is the Trust working with the club?

We are working closely with the club on several issues – a working relationship is essential. We remain independent and on other issues we are keeping the owners to account.

4) What do you make of the club’s current position on and off the pitch?

Delighted at the promotion as the increased revenue of the Championship and the expiry of Premier League legacy contracts mean that the club is closer to stability and sustainability. We are under no illusion that investment and lifting the EFL embargo are huge priorities. After managing the difficult period to date, there needs to be a vision as to how the club is to move forward.

5) What are the Trust’s aims for the future?

As a community benefit society, we aim to promote the voice of the fan at the highest level within the club. Our aspiration is to help achieve greater success for the club

6) What are your predictions for this season?

The season must be about consolidation and stabilising the club. The removal of the embargo is a priority as without a broader squad, the club will find it difficult to compete. Being realistic and assuming we keep the restricted squad fit, I would hope for mid table.

Many thanks to Dan for his time.

https://wanderers-station.com/2017/08/17/interview-with-daniel-izza-chairman-of-the-supporters-trust/
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Bruce Rioch - The Man Who Made Us The “White Hot” Wanderers

29/5/2017

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Today marks the 25th anniversary of the appointment of Bruce Rioch as manager of Bolton Wanderers Football Club. At the time the appointment was completely unremarkable, in fact with the Trotters in Division 3 (League One) and the man himself not having set the world alight as a manager (yet) about the only people who noticed at all were the fans of BWFC and the Bolton Evening News. Even the Lancashire Evening Telegraph barely mentioned it and the BBC gave it all of thirty seconds on “Look NorthWest”, the regional news programme of the time.

What followed over the next three seasons was a remarkable journey that would see a rise from the third tier to the Premier League, a string of massive cup shocks in which “little Bolton” put the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and Spurs to the sword in cup competitions and along the way begin what to this day is still referred to as the “White Hot Years” by fans and pundits alike.

My original intention was to post a single blog to mark the anniversary but there have been so many requests to cover so many individual moments in that three year ride from both my fellow “Nutters” and other fans that I know personally that I had no choice but to split it into a series. Over the next few weeks I'll be posting a blog every Monday, each one dedicated to a specific moment as requested by the people I've already mentioned. Next week I'll be covering in depth the night that many still believe was the Genesis of the “White Hot Era”, the FA Cup replay in 1993 at Anfield, the first but by no means the last “Giant Killing” Rioch's men would inflict on Premier League opposition.

Later in the series I'll cover the single most popular request, the now infamous “McGinlay Moon” in which Super John “uncovered” rather more than the FA would approve in front of Wolves fans.

By the way, just in case you haven't sent a request but would like to I still haven't completed the whole series of blogs nor have I set a precise limit to how many I'll do. If you'd like me to include something then feel free to drop me a line on the awesome “Bolton Nuts” forum. You'll find it here:

forum.boltonnuts.co.uk/

Why not check it out if you haven't already? It's free to join and the place to be to discuss all things BWFC related plus there's the awesome “Wandering Minds” section where you can talk about anything at all that piques your interest from politics to (if you really, really must) Bruce Forsyth. (sorry bonce, just couldn't resist Very Happy). Anyway, that's it for today, have a great Bank Holiday and I hope you'll enjoy reading this series as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

Author: luckypeterpiper
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