Blackburn are the enemy aren't they but it's surprising how tolerant both sets of fans are when a player moves from one club to the other, either directly or indirectly with stays at other clubs between the two.

Some iconic players too, so let us have a quick look at one or two of them.

Kevin Davies

Bolton legend (although the way he left the club with his wife sounding off via twitter was undignified to say the least) and a £7.5 million buy by Rovers - which was big money back in those days!

Cyril (his middle name - surely you knew that!) started his career at Chesterfield playing mostly as a wide midfielder before moving on to Southampton.

Before he did he knocked in a hat trick against us in Chesterfields fantastic run in the FA Cup to the semi's before they were well and truly robbed by Middlesbrough.

Davies moved to Graeme Souness’s Southampton in May 1997 and, in his first spell with them, scored nine league goals and impressed many.

This led current England Manager Roy Hodgson signing him for £7.5 million in July 1998, ten times what Southampton had paid for him a year earlier and also a club record. (Chesterfield received no more money from the switch, having failed to negotiate a sell-on clause.) As part of the deal, James Beattie went the other way. However, Davies scored just one league goal, in 21 appearances for the club.

At the end of the campaign, Blackburn were relegated a year after finishing sixth in the league and a mere four years after winning the league.

Southampton re-signed their former striker in exchange for Egil Østenstad in August 1999. However, just two league matches into his return at Southampton, Davies found himself sent off in a defeat against Liverpool after coming on as a substitute for Mark Hughes. He struggled to gain a first team place throughout the next four years, and was more often than not a substitute. For the 2002–03 season, Davies went on loan to Millwall in the First Division, where he played 9 times, scoring 3 goals.

In the summer of 2003, he joined Bolton having been released by Southampton - and the rest as you know is history!

El Hadji Diouf

A fans favourite - but not one of mine!

Old 'spit' first appeared on the scene when Liverpool's Gerard Houllier bought him from French club Lens for £10 million.

Just like Davies above, Diouf scored against us in March 2003 but he is more remembered for his following game, a UEFA Cup game away at Celtic where he spat at a Celtic fan, Disgusting.

His career at Liverpool quickly went downhill after that.

He failed to score for the remainder of the 2002–03 season or at all in the 2003–04 season which saw him pick up 13 yellow and one red card. By then he had become unpopular due to both his attitude and his lack of goals.

Jamie Carragher later said of him "He has one of the worst strike rates of any forward in Liverpool history. He's the only no. 9 ever to go through a whole season without scoring, in fact he's probably the only no. 9 of any club to do that. He was always the last one to get picked in training." At the beginning of the 2004–5 season he was loaned to Bolton Wanderers. At the end of the season-long loan and after scoring a mere six goals in 80 appearances with only three in the league, he left Liverpool signing permanently for Bolton in the summer of 2005.

We all know what he did for us but yet again his leaving was less than classy when he basically quit with a number of matches left to play with relegation seeming certain and said that he expected a big club to come in and sign him.

Well if you call Sunderland a big club he was right.

As I say, not one of my favourite players at all.

Diouf made a promising start for Sunderland but failed to score in any of his sixteen appearances.

Diouf then signed for Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee on 30 January 2009, signing a three-and-half-year deal after just six months at the Stadium of Light, re-joining former Bolton manager Sam (I'm leaving to spend time with the family) Allardyce at the club.

Well Diouf eventually showed his true colours at Blackburn too and on 20 August 2011, Rovers manager Steve Kean confirmed that Diouf was not in his first-team plans and that he expected him to leave before the end of the 2011–12 transfer window.

On 31 August 2011 Blackburn terminated Diouf's contract by mutual consent. He had fallen out with manager Kean after returning late for pre-season training.

Dioufhas messed around at a few clubs since then and is surprisingly still registered as a player at Leeds but hasn’t been in the first team in a long time.

Good riddance to him.

Oh one small bit of trivia - for a while he lived across the road from my brother!

John Byrom

One for us oldies and a true Bolton legend.

John Byrom (born 28 July 1944 in Blackburn, Lancashire) is an English former footballer.

Signed by his home town club, Blackburn Rovers where he had won England international youth honours, he played over 100 games for them before being signed in the summer of 1966 by near neighbours Bolton Wanderers for £25,000. Originally signed to partner Francis Lee and Wyn Davies, when both players quickly left, Byrom became the senior striker.
As Bolton moved between the second and third divisions of English football, he scored 130 goals in his ten years at Burnden Park, including twenty when Bolton won the Third Division title in 1973, before moving back to Blackburn for a final season, retiring in 1977 with a knee injury.

The Bolton fans' song for him was "Someone scored a goal, John Byrom" to the tune of cumbaya.

On retiring, he took many jobs including driving, sweeping and selling cars before finally setting up his own gas cylinder business, from which he retired in the mid-1990s.

Great, great player, you young ones don't know what you missed!

Hope you enjoyed this article and would want to add your memories of these three players and any others who 'Played for both Sides'.

Author: Sluffy

Bolton will face local rivals Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, looking to record only their second victory this year.  The game will mark the 150th league game between the two founder members of the Football League.

Head to Head Results

Bolton Wanderers – 61 Wins (40.40%)
Blackburn Rovers – 58 Wins (37.09%)
Draws- 34 (22.52%)

Last 6 Meetings

31/08/2013 – Blackburn 4 – 1 Bolton Wanderers – Loss - Championship
05/03/2013 – Bolton Wanderers 1 – 0 Blackburn – Win - Championship
28/11/2012 – Blackburn 1 – 2 Bolton Wanderers – Win - Championship
24/03/2012 – Bolton Wanderers 2 –1 Blackburn – Win - Premiership
20/12/2011 – Blackburn 1 – 2 Bolton Wanderers – Win - Premiership
30/04/2011 – Blackburn 1 – 0 Bolton Wanderers –Loss - Premiership

Additional Facts

Bolton have won all home games (three) against Blackburn since 2010

Bolton’s opponents were Blackburn when the Muamba tribute was made, in a game which the Wanderers won 2-1 thanks to two headed goals from David Wheater .

The Bookies have Bolton as slight favourites to win the match as 7/5, while Blackburn current odds are 9/5 to come away with the three points.

Sam Allardyce has managed both teams.  He was sacked as manager of Blackburn following a 2-1 defeat against the Trotters in December 2010.

Current League Form & Results

Bolton’s Last 6 games (5 Points)

22/01/2014 - Bolton 2 – 0 Watford- Won
15/02/2014 - Millwall 1 – 1 Bolton - Draw
11/02/2014 - Bolton 0 – 1 Burnley - Lost
08/02/2014 - Bolton 2 – 2 AFC Bournemouth - Draw
01/02/2014 - Ipswich 1 – 0 Bolton - Lost
28/01/2014 - QPR 2 – 1 Bolton - Lost

Blackburn’s Last 6 games (9 Points)

25/02/2014 – Reading 0 – 1 Blackburn – Won
08/02/2014 – Middlesbrough 0 – 0 Blackburn – Draw
01/02/2014 – Blackburn 2 – 0 Blackpool – Won
28/01/2014 – Barnsley 2 – 2 Blackburn – Draw
25/01/2014 – Blackburn 1 – 1 Derby – Draw
18/01/2014 – Nottingham Forest 4 – 1 Blackburn - Loss

Top Scorers - Current season

Blackburn - Jordan Rhodes – 16
Bolton - Jermaine Beckford – 8
Bolton - Andre Moritz – 5
Bolton - Alex Baptiste – 4
Bolton - Neil Danns – 4
Blackburn - Rudy Gestede – 4
Bolton - Lukas Jutkiewicz - 3

Videos

28/11/2012 – Blackburn 1 – 2 Bolton Wanderers (Full Match)

05/03/2013 – Bolton Wanderers 1 – 0 Blackburn (Highlights)

Blackburn Fan’s Forums

http://www.brfcs.com/mb/index.php/forum/4-football-messageboard/
http://www.roverstalk.com/

Author: BoltonTillIDie

When I wrote "The Sticky Brown Stuff" (see Archives) in September 2012, I thought things were bad for my beloved club. We were in 15th place after 6 games, Derby County was ahead of us in the table and we had team selection and tactics that apparently only "people in football" would understand. Our then Manager declared that he did not fear being sacked. Does any of this seem eerily familiar in 2014? I don't know about you, but I get a distinct sense of Déjà vu!

We are in 19th place after 32 games, we are below Derby County (3rd) and our Manager does not fear being sacked. It is of note that we have accumulated all of 33 points in those 32 games. For a team that finished last season so strongly - just missing out on a play-off position - this has passed embarrassing and is firmly on it's way to deeply worrying. We seemed like a team that had finally come to grips with being in the Championship and was intent on getting out of it, but currently, the route out has been heading in the wrong direction. It speaks volumes that a victory at home against Watford led to their Manager, Mr. Giuseppe Sannino, apologising to his supporters. "It was a bad day at the office today for all of us, but what I want to say in particular is sorry to all the people from Watford who came here today to watch the game," Sannino told the Watford Observer.

In a season were we have struggled for goals, we have sent Tom Eaves, Conor Wilkinson, Marvin Sordell, Craig Davies, David Ngog & Sanmi Odelusi out on loan and brought in Lukas Jutkiewicz from Championship rivals Middlesbrough along with Joe Mason from Cardiff City. Doug Freedman has not been particularly consistent in his actions, but he managed to consign his second successive captain to the bench, in the personage of Mr. Zatyiah Knight. In an awesome turn of events, we have had games this season where big Zat has been employed as a striker - and has actually had a hand in a Bolton goal!

While I appreciate the financial constraints under which we seem to be operating, the recent trial of former Sweden International Mikael Dyrestam came to nought due to our inability, or perhaps unwillingness, to pay the requested compensation of about £320,000.00 to his former club IFK Gothenburg. We are sufficiently short in defence that Tim Ream has been asked to play out of position in the troublesome left back position, despite looking like the Phantom of the Opera - having suffered a horrific facial injury at QPR. This compensation, compared to what it would cost to get back to the Premier League from League 1, would have had to be taken into consideration and still the money was not paid. This suggests that either the young player was not up to the task (a suggestion already refuted by Mr. Freedman) or the club has no money to spend. Young Hayden White has been drafted in as a stop gap and despite still being referred to as "one for the future", gave a good account of himself.

Our U18 and U21 teams have been, on the other hand, doing quite well recently - with wins over Premier League opposition such as Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham and Stoke City. Although the future looks quite bright, our current team is chin deep in the sticky brown stuff, and standing on tip-toes.

Author: Keegan

Wanderers could appoint from within to bring the “feel-good factor” back to the Reebok if they bow to pressure from fans to sack manager Dougie Freedman.

That is the opinion of former Bury and Burnley midfielder Jamie Hoyland, who is now working as a pundit for local radio.

Hoyland said he was shocked at the bad feeling around the Reebok following the recent 1-0 defeat to Burnley, which he covered for BBC Radio Lancashire.

And, earlier this week on BBC Radio Manchester, he floated the possibility of a temporary management team from the club’s Academy taking charge to help reverse the bad vibe in the stands.

“When you get booing at the end (from the Bolton fans left behind), well it’s a horrible feeling,” said Hoyland, after watching Bolton stretch their winless streak at home to five league matches.

“The manager was stood there on his own and he hasn’t been able to get the result and everybody is thinking ‘well, will it be tomorrow or will it be tonight?’

“I know Dougie said he doesn’t feel any pressure – of course you do, you know it.

“Will it be inevitable? I don’t know. Can they afford to sack him or can they bring somebody in at this time of the season who is going to be able to turn it around? I don’t know.

“If they did, I think they would look inside the club to do it.”

Hoyland attended the Bolton youth side’s recent 5-2 victory over Manchester City and believes the Whites’ Under-18s coach David Lee, his former team-mate at Bury, could be the ideal man to put a bit of pride back into Wanderers.

“They have got good people at the Academy who they might think about – Jimmy Phillips, David Lee, and Gavin McCann works down there,” added Hoyland.

“I don’t know? Do they just give them the club and try to give it that impetus and create a feel-good factor to get it to the end of the season?”

Former skipper Kevin Davies may now be wearing the white shirt of Preston rather than Bolton but the family tradition of scoring goals for Wanderers is alive and kicking.

In the academy ranks at Lostock, there is a ‘mini Davo’ in the shape of son Lucas who is following in dad’s foosteps and keeping the link going.

And after netting a brace for the Under-10s side at Manchester United on Sunday in an 8-5 victory, it is clear Lucas has inherited dad’s knack for finding the net.

The 10-year-old has been playing for the academy side for 18 months and proud father Kevin watches every game he can.

“Lucas was very proud to be asked to sign for Bolton and follow in his dad’s footsteps,” said Kevin.

“He is an attack-minded player, although youngsters are encouraged at his age to play in different positions to help develop a better understanding of the game.

“The high standard of coaching he and all the boys receive at the academy has seen them develop into a great little team who are very hard to beat.

“I attend most training sessions and games and love to see them play and develop with a smile on their faces.

“It is not about results at this age but they are a hard working team who are very proud to pull on the BWFC shirt and represent the club against elite teams like Manchester United.

“Coach Stuart Cowling and the U9s coach Chris Jaques have high standards and make it a warm, friendly and family environment to allow the boys to flourish and enjoy playing football which, for me, is what it is all about at their age and, indeed, mine.”

At such a young age, Lucas is yet to decide whether he will play as a striker like dad. Mum Emma is even unsure if being a footballer will be his future career.

But for the moment, he is enjoying playing and aspiring to dad’s legacy of more than 400 appearances in his decade at Wanderers.

Emma said: “It was a big decision for us as it’s a huge commitment.

“Lucas is very proud of his dad and how hard he has worked, but Kevin tries not to interfere too much.

“We never push Lucas as we just want him to be happy and have fun playing football.

“I sometimes think its harder for footballers’ kids because they are compared to their dad, but he says he wants to be a footballer. I am not sure I would want him to do that but it’s entirely up to him.

“He has the talent, all he needs is the desire, dedication and focus like his dad, who has had 22 seasons as a professional now and still working hard.”