Seeing that it's such a big match for the Blues - lose and they are relegated - this weeks Played for Both Sides features just one man, the Zulu's captain and former Trotter - Paul Robinson.

He began his football career in the youth system of his hometown town club, Watford F.C. He made his first-team debut as a second-minute substitute in a 1–1 draw against Luton Town on 29 October 1996, aged 17. He went on to make 12 more appearances that season. In Watford's Division Two Championship-winning season of 1997–98, Robinson was in and out of the side. He often played when the side reverted to the 4–4–2 formation from their usual 3–5–2. In 1998–99, with the club playing 4–4–2, Robinson became a regular half-way through the season and featured in the club's run to the play-offs.

In a match against Port Vale on 29 April 1999, Robinson made a poor tackle on Vale player Stewart Talbot, breaking both bones in Talbot's lower leg. The injury kept Talbot out of the game for 10 months and resulted in a "six-figure" out-of-court settlement. Out of 252 Watford appearances he was booked 63 times and sent off three times. One of these sendings off came in the 1998–99 play-off semi-final against Birmingham City, which saw him miss the second leg. He did feature, however, in the club's 2–0 play-off victory against future employers Bolton Wanderers.

Robinson made 32 appearances for Watford in their 1999–2000 FA Premier League season, and stayed with the club when they were relegated to Division One, making a further 124 league appearances for Watford in the second tier over the next four seasons.

In October 2003 Robinson was sold to West Bromwich Albion for an initial £250,000 fee, potentially rising to £375,000 depending on appearances and Albion being promoted to the Premiership. He had made 252 appearances in total for Watford, scoring 9 goals. He made his West Brom debut in a 1–0 win against Norwich City on 18 October.

Robinson was touted as a potential England left back by Bryan Robson and others. His first goal for West Brom was an injury-time headed equaliser at Villa Park in April 2005, which earned him the club's Goal of the Season award. The draw was one of several key results that enabled Albion's "Great Escape" from relegation.

In June 2006 Watford attempted to re-sign the player from West Brom for £1.4m; however, this bid was rejected by manager Robson and chairman Jeremy Peace, as Robinson was considered vital if the team was to realise its ambition of a quick return to the Premier League. Robinson signed a new three-year contract with the club in July 2006.

On 28 October 2006, Birmingham City captain Damien Johnson's jaw was broken in two places in a collision with Robinson during a local derby, for which he received a straight red card. The incident drew criticism from Birmingham manager Steve Bruce, who believed Robinson's use of the elbow to be a deliberate act.

Robinson was the subject of a £1.5m bid from Premiership team Wigan Athletic in August 2007 as a replacement for Leighton Baines, who had been sold to Everton. The move fell through when he failed a medical. In early November he was named in the Championship Team of the Week following Albion's 3–0 win at his former club Watford. He made the Team of the Week once again after Albion's 4–3 home win against Colchester United in March 2008. Robinson was named in the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Championship Team of the Year, alongside team mates Jonathan Greening and Kevin Phillips, after helping Albion win promotion to the Premiership as league champions.

On 12 July 2009, Robinson completed a season-long loan move to Bolton Wanderers, where he was reunited with his former manager Gary Megson. The player explained that he had joined Bolton on a three-year contract, the first year being on loan and the deal to become permanent in the summer of 2010 when Bolton would pay West Brom a fee of £1 million. He made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Sunderland on 15 August. The deal was made permanent in January 2010. He made 25 league appearances in the first season, and 35 in the following season, but fell out of favour in the 2011–12 Premier League season, only making 20 appearances in total for the club.

On 6 March 2012, Robinson joined Leeds United on a month's loan. He was an unused substitute for their away game at Hull City the same day, and made his debut in their 2–0 win at Middlesbrough on 11 March. Robinson's loan was extended to the end of the season. He was omitted from the last game of Leeds' season, because manager Neil Warnock was unwilling to risk his suffering injury in a "nothing" game as they were unlikely to sign him permanently. He returned to Bolton and was available for their last few matches, but was released when his contract expired at the end of the season, along with 11 other players, following the club's relegation from the Premier League.

After training with MLS side Toronto FC and then with Championship club Birmingham City, Robinson signed a one-month contract with the latter in September 2012 after injuries had left the club with only two fit senior defenders. He made his debut in the starting eleven in a 1–0 away win against Brighton & Hove Albion on 29th September. After four appearances, and with the team still weakened in defence by injury, he was given a second month's contract, and then a further two months after left-back David Murphy suffered knee damage. When that deal expired, and despite the club's financial dofficulties, his contract was extended until the end of the season. He finished the season playing at centre-half alongside Curtis Davies, having stood in for the injured Steven Caldwell and retained his place after Caldwell's return to fitness, and made 37 appearances in all competitions.

Robinson signed a one-year contract, with an option for a further year, ahead of the 2013–14 season, and was appointed both club and team captain for the 2013-14 season. He scored his first goal for the club – and his first goal for nearly five years – to open the scoring in a 3–0 defeat of Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup on 14 January 2014.

After all that - hope we relegate you Paul - good bye!

Author: Sluffy

To be honest I was looking for something else when I stumbled across a site with some pictures of players from several years ago.

So I thought I'd take the opportunity to bring back a few memories!

Neil Whatmore

Whatmore burst onto the Bolton scene in a blaze of glory when scoring twice on his debut in an away game against Swansea at the Vetch Field. These two strikes in Wales where to be the first of over 120 goals for the club in three seperate spells.

Full Name: Neil Whatmore

Born: 17th May 1955, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England

Position: Forward

Nationality: English

Club Honours: Division 2 1978

Signed From (1st spell): Apprentice, May 1973

Sold To (1st spell): Birmingham City, August 1981, £340,000

Signed From (2nd spell): Birmingham City, December 1982, Loan

Signed From (3rd spell): Oxford United, March 1984, Loan

Former Clubs: Bolton Wanderers, Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers (loan), Oxford United, Bolton Wanderers (loan), Burnley, Mansfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Mansfield Town, Worksop Town

Coaching Career: Mansfield Town (Reserve Team Coach)

Bolton Debut (1st spell): 4th April 1973 versus Swansea City (A), Division 3

First Goal (1st spell): 4th April 1973 versus Swansea City (A), Division 3

Bolton Debut (2nd spell): 4th December 1982 versus Cambridge United (A), Division 2

First Goal (2nd spell): 11th December 1982 versus Charlton Athletic (H), Division 2

Bolton Debut (3rd spell): 17th March 1984 versus Exeter City (H), Division 3

First Goal (3rd spell): 24th March 1984 versus Newport County (A), Division 3

Notes: Had a fourth spell with the club in 1987 which was funded by a supporter but never made it past the reserves.

Whatmore was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. He made his debut for Bolton in what was then the Football League Third Division as an amateur, after coming through the club's youth system. He scored twice in this game, an away game at Swansea City. Bolton secured the divisional title that year and he scored thirty one goals four years later in promotion to the First Division. On promotion to the top division, Bolton's first choice forward line became Alan Gowling and Frank Worthington and Whatmore played in midfield for a season before being pushed forward again, scoring eighteen goals although Bolton were relegated.

Birmingham City signed him for £350,000 to reunite him with Worthington, but the pair failed to gel, and Whatmore played only rarely. When Ron Saunders took over as manager, both players fell from favour, but Whatmore stayed another year, some of which he spent on loan at Oxford United and for three months at Bolton, before being sold to Oxford United. The emergence of John Aldridge meant Whatmore was surplus to requirements after a season and, after a second loan spell at Bolton, he joined Burnley in a part-exchange deal with Billy Hamilton before moving on to Mansfield Town a few months later. When he was released after two-and-a-half years he spent his fourth and final spell at Burnden Park, an anonymous fan coming up with his wages, but he did not make the team and re-signed for Mansfield Town on a non-contract basis as reserve team coach and occasional player. In 1988 he moved into non-league football with Worksop Town, and later coached in South Africa.

David Reeves

Hardworking striker who came to the Wanderers from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 1989. Reeves formed an instant and successful partnership with Tony Philliskirk which was to last for four seasons. The likeable Scouser continues to score goals at non-league level to this day.

Full Name: David Edward Reeves

Born: 19th November 1967, Heswall, Merseyside, England

Position: Forward

Nationality: English

Club Honours: Division 3 1995

Signed From: Sheffield Wednesday, August 1989, £80,000

Sold To: Notts County, March 1993, £80,000

Former Clubs: Heswall, Sheffield Wednesday, Scunthorpe United (loan), Burnley (loan), Bolton Wanderers, Notts County, Carlisle United, Preston North End, Chesterfield, Oldham Athletic, Chesterfield, Ards, Scarborough, Gainsborough Trinity, Buxton, Alfreton Town, Sutton Town

Coaching Career: Alfreton Town (Assistant Manager)

Bolton Debut: 19th August 1989 versus Cardiff City (A), Division 3

First Goal: 29th August 1989 versus Rochdale (H), League Cup 1st round, 2nd leg

Reeves was drafted into the first team squad at Sheffield Wednesday in 1986 aged 19. He played just under 20 first team games for The Owls while at the club between 1986 and 1989 and while at Hillsborough he spent time on loan with Scunthorpe United.

He transferred to non-league side Heswell, where he stayed for one season, while there he re-joined Scunthorpe on loan and also spent time at Turf Moor with Burnley before joining Bolton Wanderers in 1989 for £80,000. Reeves stayed at Burnden Park until 1993 when he moved briefly to Notts County before a move to Carlisle United. Reeves went on to play for Preston North End, Chesterfield, Oldham Athletic and Scarborough before ending his career playing for Gainsborough Trinity.

Notes: Twin brother of Alan Reeves who played for Rochdale, Wimbledon and Swindon Town amongst others

Tony Philliskirk

Wanderers favourite of the late 1980's and early 1990's who was an expert from dead ball situations. Philliskirk formed an excellent partnership with David Reeves during his time at Bolton but his half century of league goals for the club could never bring about promotion from the Third Division.

Full Name: Anthony Philliskirk

Born: 10th February 1965, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, England

Position: Forward

Nationality: English

International Honours: Schoolboy level

Signed From: Preston North End, June 1989, £50,000

Sold To: Peterborough United, October 1992, £85,000

Former Clubs: Sheffield United, Rotherham United (loan), Oldham Athletic, Preston North End, Bolton Wanderers, Peterborough United, Burnley, Carlisle United (loan), Cardiff City, Macclesfield Town (loan), Oldham Athletic

Coaching Career: Oldham Athletic (First Team Coach)

Bolton Debut: 19th August 1989 versus Cardiff City (A), Division 3

First Goal: 19th August 1989 versus Cardiff City (A), Division 3

Philliskirk turned professional at the age of 18, when he joined Sheffield United. He made his debut for the Blades in a pre-season friendly against Mansfield Town at Field Mill on 17 August 1983. He had to wait until 18 October 1983, before making his league debut for Sheffield United against Brentford at Griffin Park.

He scored his first goal for the club two weeks later at Plymouth Argyle. He scored eight goals in his first season with Sheffield United. Most of his time at Bramall Lane was spent as a partner of striker Keith Edwards.

He was part of the Sheffield United side which won promotion from the Third Division in season 1983-84. In total he made 80 league appearances (18 as a subsititute) for Sheffield United scoring 20 goals.[1]

After five years at Bramall Lane, he had brief spells with Oldham Athletic and Preston North End before joining Bolton Wanderers in the June 1989 for a fee of £50,000. He made his debut for Bolton on 19 August 1989 in a Third Division match against Cardiff City at Ninian Park, and he soon formed an effective striking partnership with David Reeves.

Philliskirk moved on to Peterborough United in October 1992, and then had spells with Burnley, Cardiff City, Halifax Town and Macclesfield Town before hanging up his boots in 1998.

Notes: Both himself and Reeves earned the nickname the Bros brothers due to their likeness of the 1980's group

Philliskirk later went into coaching with Oldham Athletic

Once trained to become a Football League referee

His son Danny Philliskirk is also a footballer

George Oghani

Oghani became the first black player to represent Bolton Wanderers when appearing against Wimbledon in 1984. His first full season brought about twenty one goals in all competitions but he struggled to match that in the seasons that followed.

Full Name: George William Oghani

Born: 2nd September 1960, Manchester, England

Position: Forward

Nationality: English

Signed From: Hyde United, October 1983

Sold To: Burnley, June 1987

Former Clubs: Bury, Hyde United, Bolton Wanderers, Wrexham (loan), Burnley, Stockport County, Hereford United, Scarborough, Evagoras (Cyprus), Carlisle United, Northwich Victoria, Guiseley

Bolton Debut: 14th January 1984 versus Wimbledon (A), Division 3

First Goal: 4th September 1984 versus Oldham Athletic (A), League Cup 1st round, 2nd leg

Notes: His name appears in the lyrics of the Chumbawumba song "A lament to the best"

His time at Burnley was not without controversy and he will forever be linked with ironing boards after been involved in an incident in a store with a security guard. The club backed him on that one but when he was involved in a training ground incident in April of his second season he never played for the club again.

Paul Fletcher

Homegrown forward who made a goalscoring debut for the club as a 17-year old in November 1968. Fletcher had aimed to be playing First Division football but with his hometown club this was never to be. He later went on to become a top flight star at nearby Burnley and is now a successful businessman.

Full Name: Paul John Fletcher

Born: 13th January 1951, Bolton, Lancashire, England

Position: Forward

Nationality: English

International Honours: U23 level

Signed From: Apprentice, November 1968

Sold To: Burnley, March 1971,

Former Clubs: Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Blackpool

Bolton Debut: 2nd November 1968 versus Crystal Palace (A), Division 2

First Goal: 2nd November 1968 versus Crystal Palace (A), Division 2

Notes: Awarded the MBE in 2007 after successfully overseeing new stadium constructions/redevelopments at Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Wembley and Coventry City.

Author: Sluffy

Some of the players who have been a fox and a trotter.

Mike Whitlow

As a player, Whitlow was primarily used as left-back. He began his professional career at Leeds United, whom he joined from non-league Witton Albion in November 1988. He spent four seasons at Leeds and played slightly below 100 games for the team. In March 1992 Whitlow was sold to Leicester City for a £250,000 transfer fee. Leeds went on to win the old First Division a few months later which Whitlow had contributed to with ten league appearances and a goal against rivals Sheffield Wednesday. Despite making enough appearances to earn a medal, he did not receive one at the time as he already left for Leicester by the time Leeds had been confirmed as champions. However, 10 years on he received a letter from the Professional Footballers' Association informing him that he would belatedly receive the medal he was entitled to.

At Leicester Whitlow became a first-team regular and was a member of the side that won the 1997 League Cup. In total he played 180 games for the Foxes and scored nine goals. He then moved on to Bolton Wanderers in September 1997 for a £500,000 fee. At Bolton Whitlow is remembered for being sent off in the dramatic 2000 playoff semi-final against Ipswich Town that Ipswich went on to win 5-3 after extra time following a Jim Magilton equaliser in the last minute of normal time. The following season Whitlow missed most of the action because of injury but he returned to the side just in time for the playoffs where Bolton this time got promoted to the Premier League.

After six seasons at Bolton with 163 first-team appearances to his name Whitlow was released at the end of the 2002-03 season. He spent the 2003-04 season at Sheffield United scoring once against Burnley and then joined Notts County the following season as player-coach. His last competitive match for County came in March 2005 although he remained registered as a player at the club until 2007.

Ian Marshall

Marshall made his name playing as a defender and striker for Oldham Athletic but started his career as an apprentice with hometown club Everton. After four years he signed for Oldham for £200,000 and scored nearly 50 goals in almost 200 appearances before joining Ipswich Town in 1993 for £750,000.

At Portman Road he scored 38 times in just over 90 appearances, including five times in his first five games, a feat that has not been repeated since in the Premier League, before being sold to Leicester City for £800,000 in 1996. He played for the Foxes for four seasons, notching up 26 goals in 61 games. He left on a free transfer to Bolton. While at Leicester, Marshall was part of the 2000 League Cup winning team, coming on as a substitute in the final. In April 1999 he also scored a memorable last minute winner against boyhood club Liverpool at Anfield.

After helping the Wanderers to the Premier League, he went on loan to Blackpool before making the move to Bloomfield Road permanent in January 2002. He scored once for Blackpool, in a 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield Town in February 2002. He captained the side for their victory in the final of the LDV Vans Trophy at the Millennium Stadium on 12 March 2002. "I was carrying an injury and wasn't 100% fit, but I had decided to call it a day and I wanted to finish on a high, which I did. It was a great day, and night come to think of it, and it will be one I will never forget."

Arnar Gunnlaugsson

During his career he has enjoyed spells at Leicester City, Stoke City, Bolton Wanderers, IA Akranes, Nürnberg, Feyenoord and Dundee United.

As a young player, Gunnlaugsson made several appearances for the Icelandic international youth teams. Arnar made his debut for Iceland in an April 1993 friendly match against the United States. He went on to earn 32 caps, scoring three goals between 1993 and 2003. His last international match was in April 2003 and a friendly match against Finland in which he was substituted.


Others who have played for both sides include - Frank Worthington, Stevie Howie, Les Ferdinand, Steve Whitworth, Jermaine Beckford, Neil Danns, Franz Carr, Mark Davies, Trevor Hebbard, Russel Hoult, Bruno N'Gotty, Peter Shilton, Gerry Taggart, Steve Thompson and Gavin Ward.


Author: Sluffy

Some of the players who have pulled on the shirt for both Charlton and Bolton.

Claus Jensen

Jensen was born in Nykøbing Falster, and played for a number of Danish lower-league teams, making his debut for the Danish under-19 national team in November 1995.  In May 1996, he was loaned out from Danish second division club Nykøbing Falster Alliancen to Næstved BK in the Danish Superliga.  He played four games while at Næstved, but could not prevent the club from being relegated at the end of the season.  He moved permanently to Superliga club Lyngby FC in June 1996, signing a contract alongside later Danish international Dennis Rommedahl.

He played two years at Lyngby before moving to play in England in July 1998.  He was bought by First Division (now Championship) club Bolton Wanderers in a deal worth 1.8 million DKK.  While at Bolton, he debuted for the Danish national team in March 2000.

In July 2000, he moved to Premiership club Charlton Athletic for £4 million.  He was called up to the Danish squad for the 2002 World Cup, where he made a single appearance as a substitute.  In February 2003, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 friendly win against Egypt; one of the goals was scored from a direct free kick.  He also represented Denmark at the 2004 European Championship, where he took part in three of Denmark's four matches.

After more than 100 games for Charlton, in July 2004 he moved to the Addicks' London rivals Fulham in a transfer deal worth £1.25 million.  He made his Fulham debut at Manchester City on 14 August 2004.  He spent three years with Fulham, but was plagued by injury and on 17 May 2007, Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez decided to release him; Jensen claims his release was inevitable because he did not fit into Sanchez's long ball tactics.  After three years with repeating injuries, he chose to end his professional career on 25 August 2007.

Mark Fish

Fish started his career in his native South Africa under the guidance of renowned coach Steve Coetsee, playing for Arcadia Shepherds, an amateur team based at the Caledonian Stadium in Pretoria.  He was spotted by then Jomo Cosmos coach Roy Matthews and turned professional as a striker.  It was at Cosmos that he was converted into a central defender and went on to become one of the most promising defenders in South Africa at the time.

In 1994 Fish was signed by Orlando Pirates after Cosmos were relegated.  At Pirates he arguably played the best football of his career under the tutelage of Mike Makaab.  He also won the league championship at Pirates, as well as the BP Top Eight Cup in 1994, the 1995 African Champions League and the 1995 Bobsave Super Bowl (then the premier cup in South Africa).  In 1996 he was part of the history making South African national team to have won the African Cup of Nations at the first attempt after South Africa's readmission to FIFA in 1992.

Soon foreign scouts came knocking and he was signed by Lazio of Italy, after he turned down an opportunity to play for his boyhood club, Manchester United.  However he did move to England after just one season at Lazio to become the highest paid player at Bolton Wanderers.  Fish was a mainstay in Bolton's back four for much of their first season back in the Premiership, he received praise from both team mates and those whom he played against, most notably Manchester United forward Andrew Cole.  Despite Fish's efforts Bolton were relegated on the last day of the season despite having accumulated 40 points, normally enough to stave off the drop.  Once playing back in the lower leagues Fish applied himself well, quickly gaining a cult status amongst the Bolton faithful, backed up by his nickname "Feesh", and a particularly eyecatching headgear in the shape of a giant Blue fish being made available in club stores.  However, new suitors soon came calling, and only after the appointment of Sam Allardyce did Fish's star begin to fall in the North of Lancashire.  Fish soon followed his Danish team mate Claus Jensen and at Alan Curbishley's second time of asking moved to Charlton Athletic in a £700,000 move in November 2000.  "The Big Fish" as he was affectionately known throughout his playing career went on to make 102 Premiership appearances for the Addicks, scoring three times.

In 2005 he began to fall out of favour at Charlton.  He went on to have a very short loan spell (45 mins) at Ipswich Town in the 2005–06 season but a severe cruciate ligament injury led to Fish announcing his retirement.

Fish returned to football when he signed a six-month contract with his first club Jomo Cosmos in early 2007 but did not play an official game due to his low level of fitness.

Anthony Barness

Born in Lewisham, England, Barness started out as a trainee for Charlton Athletic.  It is to be noted that in his first spell at Charlton he scored Charlton's opening riposte after going 3–0 down at Newcastle, this strike was the goal of the match.  Charlton went on to win the match 3–4 and this has been voted in the top 20 Charlton matches of all time.

His potential was spotted by a youth-scouting Chelsea side in 1992 and signed for £350,000— though some have said Chelsea only signed Barness after failing to sign his team mate, Scott Minto.  During the four years which he spent at the club however, his chances of league starts were taken away from him at every possible opportunity.  Thus, after just nineteen appearances in four years, he was loaned out to Middlesbrough (in August 1993) and Southend United (in February 1996).

Barness left Chelsea in August 1996, and returned to Charlton Athletic for a fee of £165,000.  He was an important and regular part of the Charlton team, managed by Alan Curbishley.  In his first season back at The Valley, he was a virtual ever present and a top performer in a Charlton side struggling after the sale of Lee Bowyer.  Barness suddenly left the first team in 1997 being replaced by Mark Bowen at left back and occasionally Paul Konchesky, and only made a handful of appearances from then on many at right back.  Although Mark Bowen was an excellent performer for Charlton in the 97/98 season, many Charlton fans were perplexed by Anthony's replacement as he'd been a very reliable player.  Alan Curbishley was quoted at the time of dropping him, that he'd been virtually ever present the previous season and appeared close to burn out.  Though the fans saw a minimal drop off in form, it retains a mystery why he fell out of favour with Alan Curbishley.

On the move again in 2000, he went to Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer deal and was initially a regular starter in Lancashire, but was soon relegated to starting only in Cup competitions – which manager Sam Allardyce often left to the second team.  In his second year Barness made the right-back position his own, and became a fans favourite due to his effort for the cause.  Barness continued to play for the first team over the next couple of years.  He was set to move on loan to West Ham United in February 2004 but was recalled within 24 hours after Bolton suffered an injury crisis.  He then played a vital role for Bolton as they set a record for the most consecutive wins by their club.

After being released by Bolton in May 2005, he joined Championship side Plymouth Argyle on a free transfer the following month.  He impressed fans with solid performances throughout his first season with Argyle.  He was released from his contract at Plymouth by manager Ian Holloway on 30 January 2007.


Others who were both an Addick and a trotter include - Neil Redfearn, John Salako, Mike Salmon, Andy Todd and Charlie Wright.

Author: Sluffy

Like many Bolton fans, I have become a little apathetic about our season at this stage. We will not be going up and we are almost certainly not going down. There have been grim moments this season such as the 7-1 hiding received at the hands of Reading and games that provided a glimmer of hope and signs of life - such as the 4-0  thumping of Blackburn followed up with the 5-1 walloping of Leeds a week later.

There have been some interesting team selections made by our erudite manager Mr. Freedman. Chris Eagles seems to have played his last game for the club although he refused the opportunity to go on loan. This sounds remarkably like the situation with Tyrone Mears (who?) who has not figured for the club in a month of Sundays and similarly refused the opportunity to go on loan. Both players were brought to the club by our former manager Mr. Coyle - who despite being the best manager he has ever been, is without employment at this time. In the words of a fellow fan, "Thanks, Owen".

There are encouraging signs coming from our younger teams. Our U18's have been doing good things and recording victories over teams from the Premiership - notably doing the double over Manchester United. The Reserves have a number of players who were promoted from the U18's of last year and some names to look out for in the hopefully near future, are Georg Iliev, Jamie Thomas, Chris Lester, Oskar Threlkeld and Zach Clough. These players along with the likes of Joe Riley, Hayden White & Cian Bolger can potentially form the basis of a good young team that may not set the Premiership alight in two years time, but will certainly help the club to have players who are committed to the cause and do not cost the proverbial arm and a leg.

There are, however, a number of things happening in the world around us that puts the fortunes of Bolton Wanderers into perspective - commercial planes going missing or crashing, wars, famine, hardships of every imaginable type. Us paying or armchair fans look forward to seeing our team turning out and putting in performances that reduce the stresses of our every day lives. While one would expect professional footballers to produce the type of play that their handsome salaries should prompt of them, I get the feeling that their own sense of well-being insulates them to an extent from the pressures of life faced by you and I. When a job is just a job, you don't lose a lot of sleep over how well it is done and how much better it could have been done.

This summer promises to be one of change. A number of players are out of contract and some are playing out of their skins in the hope of a new contract (I'm looking at you, Zat!) while others seem intent on bleeding the club of every last penny they can. A number of promising young players were sent on loan and should be returning with their sights firmly set on taking the place of some of these players that are expected to leave. Many fans, myself included, hope we can agree a deal with Middlesbrough for Lukas Jutkiewicz. It is remarkable how well he has fitted in since coming on loan and the player has expressed a desire to stay. With the returning players, out of contract players and those who are knocking on the door from the younger teams, Mr. Freedman has a lot of work to do to if he is to move the club forward in his second full season. It will not be easy, but it will be interesting.

Author: Keegan