Morning all
Well tomorrow marks the end of a rather forgettable season and one we will all be glad to see the back of in the hope that we can have a fresh start in August and massively improve on this season.
It also marks the end of an era. After tomorrow the football club will officially have cut all ties with and end our 25 year association with Reebok. The news broke last week that not only will our kit manufacturer be changing again, but also the name of our home. Now this is something we have all known was coming with the naming rights coming to an end, but I think part of me always hoped that even though Reebok are moving completely away from football, they would still hold on to the stadium.
To many outside the club they will wonder why there seems to be more emotion involved with this than they think is warranted. To them it is just a corporate sponsorship with no historical meaning and to an extent they are right. The naming rights were always used as a revenue stream, but the fact it was Reebok meant something to the Bolton faithful. The company was founded in Bolton and while they are now owned by Adidas and have their HQ in the US, their roots still lie within the town.
I know this is nowhere near as significant as a ground move like it was when we left Burnden, but to a lot of supporters The Reebok is the only home they have known us to have and lets face it The Reebok sounds a lot more impressive than The Macron!
I will embrace the new name as in these financially difficult times we cant be picky. But we shouldn't forget the old name all together so here are a few of my favourite memories from The Reebok Stadium, the home of Bolton Wanderers:
Okocha's amazing solo goal vs West Ham, probably the best goal I have seen live
Fredi Bobic's first half hat-trick vs Ipswich, the one and only hat-trick I have seen from a Wanderers player
Dean Holdsworth's winning strike vs Liverpool, the first time I had seen us beat a top side
Sending Leeds down, one of the best atmospheres and arguably the best football I had seen us play
Beating Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Cup, THE best atmosphere I have experienced at the Reebok, what a night!
Having the privilege of watching the likes of Campo, Hierro, Djorkaeff, Okocha, Anelka, N'Gotty all playing for my club and with proper passion
There are many more but I've babbled on for a bit now! Please share your favourite Reebok memories and hopefully we can sign off with a result and performance to match tomorrow! COYWM
Reebok Memories
posted on 2/5/14
Was going to say the Bolton Villa game, but in reality it was the Okocha Villa game. What a freekick!
posted on 2/5/14
GG - nicely summarised. Agree with all the above memories. I have to include the opening match at the stadium. Purely because of the fact it was my first visit. Unlike many, I thought the move was a good one and I watched the stadium being built from my bedroom window!!
posted on 2/5/14
Thrashing the Toon 5-1 is a fond memory....
Disappointed in the name change but that's the way of things these days...At my age most of my good memories go back to the Burnden days of the seventies.
posted on 2/5/14
How about Anelka's goal against aresenal, or pedersons cross which fooled shay given?
posted on 3/5/14
The first Euro game v Plovdiv, Zenit in the rain, thrashing Leeds and Villa as mentioned, West Ham goal, weirdly the Blackpool game in the Prem where we came back to 2-2 with that Mark Davies goal
Others too, but I've to start work soon
posted on 3/5/14
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posted on 3/5/14
The Holden goal against Blackburn when Big sam was still dancing around on the side of the pitch was perhaps the most satisfying.
Some great ones already mentioned, i agree about the FA Cup quarter final against Charlton, Andy Todd punching Stan Collymore and Jay Jays strike against villa.
But the end of the 2002-3 season was just brilliant with the games against Man City, West Ham, Arsenal,and Boro, great football, a great brawl ( the end of the west ham game), great individual skill ( JJ embarassing Pires and Parlour near the corner flag), tension, pride and a happy ending. I aged 10 years im sure but it was worth it at the time
posted on 3/5/14
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posted on 4/5/14
Sat knight.....
Re cup against arsenal. I couldn't agree more cracking atmosphere. I'd bought several tickets for some work colleagues down from Glasgow.....and even they were impressed.
Just wish we could recreate that sort of atmosphere again.
posted on 4/5/14
Indeed. My girlfriend at the time rang me as extra time was starting and said it was awesome. She was also the reason I missed athletico Madrid at home so swings and roundabouts there.