Hello all. I haven't done an article for a while but I think now would be a good time for one simple reason. It seems our younger fans believe we're doomed, finished, condemned to life in obscurity as a skint third tier club with no stars and no hope. Guess what kids, we've been here before and it wasn't the disaster you might be imagining.
In 1992 (May 29th to be exact) Bolton Wanderers announced the appointment of Bruce Rioch as our new manager. No one but the Bolton News and BBC North West noticed because we were a division 2 (league 1 to the youngsters) outfit and besides, this was the first season of the brand new Premier League and the entire football world was focussed on that and whether or not Sky could make it work. So when we kicked off and won 4-0 it was mentioned in the results but that was it on a national scale. No one knew or guessed that this was the season that would begin the most exciting period of Trotter's football in my lifetime, a period that would become known as 'The White Hot Years'.
In that season we got to the 5th round of the FA Cup, finished 2nd in the division gaining automatic promotion along the way and (Sorry Wendy but I simply can't leave this out) enjoyed one of the greatest nights of football it's been my privilege to witness when we went to Anfield for a third round replay against the still mighty Liverpool.
They held the FA Cup and fielded seven full internationals that night. Every pundit, every fan and even the most ardent Trotters believed they'd put us out handily. Instead we beat them 2-0 and it wasn't a fluke, we didn't play back to the wall desperate defence. We played awesome football and David Lee in particular made Liverpool look like Accrington Stanley as he wreaked total carnage on thir midfield and defence every time he got the ball.
And if that wasn't enough to show things were different at Burnden Park the run in to the end of the season would have done it.
In nineteen league games we lost just one, drew three and won FIFTEEN. We didn't just beat opposing teams in that run in, we dismantled them. By the time that season was over everyone in football knew Bolton Wanderers were back and a force to be reckoned with.
I realise the situations aren't precisely parallel if only because of the massive money gulf between the top flight and everyone else now but trust me, if we perform half as well under Phil Parkinson as we did under Bruce Rioch then things are about to change in a big and very enjoyable way.
So you see, we've been here before and it's not all bad after all.
We've Been Here Before
posted on 1/8/16
First and foremost, I condemn the one star bandit. A moron by any other name. It's very easy click a little button for no good reason. I hope whoever it is keeps well away from this board, we don't need or want you.
Peter, I find your article to be very good and it brings back the memories of when we absolutely trashed Liverpool. (Perhaps the 1* bandit is one of their sadder supporters. Unlike their fans on the night who in defeat celebrated our win over them).
What you say about the Rioch era is correct but we really don't know what Phil Parkinson's reign will bring. Obviously I hope that it will be as fruitful as Rioch's but in reality that is a massive ask and I doubt that we will enjoy the same success.
Things have improved marginally at the Macron but Parkinson is still going to have to work with one arm behind his back. Hopefully he will be able to give us hope for the future.
5*
posted on 1/8/16
I know SWIE and I don't pretend it's going to be easy or that a second White Hot Era is about to start but I do feel that we have more reasons to be optimistic than pessimistic as things stand. Obviously there's a lot to do and the financial situation is still shaky but lest we forget BWFC was hardly flush in 1992 either. It was pre-Davies, Gordon Hargreaves and the Warburton family along with Lifeline kept us afloat but that was about it and Rioch had to deal very cleverly in the transfer market with next to nothing.
In all honesty I'd be satisfied with a top half finish and a half decent cup run this season if only to show the slide has been arrested. If Ken and Phil can do that much between them that would in my opinion be proof that we have at least touched bottom and can claim a solid foundation from which to begin climbing back up.
posted on 1/8/16
I give it 5 stars too.
posted on 1/8/16
Thanks benny. I don't mind being one starred but I'd appreciate it if the person doing so would tell me why. I've never been a fan of rating an article without a comment explaining my reasons whether I give it 3 stars (always my minimum because I appreciate someone taking the time and effort to write one) or 5. Anyway, here's hoping my optimism will turn out to be justified.
posted on 2/8/16
Peter, some posters haven't got the B@lls to say why they give 1 star, so they opt to say nothing.
Regarding our position in the league, I would definitely take a top half finish for this season with the hope that we could improve the following season.
posted on 2/8/16
5 stars from me as well, maybe people will start returning to the board now the real football is due to start.
I wish I could share the optimism, but I cannot. I'll be surprised if we avoid administration this season. The Holding transfer fee will cover the running costs for a few weeks, but we will need to sell another before the window closes. Outside the transfer windows income is going to slow to a trickle despite Mrs Essex's heroic efforts to keep the club solvent by ordering useless tat from the club shop every birthday/anniversary/fathers day. I think starting the 17/18 season still in League 1, solvent and not on minus 15 points would be an achievement.
posted on 2/8/16
Fantastic article lpp.
People should also remember that we were in the 4th division for a season before Rioch's arrival. We have actually been in an even worse position that we currently are in my lifetime.
posted on 3/8/16
The cynics among us are those who go in to a season full of doubt etc, but i try not to take that route, romance has gone from football in a lot of ways, but this season i hope some of that can come back to little old bolton.
I fully agree with your sentiments and looking back at the previous eras and using that to fuel hope. I hope that spurs us on!