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David Lee hopes Wanderers can recreate the spirit of 1993 when they travel to face Liverpool in the FA Cup on Saturday.
The former Bolton winger was in the side that famously dumped then holders Liverpool out of the cup in a third-round replay 22 years ago on a night that will always remembered by fans as the ‘White Hot’ win.
This weekend sees Neil Lennon take the current Whites to Anfield as the teams meet in the FA Cup for the first time since that memorable night – an occasion that has brought the memories flooding back for Lee.
And as one of the stars of the show on that occasion, he believes the class of 2015 can pull off a repeat on Saturday, if they show the same spirit they have displayed since Lennon took the reins in October.
Lee told The Bolton News: “I don’t see why they can’t do what we did – they just need to have belief.
“The way the team have been playing since the manager arrived, they have a spirit that is similar to the one we had all those years ago under Bruce Rioch.
“Bruce gave us so much confidence as players and I believe Neil Lennon is similar in that respect.
“That is reflected in the results the current team have had and I always believe the FA Cup is a great leveller – it is all about on the day.
“The emphasis will all be on Liverpool and our lads can go and play with freedom and hopefully enjoy the occasion.”
Lee, who is now under-18s coach at Wanderers, still recalls the 1993 win fondly and admits it was a big career highlight to not only play at Anfield but win there as an underdog.
Along with scorers John McGinlay and Andy Walker, the 47-year-old was famously pictured celebrating post-match by the Bolton Evening News on the night – an iconic photograph that he says still has pride of place on his wall at home. And he says it is still one of the first matches people talk to him about whenever he meets fans.
Lee added: “It is always the first conversation I have with fans – even now 22 years on.
“Everyone who was around at the time has such fond memories and I will never forget the buzz around the place at the time and in the ground with 8,000 Wanderers fans at Anfield cheering us on.
“As a schoolboy, you dream of being a professional and playing at places like Anfield, Old Trafford and Wembley and that night was special – particularly as I managed to play well and the coverage it got. It is a big career highlight of mine and still ranks highly.
“It will be the same for many of the players going there this weekend because there is a buzz around the place again now under Neil Lennon.
“There will be a big Bolton following again and I remember how good they were that night – even when we were warming up.
“It was a night that put Bolton on the map and that can happen again.
“We had no expectation on us going to Anfield and it is similar again – it is another big day for the club.
“Those players should go there and enjoy the experience.
“When you think of the young players we have that have grown up at the club like Josh Vela and Zach Clough who could both be involved, it can be a fantastic experience for them.”
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The former Bolton winger was in the side that famously dumped then holders Liverpool out of the cup in a third-round replay 22 years ago on a night that will always remembered by fans as the ‘White Hot’ win.
This weekend sees Neil Lennon take the current Whites to Anfield as the teams meet in the FA Cup for the first time since that memorable night – an occasion that has brought the memories flooding back for Lee.
And as one of the stars of the show on that occasion, he believes the class of 2015 can pull off a repeat on Saturday, if they show the same spirit they have displayed since Lennon took the reins in October.
Lee told The Bolton News: “I don’t see why they can’t do what we did – they just need to have belief.
“The way the team have been playing since the manager arrived, they have a spirit that is similar to the one we had all those years ago under Bruce Rioch.
“Bruce gave us so much confidence as players and I believe Neil Lennon is similar in that respect.
“That is reflected in the results the current team have had and I always believe the FA Cup is a great leveller – it is all about on the day.
“The emphasis will all be on Liverpool and our lads can go and play with freedom and hopefully enjoy the occasion.”
Lee, who is now under-18s coach at Wanderers, still recalls the 1993 win fondly and admits it was a big career highlight to not only play at Anfield but win there as an underdog.
Along with scorers John McGinlay and Andy Walker, the 47-year-old was famously pictured celebrating post-match by the Bolton Evening News on the night – an iconic photograph that he says still has pride of place on his wall at home. And he says it is still one of the first matches people talk to him about whenever he meets fans.
Lee added: “It is always the first conversation I have with fans – even now 22 years on.
“Everyone who was around at the time has such fond memories and I will never forget the buzz around the place at the time and in the ground with 8,000 Wanderers fans at Anfield cheering us on.
“As a schoolboy, you dream of being a professional and playing at places like Anfield, Old Trafford and Wembley and that night was special – particularly as I managed to play well and the coverage it got. It is a big career highlight of mine and still ranks highly.
“It will be the same for many of the players going there this weekend because there is a buzz around the place again now under Neil Lennon.
“There will be a big Bolton following again and I remember how good they were that night – even when we were warming up.
“It was a night that put Bolton on the map and that can happen again.
“We had no expectation on us going to Anfield and it is similar again – it is another big day for the club.
“Those players should go there and enjoy the experience.
“When you think of the young players we have that have grown up at the club like Josh Vela and Zach Clough who could both be involved, it can be a fantastic experience for them.”
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