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For all the doom and gloom around the Macron Stadium at present, a quick glance at the history books will tell you that it can get worse.
Nine points from the opening 13 games, including a solitary win, has been the paltry return from Neil Lennon’s side as they sit bottom of the Championship.
But it may surprise some that it is by no means the worst start the club has made at this stage of the season.
On seven previous occasions Wanderers have managed nine points or less after 13 league games – and on three of those they have managed to avoid relegation.
So with Halloween fast approaching, close the curtains, dim the lights and get ready for a really scary story as The Bolton News recounts the seven worst seasons in Wanderers history.
1902-03 – points after 13 games: 3
Finishing position: 18th (bottom)
The mother of all poor seasons for Bolton Wanderers.
Edward VII was on the throne, the world was going mad for Arthur Conan Doyle’s new Sherlock Holmes story, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Newton Heath changed their name to Manchester United and someone in Burton on Trent came up with the idea of Marmite.
But for the Whites, no matter how bad things seem at present, this was worse.
They did not win a game until January when at the 23rd attempt, Notts County were put to the sword. After that, Bolton won eight of their last 12 games but still suffered relegation by six clear points.
1947-48 – points after 13 games: 6
Finishing position: 17th
Post-War Wanderers struggled to pick up where they had left off as a top-10 side and made a poor start in 1947.
Nat Lofthouse’s winner against Blackpool in the 13th game was only their second of the campaign. But a fine run between January and April staved off any threat of relegation – that dubious honour going to Grimsby Town and Blackburn Rovers.
1963-64 – points after 13 games: 7
Finishing position: 21st (relegated)
Despite hammering Ipswich Town 6-0, Bill Ridding’s team failed to get up and running, sliding out of the top flight for the first time in 29 years.
After 13 games the Whites had just seven points, their only other win also coming against Ipswich courtesy of two goals from Gordon Taylor.
Bolton were relegated alongside Birmingham and Ipswich and would not return to the top flight for another 14 years.
1982-83 – points after 13 games: 8
Finishing position: 22nd (relegated)
Times were hard for John McGovern, who despite his admirable fund-raising efforts had little to spend at Burnden Park.
By mid-November they were second bottom despite wins over Newcastle United and Crystal Palace and a decent goal-scoring return from Tony Henry. The Whites never recovered, and as Henry’s goals dried up, they sank to the bottom of Division Two towards relegation.
1995-96 – points after 13 games: 8
Finishing position: 20th (relegated)
The joint management experiment between Roy McFarland and Colin Todd did not work out well as Wanderers got their first taste of the Premier League.
Fabian De Freitas and Alan Stubbs helped them to a 2-1 win over Blackburn, while John McGinlay’s goal also earned the points at home to Arsenal.
Otherwise it was doom and gloom and by January, Todd was on his own as the club slipped towards relegation.
2007-08 – points after 13 games: 8
Finishing position: 16th
Sammy Lee’s transition from first team coach to manager had not gone well, to say the least, at a post-Sam Allardyce Wanderers.
Gary Megson’s arrival hardly set the world alight but there were a few signs of stabilisation as draws were fought out against Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and West Ham to leave the Whites in 18th position after 13 games.
Eventually billed as the Great Escape, Megson’s achievement that season was eclipsed by Roy Hodgson Roy Hodgson’s Fulham. But it proved that anything was possible with a bit of investment – particularly in the likes of Gary Cahill, Gretar Steinsson and Matt Taylor.
1894-95 – points after 13 games: 9
Finishing position: 10th
Wanderers failed to score just twice in the opening 13 games but still lost eight times in a poor start early in their history.
They recovered in the second half of the season to win eight of their last 14 games and finish mid-table, with Liverpool suffering relegation.
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Nine points from the opening 13 games, including a solitary win, has been the paltry return from Neil Lennon’s side as they sit bottom of the Championship.
But it may surprise some that it is by no means the worst start the club has made at this stage of the season.
On seven previous occasions Wanderers have managed nine points or less after 13 league games – and on three of those they have managed to avoid relegation.
So with Halloween fast approaching, close the curtains, dim the lights and get ready for a really scary story as The Bolton News recounts the seven worst seasons in Wanderers history.
1902-03 – points after 13 games: 3
Finishing position: 18th (bottom)
The mother of all poor seasons for Bolton Wanderers.
Edward VII was on the throne, the world was going mad for Arthur Conan Doyle’s new Sherlock Holmes story, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Newton Heath changed their name to Manchester United and someone in Burton on Trent came up with the idea of Marmite.
But for the Whites, no matter how bad things seem at present, this was worse.
They did not win a game until January when at the 23rd attempt, Notts County were put to the sword. After that, Bolton won eight of their last 12 games but still suffered relegation by six clear points.
1947-48 – points after 13 games: 6
Finishing position: 17th
Post-War Wanderers struggled to pick up where they had left off as a top-10 side and made a poor start in 1947.
Nat Lofthouse’s winner against Blackpool in the 13th game was only their second of the campaign. But a fine run between January and April staved off any threat of relegation – that dubious honour going to Grimsby Town and Blackburn Rovers.
1963-64 – points after 13 games: 7
Finishing position: 21st (relegated)
Despite hammering Ipswich Town 6-0, Bill Ridding’s team failed to get up and running, sliding out of the top flight for the first time in 29 years.
After 13 games the Whites had just seven points, their only other win also coming against Ipswich courtesy of two goals from Gordon Taylor.
Bolton were relegated alongside Birmingham and Ipswich and would not return to the top flight for another 14 years.
1982-83 – points after 13 games: 8
Finishing position: 22nd (relegated)
Times were hard for John McGovern, who despite his admirable fund-raising efforts had little to spend at Burnden Park.
By mid-November they were second bottom despite wins over Newcastle United and Crystal Palace and a decent goal-scoring return from Tony Henry. The Whites never recovered, and as Henry’s goals dried up, they sank to the bottom of Division Two towards relegation.
1995-96 – points after 13 games: 8
Finishing position: 20th (relegated)
The joint management experiment between Roy McFarland and Colin Todd did not work out well as Wanderers got their first taste of the Premier League.
Fabian De Freitas and Alan Stubbs helped them to a 2-1 win over Blackburn, while John McGinlay’s goal also earned the points at home to Arsenal.
Otherwise it was doom and gloom and by January, Todd was on his own as the club slipped towards relegation.
2007-08 – points after 13 games: 8
Finishing position: 16th
Sammy Lee’s transition from first team coach to manager had not gone well, to say the least, at a post-Sam Allardyce Wanderers.
Gary Megson’s arrival hardly set the world alight but there were a few signs of stabilisation as draws were fought out against Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and West Ham to leave the Whites in 18th position after 13 games.
Eventually billed as the Great Escape, Megson’s achievement that season was eclipsed by Roy Hodgson Roy Hodgson’s Fulham. But it proved that anything was possible with a bit of investment – particularly in the likes of Gary Cahill, Gretar Steinsson and Matt Taylor.
1894-95 – points after 13 games: 9
Finishing position: 10th
Wanderers failed to score just twice in the opening 13 games but still lost eight times in a poor start early in their history.
They recovered in the second half of the season to win eight of their last 14 games and finish mid-table, with Liverpool suffering relegation.
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