Home
Wanderers prepare to tread into relatively unchartered waters on Saturday as they enter the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in 24 years.
Phil Parkinson’s side host Grimsby Town looking to dodge the inevitable focus of the TV cameras and reporters sniffing out a potential upset.
Four-time winners, and one of the bigger names in the draw made earlier this month, all eyes will be on whether the Whites can continue their run of excellent league results or whether – as the old saying goes – form goes out of the window.
Since the competition was restructured to its modern form in 1925, the Whites have come in at the opening stage for Football League clubs on 12 occasions.
They have been beaten at the first time of asking three times – but Division Four Wrexham, then under the stewardship of Dixie McNeil, remain the only side from a lower division to beat them in this round.
Here we take a look at the previous occasions on which Wanderers have entered from the very start of the FA Cup proper.
1971/72 – Wanderers 3 Bangor City 0: Jimmy Armfield’s side never had to find out what a day out in Bangor was really like, as they edged past the Northern Premier League side, then managed by former Busby Babe John Doherty.
The Whites’ goals came from a John Ritson penalty, Peter Nicholson – playing on the right wing – and Chris Duffey.
1972/73 – Wanderers 1 Chester 1: Destined for round five, Armfield’s side found Ken Roberts’ Chester a difficult nut to crack.
John Byrom ensured a replay against a Seals’ side who boasted three Futcher brothers in their squad - Paul, Graham and Ron.
Garry Jones scored the only goal in the replayed game at Sealand Road four days later.
1983/84 – Tranmere 2 Wanderers 2: A few years before things really started to get nasty between the two clubs, the Whites took two attempts to oust Rovers from the FA Cup.
Warren Joyce and Jeff Chandler earned a replay at Prenton Park before a straightforward win three nights later. Chandler was on target twice more, with Simon Rudge and Tony Caldwell completing the rout. The game also featured a rare appearance for home-grown striker Steve Saunders.
1984/85 – Hull City 2 Wanderers 1: Wayne Foster’s goal at Boothferry Park could not prevent defeat for the Whites, hastening John McGovern’s exit as manager.
1985/86 – Wrexham 3 Wanderers 1: The FA Cup was becoming a chore for Bolton and as the wheels came off for under-pressure manager Charlie Wright, Steve Thompson’s solitary goal could not help his side avoid defeat at the Racecourse Ground against lower league opposition.
1986/87 – Halifax Town 1 Wanderers 1: Division Four Halifax, managed by the fondly-remembered Billy Ayre, were another stubborn first round opponent who required two replays to negotiate.
George Oghani booked the first replay at The Shay in a 1-1 draw, with Tony Caldwell scoring at Burnden to earn a second as the game finished with the same scoreline. Three games in nine days were settled in West Yorkshire as Steve Thompson, Tony Caldwell and Mark Gavin netted in a 3-1 win.
1987/88 – Burnley 0 Wanderers 1: John Thomas’s ninth goal of the season was enough to earn victory for Phil Neal’s side at Turf Moor.
1988/89 – Wanderers 0 Chesterfield 0: What had been a forgettable affair at Burnden turned into a five-goal midweek thriller at Saltergate as Ian Stevens, Stuart Storer and Julian Darby booked a safe passage into round two.
1989/90 – Blackpool 2 Wanderers 1: They struggled in the league but Sam Ellis’s Blackpool knocked the Whites out of their stride in the cup as Dean Crombie’s solitary effort proved in vain at Bloomfield Road.
1990/91 – Witton Albion 1 Wanderers 2: The Match of the Day cameras sensed an upset but despite a mudbath of a pitch, 800 Bolton fans went home happy as Julian Darby and Paul Comstive earned a win over the Cheshire non-league outfit.
1991/92 – Emley 0 Wanderers 3: Played at Huddersfield Town’s Leeds Road, more than 9,000 fans watched as another banana skin was averted. David Reeves scored twice and Tony Philliskirk added the third for Phil Neal’s men.
1992/93 – Wanderers 2 Sutton Coldfield Town 1: The last time the Whites played in the first round, they lived on the edge against Beezer Homes League Sutton Coldfield, who had in their ranks ex-Bolton full-back Barry Cowdrill.
Reeves and Andy Walker saved Wanderers’ blushes against the non-league men who hit the post and had one goal disallowed for offside.
Source
Phil Parkinson’s side host Grimsby Town looking to dodge the inevitable focus of the TV cameras and reporters sniffing out a potential upset.
Four-time winners, and one of the bigger names in the draw made earlier this month, all eyes will be on whether the Whites can continue their run of excellent league results or whether – as the old saying goes – form goes out of the window.
Since the competition was restructured to its modern form in 1925, the Whites have come in at the opening stage for Football League clubs on 12 occasions.
They have been beaten at the first time of asking three times – but Division Four Wrexham, then under the stewardship of Dixie McNeil, remain the only side from a lower division to beat them in this round.
Here we take a look at the previous occasions on which Wanderers have entered from the very start of the FA Cup proper.
1971/72 – Wanderers 3 Bangor City 0: Jimmy Armfield’s side never had to find out what a day out in Bangor was really like, as they edged past the Northern Premier League side, then managed by former Busby Babe John Doherty.
The Whites’ goals came from a John Ritson penalty, Peter Nicholson – playing on the right wing – and Chris Duffey.
1972/73 – Wanderers 1 Chester 1: Destined for round five, Armfield’s side found Ken Roberts’ Chester a difficult nut to crack.
John Byrom ensured a replay against a Seals’ side who boasted three Futcher brothers in their squad - Paul, Graham and Ron.
Garry Jones scored the only goal in the replayed game at Sealand Road four days later.
1983/84 – Tranmere 2 Wanderers 2: A few years before things really started to get nasty between the two clubs, the Whites took two attempts to oust Rovers from the FA Cup.
Warren Joyce and Jeff Chandler earned a replay at Prenton Park before a straightforward win three nights later. Chandler was on target twice more, with Simon Rudge and Tony Caldwell completing the rout. The game also featured a rare appearance for home-grown striker Steve Saunders.
1984/85 – Hull City 2 Wanderers 1: Wayne Foster’s goal at Boothferry Park could not prevent defeat for the Whites, hastening John McGovern’s exit as manager.
1985/86 – Wrexham 3 Wanderers 1: The FA Cup was becoming a chore for Bolton and as the wheels came off for under-pressure manager Charlie Wright, Steve Thompson’s solitary goal could not help his side avoid defeat at the Racecourse Ground against lower league opposition.
1986/87 – Halifax Town 1 Wanderers 1: Division Four Halifax, managed by the fondly-remembered Billy Ayre, were another stubborn first round opponent who required two replays to negotiate.
George Oghani booked the first replay at The Shay in a 1-1 draw, with Tony Caldwell scoring at Burnden to earn a second as the game finished with the same scoreline. Three games in nine days were settled in West Yorkshire as Steve Thompson, Tony Caldwell and Mark Gavin netted in a 3-1 win.
1987/88 – Burnley 0 Wanderers 1: John Thomas’s ninth goal of the season was enough to earn victory for Phil Neal’s side at Turf Moor.
1988/89 – Wanderers 0 Chesterfield 0: What had been a forgettable affair at Burnden turned into a five-goal midweek thriller at Saltergate as Ian Stevens, Stuart Storer and Julian Darby booked a safe passage into round two.
1989/90 – Blackpool 2 Wanderers 1: They struggled in the league but Sam Ellis’s Blackpool knocked the Whites out of their stride in the cup as Dean Crombie’s solitary effort proved in vain at Bloomfield Road.
1990/91 – Witton Albion 1 Wanderers 2: The Match of the Day cameras sensed an upset but despite a mudbath of a pitch, 800 Bolton fans went home happy as Julian Darby and Paul Comstive earned a win over the Cheshire non-league outfit.
1991/92 – Emley 0 Wanderers 3: Played at Huddersfield Town’s Leeds Road, more than 9,000 fans watched as another banana skin was averted. David Reeves scored twice and Tony Philliskirk added the third for Phil Neal’s men.
1992/93 – Wanderers 2 Sutton Coldfield Town 1: The last time the Whites played in the first round, they lived on the edge against Beezer Homes League Sutton Coldfield, who had in their ranks ex-Bolton full-back Barry Cowdrill.
Reeves and Andy Walker saved Wanderers’ blushes against the non-league men who hit the post and had one goal disallowed for offside.
Source