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Those Wanderers fans who lived through the 1992/93 promotion season still go misty-eyed at the mention of a Friday night at Hull City or a John McGinlay penalty against Preston North End.
One of the most fondly-remembered campaigns did not go to plan right away, however, and it was not until Bruce Rioch pulled off two masterstrokes in the transfer market that things started to shape up.
The addition of McGinlay – a hard-working goal-getter to complement Andy Walker - and David Lee – an energetic winger with pace to burn – transformed a team languishing in 18th at the end of September to one which achieved legendary status in the years to come.
Wanderers fans may recognise something similar is unfolding at the Macron right now.
Phil Parkinson’s side has spent just a fortnight outside the top four since the opening weekend of the season but when the January window opened, many felt the squad still lacked a touch of quality to be regarded as genuine automatic promotion contenders.
Adam Le Fondre takes up the McGinlay mantle. Adored by the fans, and boasting a striker’s swagger, the 30-year-old had battled his way to full fitness since his loan move from Cardiff City and now has five goals in his last five games for the Whites.
McGinlay had made his way around several clubs, scoring plenty of goals, but struck an instant chord when he first set foot in Burnden Park and ended up with 22 goals in the promotion campaign.
Le Fondre had plenty of catching-up to do after spending 18 months on the bench at Wolves and Wigan Athletic but has now found the kind of form which made him a terrace favourite in his first loan spell at Bolton.
His success, however, is intertwined with that of the man who plays Lee’s role in the modern-day remake.
Filipe Morais has taken everyone by surprise since signing on a free transfer on deadline day – except for his manager.
Parkinson claims he knew he was getting a man for the big occasion when he convinced the midfielder to move to the North West after his contract had been terminated at Bradford City.
“He’s playing really well, he has quality and I knew he had it from my time at Bradford,” the manager said. “When the big games came along at Bradford he always produced moments for us, and he’s doing that for us now.
“We had some big games there, big high-profile cup games, and I knew if I brought Fil here that he would rise to the challenge and he’s certainly doing it.”
Bradford’s loss has been Wanderers’ gain and Morais has been involved with twice as many goals as any other player in League One during March.
The 31-year-old had made just nine starts at Valley Parade before his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. A move to MK Dons had been heavily mooted in the press but Zach Clough’s exit to Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle United’s reluctance to part again with Sami Ameobi meant Parkinson had to move fast at the end of January.
“He wasn’t in their (Bradford’s) plans and they also had plans to bring other players in,” Parkinson said, when asked if he was surprised his old club had released Morais. “It was only on Deadline Day when we sold Zach Clough that we knew he was available. We got him over to have a chat because he was heading elsewhere."
Mark Beevers, who with four goals in his last five games has also profited from Morais’ run of form, admits he has been a surprise package.
“I didn’t know too much about Fil,” he said. “I’d played against him last season in the play-off semi-finals but I think he played up front so he wasn’t really in a position where he can provide the assists. I don’t think even he expected it to be this good.
“He’s a grounded guy but he backs himself, he knows he can deliver a good ball and it’s up to the lads to get on the end of it.”
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One of the most fondly-remembered campaigns did not go to plan right away, however, and it was not until Bruce Rioch pulled off two masterstrokes in the transfer market that things started to shape up.
The addition of McGinlay – a hard-working goal-getter to complement Andy Walker - and David Lee – an energetic winger with pace to burn – transformed a team languishing in 18th at the end of September to one which achieved legendary status in the years to come.
Wanderers fans may recognise something similar is unfolding at the Macron right now.
Phil Parkinson’s side has spent just a fortnight outside the top four since the opening weekend of the season but when the January window opened, many felt the squad still lacked a touch of quality to be regarded as genuine automatic promotion contenders.
Adam Le Fondre takes up the McGinlay mantle. Adored by the fans, and boasting a striker’s swagger, the 30-year-old had battled his way to full fitness since his loan move from Cardiff City and now has five goals in his last five games for the Whites.
McGinlay had made his way around several clubs, scoring plenty of goals, but struck an instant chord when he first set foot in Burnden Park and ended up with 22 goals in the promotion campaign.
Le Fondre had plenty of catching-up to do after spending 18 months on the bench at Wolves and Wigan Athletic but has now found the kind of form which made him a terrace favourite in his first loan spell at Bolton.
His success, however, is intertwined with that of the man who plays Lee’s role in the modern-day remake.
Filipe Morais has taken everyone by surprise since signing on a free transfer on deadline day – except for his manager.
Parkinson claims he knew he was getting a man for the big occasion when he convinced the midfielder to move to the North West after his contract had been terminated at Bradford City.
“He’s playing really well, he has quality and I knew he had it from my time at Bradford,” the manager said. “When the big games came along at Bradford he always produced moments for us, and he’s doing that for us now.
“We had some big games there, big high-profile cup games, and I knew if I brought Fil here that he would rise to the challenge and he’s certainly doing it.”
Bradford’s loss has been Wanderers’ gain and Morais has been involved with twice as many goals as any other player in League One during March.
The 31-year-old had made just nine starts at Valley Parade before his contract was cancelled by mutual consent. A move to MK Dons had been heavily mooted in the press but Zach Clough’s exit to Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle United’s reluctance to part again with Sami Ameobi meant Parkinson had to move fast at the end of January.
“He wasn’t in their (Bradford’s) plans and they also had plans to bring other players in,” Parkinson said, when asked if he was surprised his old club had released Morais. “It was only on Deadline Day when we sold Zach Clough that we knew he was available. We got him over to have a chat because he was heading elsewhere."
Mark Beevers, who with four goals in his last five games has also profited from Morais’ run of form, admits he has been a surprise package.
“I didn’t know too much about Fil,” he said. “I’d played against him last season in the play-off semi-finals but I think he played up front so he wasn’t really in a position where he can provide the assists. I don’t think even he expected it to be this good.
“He’s a grounded guy but he backs himself, he knows he can deliver a good ball and it’s up to the lads to get on the end of it.”
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