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Wanderers have been told to fear nothing this weekend by a man who knows all about last-day promotion dramas.
Bruce Rioch is backing the Whites to get the result they need against Peterborough United on Sunday and complete a return to the Championship.
On the 20th anniversary of Wanderers’ last game at Burnden Park the legendary boss praised Phil Parkinson for turning round his beloved club’s fortunes.
And he sees no reason why they cannot complete the job with the same efficiency his side did at the famous old ground in 1993 with a 1-0 win over Preston North End.
“Phil has done a terrific job at Bolton and promotion would be reward for all the hard work which has gone in at the club,” Rioch told The Bolton News.
“When you get to this position it’s about embracing the pressure. You can’t think about failure – just remember the fact you are in this position for a reason. You are more than capable.
“Yes, have butterflies, that’s normal. But the manager has plenty of experience and he will know how best to keep his players calm for the day.
“I am delighted to see Bolton are so close and I’d wish them the very best. It would be a marvellous thing for the club, the fans and the town to see them go up.”
Two decades ago Colin Todd’s Wanderers waved goodbye to Burnden with a 4-1 win against Charlton Athletic, a day which will live long in the memory of many generations of support.
Rioch recalled the magic of the old ground, which was home for 102 years.
“It wasn’t a pleasant place to be an opposing team,” he said. “When we first went to the club it was down on its luck, the fan base were a little drained from the near-misses they’d had.
“But by the time I left in 1995 the backing you’d get was sometimes worth a goal start. It really was.
“We’d created a winning atmosphere and it didn’t matter whether it was a Saturday afternoon or a Thursday night in the Central League, the fans would back you.
“That is what it is like in Bolton. I truly hope it can be the same this weekend and that they can enjoy being promoted.”
Wanderers held their nerve to sealed promotion on the last day in 1993 thanks to John McGinlay’s 60th-minute penalty.
“It was a matter of handling the nerves, making sure there was no anxiety around the dressing room,” Rioch added.
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Bruce Rioch is backing the Whites to get the result they need against Peterborough United on Sunday and complete a return to the Championship.
On the 20th anniversary of Wanderers’ last game at Burnden Park the legendary boss praised Phil Parkinson for turning round his beloved club’s fortunes.
And he sees no reason why they cannot complete the job with the same efficiency his side did at the famous old ground in 1993 with a 1-0 win over Preston North End.
“Phil has done a terrific job at Bolton and promotion would be reward for all the hard work which has gone in at the club,” Rioch told The Bolton News.
“When you get to this position it’s about embracing the pressure. You can’t think about failure – just remember the fact you are in this position for a reason. You are more than capable.
“Yes, have butterflies, that’s normal. But the manager has plenty of experience and he will know how best to keep his players calm for the day.
“I am delighted to see Bolton are so close and I’d wish them the very best. It would be a marvellous thing for the club, the fans and the town to see them go up.”
Two decades ago Colin Todd’s Wanderers waved goodbye to Burnden with a 4-1 win against Charlton Athletic, a day which will live long in the memory of many generations of support.
Rioch recalled the magic of the old ground, which was home for 102 years.
“It wasn’t a pleasant place to be an opposing team,” he said. “When we first went to the club it was down on its luck, the fan base were a little drained from the near-misses they’d had.
“But by the time I left in 1995 the backing you’d get was sometimes worth a goal start. It really was.
“We’d created a winning atmosphere and it didn’t matter whether it was a Saturday afternoon or a Thursday night in the Central League, the fans would back you.
“That is what it is like in Bolton. I truly hope it can be the same this weekend and that they can enjoy being promoted.”
Wanderers held their nerve to sealed promotion on the last day in 1993 thanks to John McGinlay’s 60th-minute penalty.
“It was a matter of handling the nerves, making sure there was no anxiety around the dressing room,” Rioch added.
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