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Wanderers had somehow conspired to lose a two-goal lead against a patched-up Birmingham City in the FA Cup quarter-final but as the 90th minute ticked over, folk in the Gil Merrick Stand would get a moment they would never forget.
There was much to admire about Chung-Yong Lee’s career-defining goal in a Bolton shirt – Paul Robinson’s diagonal, Kevin Davies’s perfect header back across goal, but those who watched the ball bury into the corner of Ben Foster’s net will remember just one thing: A deafening roar from more than 4,000 delirious fans who had a grandstand view.
The versatile winger had plenty of highlights in more than five years with Wanderers, some sad times too, but nothing could possibly compare to the header which sent Owen Coyle’s side to Wembley.
Nowadays, Chung-Yong plays for VfL Bochum 1848 in Germany. He has already made a name for himself in the industrial Ruhrpott region by becoming the first Korean to claim three assists in the same game, as part of a 3-3 draw against Regensburg in October.
The mere mention of Bolton is enough to spark a smile on Chung-Yong’s face, and a chance to reminisce.
“I’m really proud to have played for Bolton Wanderers and I still watch their games and check all the scores,” he said. “I’ve still got friends in Bolton too, David Wheater and Josh Vela. We have a group with Kevin Davies so we still know each other and keep in touch regularly.”
Chung-Yong was just 21 when he was spotted by Bolton scout Alan Harper playing in the K League for FC Seoul and Gary Megson secured his services for £2.2million.
Though not everyone in Bolton remembers the ‘Ginger Mourinho’ with great fondness, Chung-Yong, now 30, appreciates the role he played in his own career.
“Gary Megson signed me from Korea so I will never forget him,” he said. “Also Owen Coyle, I had my best season playing under him so it was full of great memories for me.”
Although the semi-final against Stoke City would prove a nightmare, the run to Wembley actually marked some of Bolton’s best times under Coyle.
York City, Wigan, Fulham and then finally Birmingham was beaten to line up a meeting with Tony Pulis’s Potters.
“The FA Cup where we got to the quarter final was brilliant. I was so happy that I could play at Wembley with the team,” Chung-Yong said. “I still remember all the Bolton fans on the way down to Wembley, they filled the whole train and were really funny – it was amazing for me.
Asked about his goal against Birmingham, the Korean was typically magnanimous.
“I was so happy with the goal but that team (2011-12) was a very well organised team. Everyone worked hard and everyone enjoyed playing for the football club.”
After relegation, Chung-Yong left to sign for Crystal Palace, a move which started well but ended with long spells out of the side. Last January he had the opportunity to spend the last four months of his contract on loan at Wanderers – a move he was only too eager to take.
Train travel booked and waiting to leave, the midfielder received text from Tim Coe (Palace's Chief Scout) and former Bolton manager Dougie Freedman (Palace's Sporting Director) at the last minute, informing Lee that the move had fallen through because of an injury to Bakary Sako.
“I was sad because I’d already packed my bags and had my luggage ready just before leaving from London to Bolton”, he explained. “When I heard that I wasn’t allowed to go to Bolton from Palace I was disappointed, I still love Bolton.”
Chung-Yong sent a message to the Bolton fans who have suffered similar heart-break in the last few years.
“Keep on supporting the team,” he said. “I know that the past three to four years have been very difficult for the club with money problems, however hopefully a new owner will bring in new players. I really hope that Bolton are on their way up again.”
Chung-Yong has promised not to be a stranger, too.
“Of course I’ll be back, when I have time in the future I will come,” he smiled. “Whenever I go back to Bolton I’m really happy to see my friends and the people.”
To follow Chung-Yong Lee’s progress in Germany and read the full interview with VfL Bochum 1848, follow their English twitter account, @VfLBochum1848EN.
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There was much to admire about Chung-Yong Lee’s career-defining goal in a Bolton shirt – Paul Robinson’s diagonal, Kevin Davies’s perfect header back across goal, but those who watched the ball bury into the corner of Ben Foster’s net will remember just one thing: A deafening roar from more than 4,000 delirious fans who had a grandstand view.
The versatile winger had plenty of highlights in more than five years with Wanderers, some sad times too, but nothing could possibly compare to the header which sent Owen Coyle’s side to Wembley.
Nowadays, Chung-Yong plays for VfL Bochum 1848 in Germany. He has already made a name for himself in the industrial Ruhrpott region by becoming the first Korean to claim three assists in the same game, as part of a 3-3 draw against Regensburg in October.
The mere mention of Bolton is enough to spark a smile on Chung-Yong’s face, and a chance to reminisce.
“I’m really proud to have played for Bolton Wanderers and I still watch their games and check all the scores,” he said. “I’ve still got friends in Bolton too, David Wheater and Josh Vela. We have a group with Kevin Davies so we still know each other and keep in touch regularly.”
Chung-Yong was just 21 when he was spotted by Bolton scout Alan Harper playing in the K League for FC Seoul and Gary Megson secured his services for £2.2million.
Though not everyone in Bolton remembers the ‘Ginger Mourinho’ with great fondness, Chung-Yong, now 30, appreciates the role he played in his own career.
“Gary Megson signed me from Korea so I will never forget him,” he said. “Also Owen Coyle, I had my best season playing under him so it was full of great memories for me.”
Although the semi-final against Stoke City would prove a nightmare, the run to Wembley actually marked some of Bolton’s best times under Coyle.
York City, Wigan, Fulham and then finally Birmingham was beaten to line up a meeting with Tony Pulis’s Potters.
“The FA Cup where we got to the quarter final was brilliant. I was so happy that I could play at Wembley with the team,” Chung-Yong said. “I still remember all the Bolton fans on the way down to Wembley, they filled the whole train and were really funny – it was amazing for me.
Asked about his goal against Birmingham, the Korean was typically magnanimous.
“I was so happy with the goal but that team (2011-12) was a very well organised team. Everyone worked hard and everyone enjoyed playing for the football club.”
After relegation, Chung-Yong left to sign for Crystal Palace, a move which started well but ended with long spells out of the side. Last January he had the opportunity to spend the last four months of his contract on loan at Wanderers – a move he was only too eager to take.
Train travel booked and waiting to leave, the midfielder received text from Tim Coe (Palace's Chief Scout) and former Bolton manager Dougie Freedman (Palace's Sporting Director) at the last minute, informing Lee that the move had fallen through because of an injury to Bakary Sako.
“I was sad because I’d already packed my bags and had my luggage ready just before leaving from London to Bolton”, he explained. “When I heard that I wasn’t allowed to go to Bolton from Palace I was disappointed, I still love Bolton.”
Chung-Yong sent a message to the Bolton fans who have suffered similar heart-break in the last few years.
“Keep on supporting the team,” he said. “I know that the past three to four years have been very difficult for the club with money problems, however hopefully a new owner will bring in new players. I really hope that Bolton are on their way up again.”
Chung-Yong has promised not to be a stranger, too.
“Of course I’ll be back, when I have time in the future I will come,” he smiled. “Whenever I go back to Bolton I’m really happy to see my friends and the people.”
To follow Chung-Yong Lee’s progress in Germany and read the full interview with VfL Bochum 1848, follow their English twitter account, @VfLBochum1848EN.
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