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Thousands tried to secure tickets for Bolton’s first-ever game at the Cherry Red Records Stadium but only a select 769 succeeded – and those who did got a sun-kissed moment to savour.
It was August 2016 and times were simpler at Wanderers. Ken Anderson’s website missives were generally welcomed, Phil Parkinson was a fresh-faced and stable presence the club desperately required, and League One football felt like an adventure to be conquered.
Travelling away from home with Bolton had become an exercise in futility. The previous victory had been some 495 days earlier on a similarly balmy day in South Wales as a team spearheaded by Eidur Gudjohnsen and managed by Neil Lennon breezed past Cardiff City.
An entire season passed without a win on the road – the club engulfed by the financial issues which followed Eddie Davies’s transfer of ownership to Anderson and Dean Holdsworth. We had hoped rock bottom had been reached, but we were wrong.
Nevertheless as Parkinson prepared his side for a game against the unfancied Wimbledon he knew full well that a club record 28th away game without victory could end up happening on his watch.
The night before the game he gathered his players for a cards-on-the-table meeting. There was a feeling among the coaching staff that the players had wallowed a little too much in the misery which spread through the previous season and a summer was spent restoring confidences and strengthening the basics.
For an even luckier few there was an away win of sorts. Danish side FC Helsingor were dispatched 2-1 on pre-season tour in a tiny ground situated over the water from King Hamlet’s castle, Elsinore.
Parkinson could see the tragedy that could be made of his fallen giants being beaten at Wimbledon, and after quizzing his players on what they felt needed to change to earn a result, a common consensus was formed.
Despite falling behind early on, goals from Gary Madine and then Liam Trotter – two players whose reputations were definitely in need to repair at the time – earned Bolton back-to-back wins at the start of a league campaign for the first time since 2001.
“One of the things they said to us was ‘no excuses’ and that everyone had to come off that pitch knowing they had dug in to get a result,” said the former Bolton boss.
“And you could feel the relief once the final whistle sounded through all the supporters and the players. You could feel the expectancy in the air. It became a big club v little club scenario.”
Wanderers went on to win 11 more games away from home en route to promotion.
Two-and-a-half years on, they travel to Wimbledon sat at the foot of the League One table and trailing their hosts by some 22 points.
The levels of optimism among away fans on Saturday afternoon is likely to be much lower as the club marches slowly towards League Two with dreams of survival all-but over. But Keith Hill goes to Wimbledon with a similar problem to that faced by his predecessor.
Bolton’s away form has been dismal, both immediately before and after Hill’s arrival. And they head to London having taken just one point from their 10 away games since beating Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium in October.
It is more familiar territory for Hill, who hopes his players can build on last week’s stalemate against Accrington and keep up an unbeaten record against Wimbledon’s modern incarnation.
“I know Glyn Hodges really well, we did our coaching certificates together,” Hill said.
“He has got them playing to a certain style. They were fighting relegation last season and they did it well. They are well-versed in what is needed and have a similar sort of squad.
“We’re going there looking to engage and beat AFC Wimbledon. We will respect them but we want to win the game.
“The players have to express themselves, show the fight and courage we know they have got, but also their ability.
“You need a strong mentality whether you are playing as favourites or underdogs.
“AFC Wimbledon - we’re not playing the Crazy Gang, the game has changed in 2020.
“Believe it or not, it’s a good place to go and play football, it’s not intimidating.
“As a manager and a player you are probably only concerned about the pitch, its dimensions, the condition it is in, and if it is OK you are reasonably happy.”
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It was August 2016 and times were simpler at Wanderers. Ken Anderson’s website missives were generally welcomed, Phil Parkinson was a fresh-faced and stable presence the club desperately required, and League One football felt like an adventure to be conquered.
Travelling away from home with Bolton had become an exercise in futility. The previous victory had been some 495 days earlier on a similarly balmy day in South Wales as a team spearheaded by Eidur Gudjohnsen and managed by Neil Lennon breezed past Cardiff City.
An entire season passed without a win on the road – the club engulfed by the financial issues which followed Eddie Davies’s transfer of ownership to Anderson and Dean Holdsworth. We had hoped rock bottom had been reached, but we were wrong.
Nevertheless as Parkinson prepared his side for a game against the unfancied Wimbledon he knew full well that a club record 28th away game without victory could end up happening on his watch.
The night before the game he gathered his players for a cards-on-the-table meeting. There was a feeling among the coaching staff that the players had wallowed a little too much in the misery which spread through the previous season and a summer was spent restoring confidences and strengthening the basics.
For an even luckier few there was an away win of sorts. Danish side FC Helsingor were dispatched 2-1 on pre-season tour in a tiny ground situated over the water from King Hamlet’s castle, Elsinore.
Parkinson could see the tragedy that could be made of his fallen giants being beaten at Wimbledon, and after quizzing his players on what they felt needed to change to earn a result, a common consensus was formed.
Despite falling behind early on, goals from Gary Madine and then Liam Trotter – two players whose reputations were definitely in need to repair at the time – earned Bolton back-to-back wins at the start of a league campaign for the first time since 2001.
“One of the things they said to us was ‘no excuses’ and that everyone had to come off that pitch knowing they had dug in to get a result,” said the former Bolton boss.
“And you could feel the relief once the final whistle sounded through all the supporters and the players. You could feel the expectancy in the air. It became a big club v little club scenario.”
Wanderers went on to win 11 more games away from home en route to promotion.
Two-and-a-half years on, they travel to Wimbledon sat at the foot of the League One table and trailing their hosts by some 22 points.
The levels of optimism among away fans on Saturday afternoon is likely to be much lower as the club marches slowly towards League Two with dreams of survival all-but over. But Keith Hill goes to Wimbledon with a similar problem to that faced by his predecessor.
Bolton’s away form has been dismal, both immediately before and after Hill’s arrival. And they head to London having taken just one point from their 10 away games since beating Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium in October.
It is more familiar territory for Hill, who hopes his players can build on last week’s stalemate against Accrington and keep up an unbeaten record against Wimbledon’s modern incarnation.
“I know Glyn Hodges really well, we did our coaching certificates together,” Hill said.
“He has got them playing to a certain style. They were fighting relegation last season and they did it well. They are well-versed in what is needed and have a similar sort of squad.
“We’re going there looking to engage and beat AFC Wimbledon. We will respect them but we want to win the game.
“The players have to express themselves, show the fight and courage we know they have got, but also their ability.
“You need a strong mentality whether you are playing as favourites or underdogs.
“AFC Wimbledon - we’re not playing the Crazy Gang, the game has changed in 2020.
“Believe it or not, it’s a good place to go and play football, it’s not intimidating.
“As a manager and a player you are probably only concerned about the pitch, its dimensions, the condition it is in, and if it is OK you are reasonably happy.”
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