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1997: THREE Bolton players were disciplined by the club for their part in the mass brawl that became known as the Battle of Burnden.
The identity of the trio or the punishment meted was not revealed but Wanderers' prompt action could well have saved them from having league points deducted.
Instead they were fined heavily when they appeared alongside Wolves at the FA Disciplinary Commission in London to answer charges of "misconduct" and "failing to control their players".
The FA looked at video evidence of the third minute brawl that marred the January 18 top of the table clash, after a report by referee David Allison. The flare-up followed an off-the-ball clash between Wanderers' Republic of Ireland international John Sheridan and Wolves' former England man Geoff Thomas.
Wanderers, who won the game 3-0, were considered the more culpable. They received a £40,000 fine - £30,000 of which was suspended until the end of next season. Wolves were fined £30,000, £22,500 suspended under the same conditions.
FA spokesman Steve Double said: "Bolton, in mitigation, said they had taken disciplinary action against some of their players. Wolves apologised and said their players had been warned about the need to avoid future confrontations.
"The commission felt the incident was unsavoury and showed the game in a bad light but there was no real violence."
Wanderers boss Colin Todd confirmed: "We disciplined three players in line with club policy and that, plus our good disciplinary record, was considered by the hearing.
"We had an idea what the consequences would be because of the punishment handed out to Norwich and Crystal Palace recently after a similar incident.
"But we had a fair hearing. We'll just have to keep our noses clean from now on but the players know that anyway."
The FA have warned that the fines will be activated in whole or in part if the clubs are found guilty of similar offences during the period of the suspension.
Todd was accompanied at the hearing by his chairman, Gordon Hargreaves and chief executive, Des McBain. Wolves were represented by chairman Jonathan Hayward, secretary Richard Skirrow and manager Mark McGhee.
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2017: WANDERERS suffered a blow to their automatic promotion hopes with a disappointing defeat at Oldham Athletic.
Jay Spearing’s own goal 14 minutes from the end capped a miserable afternoon for Phil Parkinson’s men, who hit the bar twice and had two shots cleared off the line.
Oldham played with 10 men for half an hour after Michael Ngoo saw red for a touchline foul on Darren Pratley. But they held out impressively to secure three points which all-but guaranteed their safety in League One.
Parkinson named one striker – Adam Le Fondre – supported by top-scorer Josh Vela and felt his game-plan was working until the Latics struck on the counter with what proved a winning goal.
“We had enough chances to win the game,” he said. “We played well first half and controlled for large periods in difficult conditions.
“Second half we’ve hit the bar twice, had a couple cleared off the line, and the one breakaway they had resulted in an own goal.
“You run the risk of getting punished when you are going after the win. It wasn’t me not making attacking changes – it was a throw we had in the corner and they broke on us. We had enough back.”
1952: WANDERERS' balance sheets showed a small loss of £6,436, due in the main to the signing of Harold Hassall.
A total of £26,449 had been spent on players in the previous 12 months - up more than £14,000 on the last set of accounts.
But for Hassall's transfer from Huddersfield Town the club would have posted record profits.
Among the figures detailed were a player wage bill of £26,570, travelling expenses of £3,100 and overall gate receipts of £88,082 - less £7,910 of entertainment tax.
In their report to the shareholders the directors said "this has been the best season in post-war football for Bolton Wanderers and there is a hope that the high league position will be retained at the end of the season."
1947: A RETAINED list of 25 names was decided by the club - with the big exception being Jack Connor, the reserve team captain and one of the longest-serving members of the staff. He had signed from Mossley in 1933.
Bolton Evening News writer Haydn Berry wrote: "The most interesting feature of the list is that it includes the name of the coach, George Taylor, for the 21st time, a record for a Bolton player."
Taylor, who would go on to serve as head coach under Bill Ridding, would have been a few days away from his 38th birthday at the time the article was composed. Manager Walter Rowley said: "George is still fit enough to play if required in an emergency."
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
1997: THREE Bolton players were disciplined by the club for their part in the mass brawl that became known as the Battle of Burnden.
The identity of the trio or the punishment meted was not revealed but Wanderers' prompt action could well have saved them from having league points deducted.
Instead they were fined heavily when they appeared alongside Wolves at the FA Disciplinary Commission in London to answer charges of "misconduct" and "failing to control their players".
The FA looked at video evidence of the third minute brawl that marred the January 18 top of the table clash, after a report by referee David Allison. The flare-up followed an off-the-ball clash between Wanderers' Republic of Ireland international John Sheridan and Wolves' former England man Geoff Thomas.
Wanderers, who won the game 3-0, were considered the more culpable. They received a £40,000 fine - £30,000 of which was suspended until the end of next season. Wolves were fined £30,000, £22,500 suspended under the same conditions.
FA spokesman Steve Double said: "Bolton, in mitigation, said they had taken disciplinary action against some of their players. Wolves apologised and said their players had been warned about the need to avoid future confrontations.
"The commission felt the incident was unsavoury and showed the game in a bad light but there was no real violence."
Wanderers boss Colin Todd confirmed: "We disciplined three players in line with club policy and that, plus our good disciplinary record, was considered by the hearing.
"We had an idea what the consequences would be because of the punishment handed out to Norwich and Crystal Palace recently after a similar incident.
"But we had a fair hearing. We'll just have to keep our noses clean from now on but the players know that anyway."
The FA have warned that the fines will be activated in whole or in part if the clubs are found guilty of similar offences during the period of the suspension.
Todd was accompanied at the hearing by his chairman, Gordon Hargreaves and chief executive, Des McBain. Wolves were represented by chairman Jonathan Hayward, secretary Richard Skirrow and manager Mark McGhee.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
2017: WANDERERS suffered a blow to their automatic promotion hopes with a disappointing defeat at Oldham Athletic.
Jay Spearing’s own goal 14 minutes from the end capped a miserable afternoon for Phil Parkinson’s men, who hit the bar twice and had two shots cleared off the line.
Oldham played with 10 men for half an hour after Michael Ngoo saw red for a touchline foul on Darren Pratley. But they held out impressively to secure three points which all-but guaranteed their safety in League One.
Parkinson named one striker – Adam Le Fondre – supported by top-scorer Josh Vela and felt his game-plan was working until the Latics struck on the counter with what proved a winning goal.
“We had enough chances to win the game,” he said. “We played well first half and controlled for large periods in difficult conditions.
“Second half we’ve hit the bar twice, had a couple cleared off the line, and the one breakaway they had resulted in an own goal.
“You run the risk of getting punished when you are going after the win. It wasn’t me not making attacking changes – it was a throw we had in the corner and they broke on us. We had enough back.”
1952: WANDERERS' balance sheets showed a small loss of £6,436, due in the main to the signing of Harold Hassall.
A total of £26,449 had been spent on players in the previous 12 months - up more than £14,000 on the last set of accounts.
But for Hassall's transfer from Huddersfield Town the club would have posted record profits.
Among the figures detailed were a player wage bill of £26,570, travelling expenses of £3,100 and overall gate receipts of £88,082 - less £7,910 of entertainment tax.
In their report to the shareholders the directors said "this has been the best season in post-war football for Bolton Wanderers and there is a hope that the high league position will be retained at the end of the season."
1947: A RETAINED list of 25 names was decided by the club - with the big exception being Jack Connor, the reserve team captain and one of the longest-serving members of the staff. He had signed from Mossley in 1933.
Bolton Evening News writer Haydn Berry wrote: "The most interesting feature of the list is that it includes the name of the coach, George Taylor, for the 21st time, a record for a Bolton player."
Taylor, who would go on to serve as head coach under Bill Ridding, would have been a few days away from his 38th birthday at the time the article was composed. Manager Walter Rowley said: "George is still fit enough to play if required in an emergency."
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