Bolton Wanderers
Formed 1874
Founder member of the Football League 1888
Kit History
Christ Church
1874
circa 1871 a
circa 1874 a
Bolton Wanderers
1877
circa 1880 a
1884 a
1885-1886 c
1888-1890 a
1890-1891 a
1891-1900 a h
1900-1904 f
1908-1912 h
1912-1913c g h h
1913-1921 c g h
1921-1930 c g
1934-1935 g
1936-1939 g
circa1945-1946 c
1946-1947 g
1947-1949 d g
1953-1957 g
1957-1964 c g
1964-1966 g
1966-1969 d g
1969-1971 g
1971-1972 g
1972-1975 g i j
1975-1976 c g
1976-1977 g j
1977-1980 b g
1980-1981 e
1981-1982 b
1982-1983 e g
1983-1985 e
1985-1986 e
1986-1988 e
1988-1990 e
1990-1993 b
1993-1995 b
1995-1997 b
1997-1999 b
1999-2001 b
2001-2003 b
2002 anniversary e
2003-2005 c
2005-2007 c
2007-2008 c
Background
The Wanderers were formed in 1874 by Thomas Ogden,
a schoolmaster and were originally called Christ Church FC. After a dispute
with the vicar, who objected to meetings being held in the school without
his presence, the club moved its base to a local public house in 1877
and adopted the name of Bolton Wanderers. Four years later the club moved
to a new ground and entered the FA Cup for the first time. Season tickets
were made available at a guinea (£1.05) apiece. Although eclipsed
by local rivals Blackburn Rovers, Bolton built a strong reputation within
the county and in 1886 they won the Lancashire Cup, as well as the Bolton
and Derbyshire Charity Cups. On the strength of their achievements, Bolton
were invited to join the Football League in 1888. That same year, the
club adopted what became their traditional plain white shirts and dark
blue knickers. Previously the club had turned out in a motley collection
including a unique white jersey with red spots as well as red, navy and white stripes (illustrated).
Bolton performed well in the League and in 1894 reached their first FA Cup final. Relegation became a regular event in the Edwardian period but on each occasion the club bounced back more or less immediately. The 1920's were a golden era for the club which brought three FA Cup wins in 1923 (the famous "Wembley white horse final") 1926 and 1929. During the Thirties Bolton spent two seasons in Division Two but otherwise they continued as a reliable if unambitious Division One side until the mid Sixties. Bolton's successes continued to be in the FA Cup rather than the League and after defeat in the 1953 "Stanley Matthews Final", Bolton won the cup again in 1958.
The club's career since then has been a remarkable story of repeated decline and recovery. After losing their First Division place in 1964, Wanderers dropped into the Third Division in 1971. Two years later they were promoted as champions and in 1978 they won the Second Division to return to the top flight. Unable to sustain their success, the club were relegated again in 1980 and over the next seven years they dropped all the way down to Division Four. At this, the club's lowest point, a partnership was forged with the international sports goods manufacturer, Reebok which has proved to be one of the most enduring in the game. With Reebok's support, the club acquired a brand new stadium adjacent to the M61 and began a steady climb back up the leagues that would lead them all the way back to the Premier Division in 1995.
Although the club were relegated again the following season, they have returned to the top flight on a regular basis.
Sources
- (a) Club Colours (Bob Bickerton 1998)
- (b) Sporting Heroes
- (c) BWFC Official Website
- (d) Football Focus
- (e) True Colours (John Devlin 2005)
- (f) Picture the Past
- (g) Pete's Picture Palace
- (h) Association of Football Statisticians - provided by Pete Wyatt
- (i) Football League Review provided by Simon Monks
- (j) Alick Milne