Bolton Wanderers F.C.

Bolton Wanderers
Badge of Bolton Wanderers
Full nameBolton Wanderers Football Club
Nickname(s)
  • The Trotters
  • The Wanderers
  • The Whites
Founded1874; 150 years ago (1874) (as Christ Church F.C.)
GroundToughsheet Community Stadium
Capacity28,723[1]
OwnerFootball Ventures (Whites) Ltd (92%)[2][3]
British Business Bank (8%)[4]
ChairmanSharon Brittan
ManagerIan Evatt
LeagueEFL League One
2023–24EFL League One, 3rd of 24
Websitebwfc.co.uk
Current season

Bolton Wanderers Football Club (/ˈboʊltən/ ⓘ BOHL-tən) is a professional association football club based in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. The team competes in League One, the third level of the English football league system.

Formed as Christ Church Football Club in 1874, it adopted its current name in 1877 and was a founding member of the Football League in 1888. The club moved between the First Division and the Second Division eight times in thirteen seasons between 1899 and 1911, winning the Second Division title in 1908–09. Bolton won the FA Cup three times in the 1920s: in 1923 – the "White Horse Final", 1926 and 1929. They had finished as runners-up in 1894 and 1904. The club spent just two seasons outside the top-flight between 1911 and 1964, having won promotion from the Second Division at the end of the 1934–35 season, at the second attempt. They lost the 1953 FA Cup final and then won the competition for a fourth time in 1958 under the stewardship of Bill Ridding. Bolton were relegated in 1964 and again in 1971, but regained their top-flight status after winning the Third Division title in 1972–73 and then the Second Division title in 1977–78. However, three relegations left them in the fourth tier by 1987, though promotion out of the Fourth Division was secured in 1987–88, and they lifted the Football League Trophy in 1989 after being beaten finalists in 1986.

Promotions in 1992–93 and 1994–95 saw them reach the Premier League. Bolton won the First Division title in 1996–97, but were unable to survive more than one season in the Premier League until Sam Allardyce returned them to the top-flight with victory in the 2001 First Division play-off final. Bolton then spent eleven consecutive seasons in the Premier League, reaching the 2004 League Cup final and reaching the knock-out stages of the UEFA Cup twice. However, two relegations in five years left them in League One by 2016, and though they won promotion in 2016–17, severe financial difficulties saw the club enter administration in May 2019 after relegation back into the third tier was confirmed. Facing possible EFL expulsion and probable extinction, the club was acquired by new owners on 28 August 2019.[2][3] Relegated to the fourth tier in 2020, they won promotion out of League Two in the 2020–21 season and won the EFL Trophy in the 2022–23 season.

From 1895 to 1997, the club played at Burnden Park after moving from their original home at Pike's Lane. Since 1997, Bolton have played home matches at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. They have spent 73 seasons in the top flight without winning the title, more than any other club.[5]

  1. ^ "Complete Handbook HI RES.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 December 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference BWFC-28Aug2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b "Bolton Wanderers: Football Ventures completes takeover to save League One club". BBC Sport. 28 August 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Shares was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "All Time English Top Flight Table". The English Football Archive. Archived from the original on 29 January 2008. Retrieved 22 February 2008.