Bolton Wanderers F.C.

{{main|History of Bolton Wanderers F.C.}}

The club was founded by the Reverend Joseph Farrall Wright, Perpetual curate of Christ Church Bolton,{{Cite web |title=Here lies the founder of Bolton Wanderers |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/1342698.here_lies_the_founder_of_bolton_wanderers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222155558/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/1342698.here_lies_the_founder_of_bolton_wanderers/ |archive-date=22 December 2015 |access-date=18 December 2015 |website=The Bolton News |date=20 April 2007}} and Thomas Ogden, the schoolmaster at the adjacent church school, in 1874 as Christ Church F.C.{{Cite news |date=3 August 2007 |title=Whites to honour the first Wanderer |work=Bolton News |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/1594445.print/ |url-status=live |access-date=11 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915044153/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/1594445.print/ |archive-date=15 September 2012}} It was initially run from the church of the same name on Deane Road, Bolton, on the site where the Innovation factory of the University of Bolton now stands. The club left the location following a dispute with the vicar, and changed its name to Bolton Wanderers in 1877. The name was chosen as the club initially had a lot of difficulty finding a permanent ground to play on, having used three venues in its first four years of existence.{{Cite book |last=Goldstein |first=Dan |title=The Rough Guide to English Football: A fans' handbook 1999–2000 |publisher=Rough Guides Ltd |year=1999 |isbn=1-85828-455-4 |page=60}}

Bolton were one of the 12 founder members of the Football League, which formed in 1888.{{Cite web |title=In the Beginning – 1800s |url=http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,1004~534169,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905100645/http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C1004~534169%2C00.html |archive-date=5 September 2007 |access-date=24 June 2007 |website=Bolton Wanderers official website}} At the time Lancashire was one of the strongest footballing regions in the country, with 6 of the 12 founder clubs coming from within the boundaries of the historic county of Lancashire. Having remained in the Football League since its formation, Bolton have spent more time in the top flight (Premier League/old First Division) than out of it.

File:White Horse Final.jpg]]

File:BoltonWanderersFC League Performance.svg.]]

In 1894 Bolton reached the final of the FA Cup for the first time, but lost 4–1 to Notts County at Goodison Park.{{Cite web |title=FA Cup Final 1894 |url=http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1894.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717034450/http://www.fa-cupfinals.co.uk/1894.html |archive-date=17 July 2011 |access-date=11 April 2011 |publisher=fa-cupfinals.co.uk}} A decade later they were runners-up a second time, losing 1–0 to local rivals Manchester City at Crystal Palace on 23 April 1904.{{Cite book |last=James |first=Gary |title=Manchester City – The Complete Record |publisher=Breedon |year=2006 |isbn=1-85983-512-0 |location=Derby}}, p31

The period before and after the First World War was Bolton's most consistent period of top-flight success as measured by league finishes, with the club finishing outside the top 8 of the First Division on only two occasions between 1911–12 and 1927–28.{{Cite web |title=League History Bolton Wanderers – Bolton Wanderers FC |url=http://www.boltonwanderers-mad.co.uk/league_history/bolton_wanderers/index.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320152226/http://www.boltonwanderers-mad.co.uk/league_history/bolton_wanderers/index.shtml |archive-date=20 March 2013 |access-date=26 March 2013 |publisher=Bolton Wanderers Mad}} In this period Bolton equalled their record finish of third twice, in 1920–21 and 1924–25, on the latter occasion missing out on the title by just 3 points (in an era of 2 points for a win).{{Cite web |date=20 September 2000 |title=England 1924/25 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1924-25.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205203755/http://rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1924-25.html |archive-date=5 February 2010 |access-date=26 March 2013 |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}

On 28 April 1923, Bolton won their first major trophy in their third final, beating West Ham United 2–0 in the first ever Wembley FA Cup final. The match, famously known as The White Horse final was played in front of over 127,000 supporters. Bolton's centre-forward, David Jack scored the first ever goal at Wembley Stadium.{{Cite news |last=Asthana |first=Anushka |date=30 May 1923 |title=The F.A. Cup: Bolton's Victory |work=The Times |location=UK |url=http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/viewArticle.arc?articleId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1923-04-30-06-001&pageId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1923-04-30-06 |url-status=dead |access-date=11 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111222529/http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/viewArticle.arc?articleId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1923-04-30-06-001&pageId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1923-04-30-06 |archive-date=11 January 2010}} Driven by long-term players Joe Smith in attack, Ted Vizard and Billy Butler on the wings, and Jimmy Seddon in defence, they became the most successful cup side of the twenties, winning three times. Their second victory of the decade came in 1926, beating Manchester City 1–0 in front of over 91,000 spectators,{{Cite web |date=29 April 2011 |title=Bolton Wanderers v Manchester City FA Cup Final 1926, Bolton Wanderers FC – Football – Sport c/o Buy Iconic Newspaper Photos at |url=http://www.mirror-photos.co.uk/bolton_wanderers_v_manchester_city_fa_cup_final_1926/print/64405.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227071236/http://www.mirror-photos.co.uk/bolton_wanderers_v_manchester_city_fa_cup_final_1926/print/64405.html |archive-date=27 December 2011 |access-date=5 April 2013 |publisher=Mirror-Photos.co.uk}} and the third came in 1929 as Portsmouth were beaten 2–0 in front of nearly 93,000 fans.

In 1928, the club faced financial difficulties and was forced to sell David Jack to Arsenal to raise funds. Despite the pressure to sell, the agreed fee of £10,890 was a world record, more than double the previous most expensive transfer of a player.{{Cite web |last=Scallan |first=Trevor |date=30 August 1919 |title=Greens on Screen Database |url=http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/gosdb-players2.asp?pid=421&scp=1,2,3,5,6,7 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708084027/http://www.greensonscreen.co.uk/gosdb-players2.asp?pid=421 |archive-date=8 July 2019 |access-date=2 April 2013 |publisher=Greensonscreen.co.uk}}

File:Nat_Lofthouse_statue.jpg spent his entire career, from 1946 to 1960, with Bolton, scoring 255 league goals]]

From 1935 to 1964, Bolton enjoyed an uninterrupted stay in the top flight – regarded by fans as a golden era – spearheaded in the 1950s by Nat Lofthouse. The years of the Second World War saw most of the Wanderers' playing staff see action on the front, a rare occurrence within elite football, as top sportsmen were generally assigned to physical training assignments, away from enemy fire. However, 15 Bolton professionals, led by their captain Harry Goslin, volunteered for active service in 1939, and enlisted in the 53rd (Bolton) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.{{Cite book |last1=Purcell |first1=Tim |title=Wartime Wanderers: Bolton Wanderers – A football team at war |last2=Gething |first2=Mike |date=22 November 2001 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |isbn=1-84018-583-X}} By the end of the war, 32 of the 35 pre-war professionals saw action in the British forces. The sole fatality was Goslin, who had by then risen to the rank of Lieutenant and was killed by shrapnel on the Italian front shortly before Christmas 1943. 53rd Bolton Artillery took part in the Battle of Dunkirk and also served in the campaigns of Egypt, Iraq and Italy. Remarkably, a number of these soldiers managed to carry on playing the game in these theatres of war, taking on as 'British XI' various scratch teams assembled by, among others, King Farouk of Egypt in Cairo and Polish forces in Baghdad.

File:Sport and Leisure during the Second World War H7497.jpg, at Beccles, Suffolk on the east coast of England. The photograph, taken sometime in 1940, shows the nine footballers in uniform cleaning an artillery piece.]]

On 9 March 1946, the club's home was the scene of the Burnden Park disaster which, at the time, was the worst tragedy in British football history. 33 Bolton Wanderers fans were crushed to death, and another 400 injured, in an FA Cup quarter-final second leg tie between Bolton and Stoke City.{{Cite news |date=9 March 2011 |title=BBC News – Burnden Park football disaster remembered 65 years on |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12686632 |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531182749/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-12686632 |archive-date=31 May 2014}} There was an estimated 67,000-strong crowd crammed in for the game, though other estimates vary widely, and a further 15,000 had been locked out when it became clear the stadium was full. The disaster led to Moelwyn Hughes's official report, which recommended more rigorous control of crowd sizes.{{Cite journal |last=Baker |first=Norman |year=1998 |title=Have They Forgotten Bolton? |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportsHistorian/1998/sh181i.pdf |url-status=live |journal=The Sports Historian |publisher=The British Society of Sports History |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=120–151 |doi=10.1080/17460269809444773 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616043214/http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/SportsHistorian/1998/sh181i.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2012 |access-date=4 March 2013}}

In 1953, Bolton played in one of the most famous FA Cup finals of all time – The Stanley Matthews final of 1953. Bolton lost the game to Blackpool 4–3 after having had a 3–1 lead. Blackpool were victorious thanks to the skills of Matthews and the goals of Stan Mortensen.{{Cite news |date=10 May 2001 |title=1953 – The Matthews Final |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1321960.stm |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021217072954/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1321960.stm |archive-date=17 December 2002}}

Bolton Wanderers have not won a major trophy since 1958, when two Lofthouse goals saw them overcome Manchester United in the FA Cup final in front of a 100,000 crowd at Wembley Stadium.{{Cite news |date=10 May 2001 |title=1958 – Man Utd's Brave Dream |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1321966.stm |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427003138/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1321966.stm |archive-date=27 April 2006}} The closest they have come to winning a major trophy since then is finishing runners-up in the League Cup, first in 1995 and again in 2004.

While Bolton finished fourth the following season, the next 20 years proved to be a fallow period. The club suffered relegation to the Second Division in 1963–64, and were then relegated again to the Third Division for the first time in their history in 1970–71. This stay in the Third Division lasted just two years before the club were promoted as champions in 1972–73. Hopes were high at Burnden Park in May 1978 when Bolton sealed the Second Division title and gained promotion to the First Division. However, they only remained there for two seasons before being relegated.{{Cite book |last=Marland |first=Simon |title=Bolton Wanderers: The Complete Record |publisher=DB Publishing |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-85983-972-0}}{{rp|36}}

Following relegation in 1980, Bolton signed up talented striker Brian Kidd, as they prepared to challenge for a quick return to the First Division. Kidd scored a hat-trick in his third game for Bolton, a 4–0 win over Newcastle United in the league, but the rest of the season was a struggle as Bolton finished close to the relegation places.{{Cite book |last=Marland |first=Simon |title=Bolton Wanderers F.C.: The Official History 1877–2002 |year=2002 |isbn=1-874427-54-2}}{{rp|91}} By the end of the 1981–82 season, Bolton were no closer to promotion and had lost several key players including Peter Reid and Neil Whatmore. The following season Bolton were relegated to the Third Division after losing 4–1 at Charlton Athletic on the final day.{{rp|92}}

Despite a new-look, much younger team, and an 8–1 win over Walsall, Bolton's best league win for 50 years, Bolton failed to win promotion in the 1983–84 season, and remained in the Third Division for another three seasons. In 1986, Nat Lofthouse was appointed President of the football club, a position he would hold until his death on 15 January 2011.{{Cite news |date=16 January 2011 |title=Bolton legend Nat Lofthouse dies at 85 |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/9363142.stm |access-date=4 April 2013}} At the end of the 1986–87 season, Bolton Wanderers suffered relegation to the Fourth Division for the first time in their history,{{rp|38}} but won promotion back to the Third Division at the first attempt. The club won the Sherpa Van Trophy in 1989, defeating Torquay United 4–1. During the 1990–91 season, Bolton were pipped to the final automatic promotion place by Southend United and lost to Tranmere Rovers in the play-off final, but they failed to build on this and the following season saw the club finish 13th.{{rp|100}}

The early 1990s saw Bolton gain a giant-killing reputation in cup competitions. In 1993, Bolton beat FA Cup holders Liverpool 2–0 in a third round replay at Anfield, thanks to goals from John McGinlay and Andy Walker. The club also defeated higher division opposition in the form of Wolverhampton Wanderers (2–1) that year before bowing out to Derby County. Bolton also secured promotion to the second tier for the first time since 1983. In 1994 Bolton again beat FA Cup holders, this time in the form of Arsenal, 3–1 after extra time in a fourth round replay, and went on to reach the quarter-finals, bowing out 1–0 at home to local rivals (and then Premiership) Oldham Athletic. Bolton also defeated top division opposition in the form of Everton (3–2) and Aston Villa (1–0) that year.{{Cite web |title=White Hot Years |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/sportingmemories/whitehotyears/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111155602/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/sportingmemories/whitehotyears/ |archive-date=11 November 2013 |access-date=4 March 2013 |publisher=The Bolton News}}

Bolton reached the Premiership in 1995, thanks to a 4–3 victory over Reading in the Division One play-off final. Reading took a 2–0 lead before a Keith Branagan penalty save in the 42nd minute changed the course of the game. Bolton scored two late goals to take the game to extra time, scoring twice more before a late Reading consolation. The same year Bolton progressed to the League Cup final, but were defeated 2–1 by Liverpool.{{Cite web |date=22 February 2012 |title=LFC in the League Cup final: 1995 – McManaman masterclass wins praise from wing wizard Matthews |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/02/22/lfc-in-the-league-cup-final-1995-mcmanaman-masterclass-wins-praise-from-wing-wizard-matthews-100252-30379046/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223073711/http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/02/22/lfc-in-the-league-cup-final-1995-mcmanaman-masterclass-wins-praise-from-wing-wizard-matthews-100252-30379046/ |archive-date=23 February 2012 |access-date=4 March 2013 |publisher=Liverpool Echo}} Bolton were bottom for virtually all of the 1995–96 Premiership campaign and were relegated as they lost their penultimate game 1–0 to Southampton.{{rp|105}}

The club won promotion back to the Premiership at the first attempt, after a season in which they achieved 98 league points and 100 goals in the process of securing the Division One championship,{{Cite web |title=Football Statistics Archive |url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1996-97.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328224621/http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1996-97.html |archive-date=28 March 2010 |access-date=4 March 2013 |publisher=The Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation}} the first time since 1978 that they had finished top of any division. That season also marked the club's move from Burnden Park to the new Reebok Stadium, the last game at the stadium being a 4–1 win over Charlton Athletic.{{Cite web |date=17 December 2012 |title=RETRO MATCH: Wanderers 4 Charlton 1, 1996/97 |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/search/10111528.RETRO_MATCH__Wanderers_4_Charlton_1__1996_97/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808044344/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/search/10111528.RETRO_MATCH__Wanderers_4_Charlton_1__1996_97/ |archive-date=8 August 2014 |access-date=4 March 2013 |publisher=The Bolton News}}

File:Jussi Jaaskelainen August 2011.jpg is equal third on Bolton Wanderers' record appearance list, making 530 appearances between 1997 and 2012]]

Bolton were relegated on goal difference at the end of the 1997–98 Premiership campaign. They finished on the same number of points as Everton, whom they had faced in the first competitive match at the new Reebok Stadium. That game finished 0–0, but the failure to award a goal scored by Gerry Taggart for the Whites meant that they did not gain the additional point which, at the end of the seasion, would have kept them up.{{cite news |last1=Iles |first1=Marc |title=Two decades after Gerry Taggart's 'goal that never was' - Bolton Wanderers finally get goal-line technology |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/15397691.two-decades-after-gerry-taggarts-goal-that-never-was-bolton-wanderers-finally-get-goal-line-technology/ |access-date=2024-09-01 |work=The Bolton News |date=2017-07-08}}{{Cite web |title=Football Statistics Archive |url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1997-98.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808074215/http://www.rsssf.com/engpaul/FLA/1997-98.html |archive-date=8 August 2007 |access-date=4 March 2013 |publisher=The Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation}} The following season, they reached the 1999 Division One play-off final but lost 2–0 to Watford.

In 2000, Bolton reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, Worthington Cup and play-offs but lost on penalties to Aston Villa,{{Cite web |date=9 April 2010 |title=April 2nd 2000 – FA Cup semi-final Wembley Aston Villa 0 Bolton 0 Aston Villa won 4–1 on penalties |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/april-2nd-2000---fa-123004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325071623/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/april-2nd-2000---fa-123004 |archive-date=25 March 2014 |access-date=4 March 2013 |work=Birmingham Mail}} 4–0 on aggregate to Tranmere Rovers{{Cite news |date=29 June 2000 |title=Bolton suffer semi-final heartbreak |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/801711.stm |access-date=4 March 2013}} and 7–5 on aggregate to Ipswich Town{{Cite web |date=18 May 2000 |title='We've only got ourselves to blame' – says Bergsson |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/archive/2000/05/18/Lancashire+Archive/6082228._We_ve_only_got_ourselves_to_blame____says_Bergsson/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325082708/http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/archive/2000/05/18/Lancashire+Archive/6082228._We_ve_only_got_ourselves_to_blame____says_Bergsson/ |archive-date=25 March 2014 |access-date=4 March 2013 |publisher=The Bolton News}} respectively. In 2000–01 Bolton were promoted back to the Premiership after beating Preston North End 3–0 in the play-off final.{{Cite news |date=28 May 2001 |title=Clockwatch: Bolton 3–0 Preston |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1356039.stm |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021224082904/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/1356039.stm |archive-date=24 December 2002}}

Bolton struggled during the following two seasons, but survived in the Premiership. The 2001–02 season began with a shock victory as they destroyed Leicester 5–0 at Filbert Street.{{rp|94}} They followed that win with two more, over Middlesbrough and Liverpool, to go top of the top flight table for the first time since 1891. Despite a 2–1 win away at Manchester United, becoming the first team since the formation of the Premiership to come from behind and win a league game at Old Trafford,{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |date=22 October 2001 |title=Manchester United 1 – 2 Bolton Wanderers |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/oct/22/match.sport2 |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927194700/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/oct/22/match.sport2 |archive-date=27 September 2013}} Bolton went into a deep slump during the middle of the season and needed a Fredi Bobic hat-trick against Ipswich Town to survive. Despite losing the final three games, 16th place was secured.{{Cite web |date=26 September 2011 |title=Bolton Wanderers results in Premier League 2001/02 | Bolton Wanderers archive and stats |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/match/index.html?event=3;season=2001%2F02;team=249# |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923045911/http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/match/index.html?event=3;season=2001%2F02;team=249 |archive-date=23 September 2013 |access-date=21 March 2013 |publisher=ESPN.co.uk}} The 2002–03 season began with a poor start and, despite another win away at Manchester United, they were bottom until a 4–2 win against Leeds United at Elland Road.{{Cite news |date=17 November 2002 |title=Bolton Stun Leeds |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2430743.stm |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040711053302/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2430743.stm |archive-date=11 July 2004}} Despite suffering from a lack of consistency, Bolton achieved the results needed and secured survival in a final day 2–1 victory over Middlesbrough.{{Cite news |date=11 May 2003 |title=Bolton seal survival |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2978087.stm |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005143635/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2978087.stm |archive-date=5 October 2013}}

Bolton reached the League Cup final in 2004, but lost 2–1 to Middlesbrough.{{Cite news |date=29 February 2004 |title=Boro lift Carling Cup |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/3507795.stm |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322002207/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/3507795.stm |archive-date=22 March 2012}} Nevertheless, the club finished eighth in the league, at the time the highest finish in their Premiership history.

In 2005, Bolton finished sixth in the league, thus earning qualification for the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history.{{Cite news |date=5 May 2005 |title=Premier League – Portsmouth 1–1 Bolton |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4501131.stm |access-date=4 March 2013}} The following season, they reached the last 32 but were eliminated by French team Marseille as they lost 2–1 on aggregate.{{Cite news |date=23 February 2006 |title=Europe – Marseille 2–1 Bolton (agg: 2–1) |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4731542.stm |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060520030445/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/4731542.stm |archive-date=20 May 2006}} Between 2003–04 and 2006–07, Bolton recorded consecutive top-eight finishes, a record of consistency bettered only by the big four of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.{{rp|470–7}} Towards the end of the 2006–07 season, long-serving manager Sam Allardyce departed the club, stating that he was taking a sabbatical, but he was hired shortly thereafter as manager of Newcastle United. Allardyce later cited a lack of ambition on the part of the club's board for his departure. In January 2007, he had unsuccessfully sought financial backing to push the club towards Champions League qualification.{{Cite web |date=2017-11-09 |title=Big Sam on Finance, farewells and what really happened with Eto'o and Rivaldo... |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/15648570.sam-allardyce-on-finance-farewells-and-what-really-happened-with-samuel-etoo-and-rivaldo-at-bolton-wanderers/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |website=The Bolton News |language=en}}

File:Johan Elmander.JPG]]

The 2007–08 season saw Bolton survive with a 16th-place finish, their safety being confirmed on the final day of the season,{{Cite news |last=Fletcher |first=Paul |date=11 May 2008 |title=Premier League – Chelsea 1–1 Bolton |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7381780.stm |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514165035/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7381780.stm |archive-date=14 May 2008}} as they went on an unbeaten run for their final five games, as well as getting to the last sixteen of the UEFA Cup. Former assistant manager Sammy Lee replaced Allardyce as manager, but a poor start to the season saw him replaced by Gary Megson. During the European run, Bolton gained an unexpected 2–2 draw against former European champions Bayern Munich,{{Cite news|date=2007-11-08|title=Bayern Munich 2–2 Bolton|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7076603.stm|access-date=2021-04-23}} as well as becoming the first English team to beat Red Star Belgrade in Belgrade.{{Cite web|last=Gaunt|first=Ken|date=7 December 2007|title=Uefa Cup: Crvena Zvezda 0-1 Bolton|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/dec/07/match.boltonwanderers|access-date=23 April 2021|website=The Guardian}} They also defeated Atlético Madrid on aggregate{{Cite web |date=22 February 2008 |title=UEFA Europa League 2007/08 – History – Atlético-Bolton – UEFA.com |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01ca-0e6f0be5578c-bf3927eb0197-1000--bolton-survive-atletico-siege/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602134229/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2008/matches/round=15120/match=301933/postmatch/report/index.html |archive-date=2 June 2013 |access-date=4 March 2013}} before being knocked out by Sporting Lisbon.{{Cite news |last=Sanghera |first=Mandeep |date=13 March 2008 |title=Europe – S Lisbon 1–0 Bolton (agg: 2–1) |publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7285151.stm |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318040149/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7285151.stm |archive-date=18 March 2008}}

Bolton broke their record transfer fee with the signing of Johan Elmander from Toulouse on 27 June 2008, in a deal which cost the club a reported £8.2 million and saw Norwegian striker Daniel Braaten head in the opposite direction.{{Cite news |date=27 June 2008 |title=Bolton sign £10m-rated Elmander |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/7478332.stm |url-status=live |access-date=7 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826012524/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/7478332.stm |archive-date=26 August 2013}} Megson was replaced part-way through the 2009–2010 season by former Wanderers striker Owen Coyle, after Megson endured a difficult relationship with the fans. In the 2010–11 FA Cup, Bolton progressed all the way to the semi-finals, but were beaten 5–0 by Stoke at Wembley, with the match being described as "a massive anti-climax".{{Cite news |date=17 April 2011 |title=Bolton 0 – 5 Stoke |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/9457501.stm |url-status=live |access-date=27 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110422080512/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/9457501.stm |archive-date=22 April 2011}}

The following season began as the previous one had ended with just one win and six defeats, their worst start since the 1902–03 season when they were relegated. On 17 March 2012, manager Owen Coyle travelled to the London Chest Hospital with Fabrice Muamba who had suffered from a cardiac arrest whilst playing against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in a FA Cup match. Muamba stayed in a critical condition for several weeks and Coyle was widely praised for the manner in which he represented the club during the period.{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Jamie |date=10 October 2012 |title=Fabrice Muamba 'devastated' over Bolton sacking Owen Coyle |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/oct/10/fabrice-muamba-bolton-owen-coyle |url-status=live |access-date=21 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911212804/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/oct/10/fabrice-muamba-bolton-owen-coyle |archive-date=11 September 2014}} That 13 May, Bolton were relegated to the Championship by one point on the last day of the season after drawing 2–2 with Stoke City.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Paul |date=13 May 2012 |title=Bolton are relegated after Jon Walters secures draw for Stoke |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/13/stoke-city-bolton-wanderers-premier-league |access-date=11 March 2019}}

The 2012–13 Championship season started badly for Bolton, with only three wins in ten league matches and a second round exit from the League Cup following a loss at Crawley Town. As a result of poor performances leaving them in 16th place, Bolton sacked Coyle on 9 October 2012, replacing him with Crystal Palace's Dougie Freedman. They finished in seventh place, losing out on a play-off place to Leicester City on goal difference. The 2013–14 began with a trip to Turf Moor, in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Football League.{{Cite news |last=Dawkes |first=Phil |date=18 June 2013 |title=Football League reveals six fixtures early to mark 125th anniversary |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22894378 |url-status=live |access-date=29 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105175145/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22894378 |archive-date=5 January 2016}} Freedman was fired after a torrid run of results at the beginning of the 2014–2015 season; he was replaced by former Celtic manager Neil Lennon, who promptly won his first game in charge 1–0 away at Birmingham.

In December 2015, Bolton, who were £172.9 million in debt, were handed a winding-up petition from HM Revenue and Customs over unpaid taxes, and a transfer embargo for the following month's window. Much of this debt owed to former owner Eddie Davies was confirmed to have been written off in March 2018, to assist with the club's potential sale prospects.{{Cite news |last=Marc Iles |date=21 March 2018 |title=Former Bolton owner Eddie Davies wipes nearly £200m off books |publisher=The Bolton News |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/16101232.former-bolton-owner-eddie-davies-wipes-nearly-200m-off-books/}} After ending a 17-game winless run, Lennon, who had been investigated by the club due to allegations about his personal life, said that the club had "been through hell".{{Cite news |date=28 December 2015 |title=Neil Lennon: Bolton Wanderers have 'been through hell' |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35189399 |url-status=live |access-date=29 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151228222739/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35189399 |archive-date=28 December 2015}} On 18 January 2016, the club avoided an immediate winding-up order after their case was adjourned until 22 February to give it time to either close a deal with a potential buyer or raise sufficient short-term funds from asset sales. The club was said to owe HM Revenue and Customs £2.2m.{{Cite news |date=18 January 2016 |title=Bolton Wanderers: Club avoid immediate winding-up order |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35342982 |url-status=live |access-date=18 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118130623/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/35342982 |archive-date=18 January 2016}} The financial situation had improved as a takeover bid by Dean Holdsworth's Sports Shield was successful in March 2016.{{Cite news |date=10 March 2016 |title=Bolton Wanderers takeover completed by Sports Shield consortium |agency=Press Association |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/10/bolton-wanderers-takeover-completed-sports-shield-consortium-dean-holdsworth |access-date=11 March 2019}} Lennon was removed from his position for the final few games of the season, replaced by Academy manager Jimmy Phillips. On 9 April 2016, Bolton lost 4–1 away at Derby County to confirm their relegation to the third tier for the first time since 1993.{{Cite news |date=9 April 2016 |title=Bolton Wanderers relegated as Johnny Russell lifts Derby play-off hopes |work=The Observer |agency=Press Association |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/apr/09/bolton-wanderers-relegated-johnny-russell-derby |access-date=11 March 2019}}

Under new manager Phil Parkinson, Bolton won promotion from League One at the first time of asking with a second-place finish.{{Cite news |last=Sutcliffe |first=Steven |date=30 April 2017 |title=Bolton 3 Peterborough 0: Wanderers earn promotion back to Championship |work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/04/30/bolton-3peterborough-0wanderers-earn-promotion-back-tochampionship/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/04/30/bolton-3peterborough-0wanderers-earn-promotion-back-tochampionship/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=22 February 2019}}{{cbignore}} On 14 September 2017, the board announced that the embargo was over.{{Cite news |date=2017-09-14 |title=Bolton Wanderers out of transfer embargo, says chairman Ken Anderson |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41273360 |url-status=live |access-date=2018-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623003251/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/41273360 |archive-date=23 June 2018}} Bolton started their first season back in the Championship poorly, only earning their first victory in October. Their form improved mid-season, however going into the final round of fixtures Bolton were in the relegation zone, needing a win to stand a chance of securing survival. They achieved this to finish 21st, narrowly avoiding relegation, having fought back from 2–1 down to win 3–2 at home against Nottingham Forest in the last ten minutes of their final match of the season.{{Cite news |agency=Press Association |date=2018-05-06 |title=Bolton pull off miracle comeback to survive and relegate Burton on final day |work=mirror |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/bolton-burton-albion-championship-relegation-12490996 |url-status=live |access-date=2018-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621143823/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/bolton-burton-albion-championship-relegation-12490996 |archive-date=21 June 2018}}

Throughout the 2018–19 Championship season Bolton faced financial difficulties. On 12 September 2018, Bolton reached an agreement with their main creditor BluMarble Capital Ltd over an unpaid loan, avoiding administration and a points deduction from the EFL.{{Cite news |date=12 September 2018 |title=Bolton avoid administration and points loss after creditor agrees deal |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/sep/12/bolton-wanderers-avoid-administration-points-loss}} Bolton were served a winding-up order on 27 September 2018 after failing to make a payment to HM Revenue and Customs. This was the fourth such petition the club had faced in the previous 14 months.{{Cite news |last=Marc Iles |date=8 October 2018 |title=Bolton Wanderers are served with winding-up petition from HMRC |publisher=The Bolton News |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/16966882.bolton-wanderers-are-served-with-winding-up-petition-from-hmrc/}} After the collapse of the permanent signing of on-loan striker Christian Doidge, Forest Green Rovers commenced legal action over lost earnings.{{Cite web |title=Forest Green confirm legal action against Wanderers |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/17512109.forest-green-confirm-legal-action-against-bolton-wanderers/ |access-date=2019-04-17 |website=The Bolton News |date=19 March 2019 |language=en}} In February 2019, Bolton were again issued a winding-up petition by HMRC which was subsequently adjourned until the end of the season as their search for a new owner continued.{{Cite news |date=20 February 2019 |title=Bolton Wanderers: Club to appear in High Court over HMRC winding-up petition |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47306565 |access-date=22 February 2019}}{{Cite web |title=Bolton Wanderers FC win stay of execution in winding-up fight |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2019-04-03/bolton-wanderers-fc-win-stay-of-execution-in-winding-up-fight/ |access-date=2019-04-17 |website=ITV News |date=3 April 2019 |language=en}} The match against Brentford on 26 April was called off by the English Football League 16 hours before kick off after Bolton's players, supported by the Professional Footballers' Association, refused to play until they had received their unpaid wages;{{Cite web |date=26 April 2019 |title=Bolton Wanderers v Brentford called off by EFL with wages still owed to Bolton players |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48067603/ |publisher=BBC Sport}} the EFL awarded the win to Brentford.{{Cite web |date=3 May 2019 |title=Bolton Wanderers' game against Brentford cancelled and Bees given three points |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48151016/ |publisher=BBC Sport}} The Bolton Whites Hotel, owned by Ken Anderson, was also issued with a winding-up petition in March 2019{{Cite web |title=Bolton Whites Hotel due in High Court to face winding up order |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/17577491.bolton-whites-hotel-set-to-face-high-court/ |access-date=2019-04-17 |website=The Bolton News |date=16 April 2019 |language=en}} (it closed on 1 May and went into administration on 14 May).{{Cite news |last=Iles |first=Marc |date=15 May 2019 |title=Administrators appointed to Bolton Whites Hotel |work=Bolton News |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/17641767.administrators-appointed-to-bolton-whites-hotel/ |access-date=20 August 2019}} The team was relegated to League One in April after a 23rd-place finish.{{Cite news |date=19 April 2019 |title=Bolton Wanderers 0–2 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47904086 |access-date=19 April 2019}}

In May 2019, the club went into administration due to a £1.2m unpaid tax bill, incurring a 12-point penalty for the 2019–2020 season.{{Cite news |date=2019-05-08 |title=Bolton Wanderers given 14 days by High Court to appoint administrator |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48199290 |access-date=2019-05-10}} Fildraw (former owner Eddie Davies' trust fund) appointed administrators from insolvency firm David Rubin and Partners.{{Cite web |last=Challies |first=Josh |date=13 May 2019 |title=Bolton Wanderers to start 2019–20 season with points deduction |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bolton-wanderers-start-2019-20-16269234 |access-date=13 May 2019 |website=Chronicle Live}} A 17 July statement from the Bolton players said that no-one at the club had been paid by owner Ken Anderson for 20 weeks, the training ground had no potable drinking water nor hot water for showers. Pre-season friendlies were cancelled as Bolton could not give assurances about fielding a competitive team.{{Cite web |title=GAME OVER: Oldham Athletic cancel Wanderers friendly |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/17787015.game-oldham-athletic-cancel-bolton-wanderers-friendly/ |website=The Bolton News|date=22 July 2019 }}{{Cite web |title=Wanderers call-off Preston friendly because of player strike |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/17784045.bolton-call-off-preston-friendly-player-strike/ |website=The Bolton News|date=20 July 2019 }}{{Cite web |date=17 July 2019 |title=Bolton players refuse to play pre-season friendly against Chester |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11672/11765166/bolton-players-refuse-to-play-pre-season-friendly-against-chester-over-pay-dispute |access-date=18 July 2019 |publisher=Sky Sports}}

Anderson failed to find a buyer before the start of the season, and Bolton started their opening League One game on 3 August at Wycombe Wanderers with only three contracted senior outfield players, and lost 2–0.{{Cite news |date=3 August 2019 |title=Wycombe Wanderers 2–0 Bolton Wanderers |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49135860 |access-date=19 August 2019}} A week later, Bolton fielded its youngest ever side, with an average age of 19, in a goalless home draw against Coventry City.{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Jay |date=10 August 2019 |title=Bolton Wanderers 0–0 Coventry City |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49214406 |access-date=19 August 2019}} Manager Phil Parkinson expressed concern about the welfare of the youth players used in all of Bolton's games,{{Cite news |date=17 August 2019 |title=Bolton: Phil Parkinson contacts EFL over player welfare concerns |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49383856 |access-date=19 August 2019}} leading Bolton to postpone the game against Doncaster Rovers on 20 August{{Cite news |date=19 August 2019 |title=Bolton Wanderers: Doncaster Rovers match postponed over welfare concerns |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49399958 |access-date=19 August 2019}}{{Cite news |date=19 August 2019 |title=Statement on behalf of Paul Appleton, joint administrator for Bolton Wanderers |work=Bolton Wanderers FC |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2019/august/statement-on-behalf-of-paul-appleton-joint-administrator-for-bolton-wanderers3/ |access-date=19 August 2019}} but without informing either Doncaster or the EFL.

Parkinson and assistant Steve Parkin resigned the following day, with academy manager Jimmy Phillips taking interim charge.{{Cite news |date=21 August 2019 |title=Phil Parkinson: Bolton Wanderers manager resigns from League One club |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49428721 |access-date=21 August 2019}} On 26 August, it was announced that the takeover by Football Ventures had fallen through one day before the EFL deadline, potentially risking the club going into liquidation.{{Cite web |date=26 August 2019 |title=Statement on behalf of Paul Appleton, Joint Administrator For Bolton Wanderers |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2019/august/statement-on-behalf-of-paul-appleton-joint-administrator-for-bolton-wanderers4/ |access-date=26 August 2019}}{{Cite news |date=26 August 2019 |title=Bolton Wanderers' future under renewed threat after takeover deal collapses |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49470865 |access-date=26 August 2019}} After Bolton failed to meet that deadline, the suspension of its notice of withdrawal from the EFL was lifted; however, the club was not immediately expelled from the EFL – it was given until 12 September 2019 to meet all outstanding requirements of the League's insolvency policy.{{Cite news |date=27 August 2019 |title=Statement: Bolton Wanderers |publisher=EFL |url=https://www.efl.com/news/2019/august/bolton-wanderers-suspension-on-notice-of-withdrawal-lifted/}}

On 28 August, Bolton announced that the club's sale to Football Ventures (Whites) Limited had been completed, with the administrator paying tribute to the Eddie Davies Trust and their legal team, and criticising Ken Anderson who had "used his position as a secured creditor to hamper and frustrate any deal that did not benefit him or suit his purposes."{{Cite web |title=David Rubin & Partners, Administrators For Bolton Wanderers |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2019/august/statement-on-behalf-of-david-rubin--partners-administrators-for-bolton-wanderers3/ |access-date=28 August 2019 |website=Bolton Wanderers FC |publisher=BWFC}} Days later, Keith Hill was announced as the new club manager.{{Cite news |date=31 August 2019 |title=Keith Hill: Bolton Wanderers appoint ex-Rochdale boss as manager |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49538882 |access-date=31 August 2019}} He signed nine players before the transfer deadline closed,{{Cite news |date=2 September 2019 |title=Bolton Wanderers sign Bridcutt, Verlinden, O'Grady, Crawford, Buckley, Emmanuel, Wright, Murphy, Bunney |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49553884 |access-date=5 September 2019}} and his first win came on 22 October, 2–0 against Bristol Rovers, Bolton's first win in 22 matches.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50051040 Bristol Rovers 0–2 Bolton Wanderers]. BBC Sport. Retrieved: 22 November 2019

On 21 November 2019, Bolton were handed a five-point deduction, suspended for 18 months, and fined £70,000, half of which was suspended for 18 months, for failure to fulfil two fixtures (against Brentford and Doncaster).[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50420657 Bolton Wanderers given suspended five-point deduction for failing to fulfil fixtures]. BBC Sport. Retrieved: 22 November 2019 The points would not be deducted if Bolton fulfilled all fixtures during the 18-month period.[https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2019/november/club-statement2/ Club Statement]. Bolton Wanderers. Retrieved: 22 November 2019. An EFL appeal against what it saw as a "lenient" penalty{{Cite news |date=22 November 2019 |title=Bolton Wanderers: English Football League to appeal against 'lenient' punishment |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50516578 |access-date=22 November 2019}} was rejected by an arbitration panel in January 2020.{{Cite news |date=7 January 2020 |title=Bolton Wanderers: Suspended five-point deduction upheld by panel |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51020339 |access-date=7 January 2020}} On 9 June 2020, the EFL League One decided to end the 2019–20 season early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing bottom club Bolton Wanderers to go down to the fourth tier of English football for the first time since 1988 and only the second time in their history. Following relegation, the club announced that Keith Hill and assistant David Flitcroft would leave the club when their contracts expired at the end of June.{{Cite news |date=12 June 2020 |title=Keith Hill: Bolton Wanderers boss to leave after relegation from League One |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53028815 |access-date=15 June 2020}} Barrow manager Ian Evatt was appointed Hill's successor on 1 July 2020.{{Cite news |date=1 July 2020 |title=Ian Evatt: Bolton Wanderers name Barrow manager as new head coach |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53255318 |access-date=1 July 2020}} Despite being in 17th place after 24 matches, Bolton orchestrated an impressive season turnaround under Evatt. They completed the 2020–21 League Two season in third place after a 4–1 win against Crawley Town on the final day – enough to secure automatic promotion to League One[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56953454 BBC Sport: Bolton promoted after win at Crawley] – and early in the 2021–22 season settled debts with unsecured creditors to remove the threat of a 15-point deduction.{{cite news |title=Bolton Wanderers owners agree settlements with unsecured creditors |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58435480 |access-date=3 September 2021 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 September 2021}}

In January 2022, it was confirmed that the club had received an emergency loan from The Future Fund, a financial support scheme set up during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was subsequently converted into shares of the club, with around 8% of shares now owned by the British Business Bank, an economic development bank developed and run by HM Government.

On 2 April 2023, Bolton won the 2023 EFL Trophy final 4–0 against Plymouth Argyle.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65088981|title=Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Plymouth Argyle|publisher=BBC Sport }} The following year, Evatt also led Wanderers to the 2024 EFL League One play-off final on 18 May, where they were beaten 2–0 by Oxford United. However, Bolton struggled in the 2024–25 season and Evatt left the club in January 2025,{{cite news |title=Bolton part company with boss Evatt |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cly4gqj81ggo |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=22 January 2025}} being replaced by Steven Schumacher.{{cite news |title=Bolton appoint ex-Argyle and Stoke boss Schumacher |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgkje14dk61o |access-date=30 January 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=30 January 2025}}

{{Commons|Bolton Wanderers F.C. kits}}

Bolton Wanderers' home colours are white shirts with navy and red trim, traditionally worn with navy shorts and white socks. Their away kits have been varied over the years, with navy kits and yellow kits among the most popular and common. Bolton did not always wear a white kit; in 1884 they wore white with red spots, leading to the club's original nickname of "The Spots".{{Cite web |title=Bolton Wanderers – The Beautiful History |date=12 September 2010 |url=http://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/bolton-wanderers/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330165554/http://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/bolton-wanderers/ |archive-date=30 March 2013 |access-date=4 March 2013}} The traditional navy blue shorts were dispensed with in 2003, in favour of an all-white strip, but they returned in 2008. The club had previously experimented with an all-white kit in the 1970s.{{Cite web |title=Bolton Wanderers – Historical Football Kits |url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Bolton_Wanderers/Bolton_Wanderers.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327045922/http://historicalkits.co.uk/Bolton_Wanderers/Bolton_Wanderers.htm |archive-date=27 March 2013 |access-date=21 March 2013 |publisher=Historicalkits.co.uk}}

The Bolton Wanderers club badge consists of the initials of the club in the shape of a ball, with a red scroll and Lancashire rose underneath. The current badge is a reimagining of one designed in 1975; this was replaced in 2001 by a badge which retained the recognisable initials but controversially exchanged the scroll and rose for blue and red ribbons. The re-design has been welcomed by fans as the red rose returned to the badge and those who saw the ribbons as a poor choice. The original club badge was the town crest of Bolton, a key feature of which was the Elephant and Castle motif with the town motto – Supera Moras meaning "Overcome Delays". This feature has been reincorporated on the back of some more recent club shirts which was seen as a nice touch by some.

The club's nickname of "The Trotters" has several claimed derivations; that it is simply a variation on "Wanderers", that it is an old local term for a practical joker, or that one of the grounds used before the club settled at Pikes Lane resided next to a piggery, causing players to have to "trot" through the pig pens to retrieve the ball if it went over the fence.{{Cite web |date=15 November 2010 |title=Origins of Nicknames for 20 Premier League Clubs | EPL Talk – Independent voice for EPL soccer fans since 2005 |url=http://epltalk.com/2010/11/15/origins-of-nicknames-for-20-premier-league-clubs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402215117/http://epltalk.com/2010/11/15/origins-of-nicknames-for-20-premier-league-clubs/ |archive-date=2 April 2013 |access-date=21 March 2013 |publisher=Epltalk.com}}

{{Main|Pike's Lane|Burnden Park|Toughsheet Community Stadium}}

File:Reebok Stadium before Bolton vs Arsenal, 2011-03-24.jpg

When the club was first founded, Christ Church had a nomadic existence, playing at a number of locations in the area. The club, which had by then been renamed Bolton Wanderers, started playing regularly at Pike's Lane in 1881.{{rp|48}} Spending £150 on pitch improvements, season tickets cost a guinea. They played here for fourteen years until the tenancy expired and they moved to Burnden Park.{{Cite web |title=Burnden Park |url=http://www.stadiumguide.com/burndenpark/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402222644/http://www.stadiumguide.com/burndenpark/ |archive-date=2 April 2013 |access-date=21 March 2013 |publisher=The Stadium Guide}}

Situated in the Burnden area of Bolton, approximately one mile from the centre of the town, the ground served as the home of the town's football team for 102 years. In its heyday, Burnden Park could hold up to 70,000 supporters{{Cite book |last=Kelly |first=Graham |url=https://archive.org/details/terraceheroeslif00kell |title=Terrace Heroes: The Life and Times of the 1930s Professional Footballer |publisher=Routledge |year=2005 |isbn=0-7146-8294-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/terraceheroeslif00kell/page/n68 56] |url-access=limited}} but this figure was dramatically reduced during the final 20 years of its life. A section of The Embankment was sold off in 1986 to make way for a new Normid superstore.{{Cite book |last=Seddon |first=Ian |title=Ah'm Tellin' Thee – a Biography of Tommy Banks, Bolton Wanderers and England |date=August 2012 |publisher=Paragon Publishing |isbn=978-1-908341-93-8 |page=213}} At this time, Bolton were in a dire position financially and were struggling in the Football League Third Division, so there was a low demand for tickets and the loss of part of the ground gave the Bolton directors good value for money.{{rp|59}}

By 1992 the club's directors had decided that it would be difficult to convert Burnden Park into an all-seater stadium for a club of Bolton's ambition, as the Taylor Report required all first- and second-tier clubs to do.{{rp|62}} A decision was made to build an out of town stadium in the town of Horwich, with the eventual location chosen 5 miles due west of the town centre. The stadium opened in August 1997,{{Cite web |title=[ARCHIVED CONTENT] Design process – Reebok Stadium – Case studies – CABE |url=http://www.cabe.org.uk/case-studies/reebok-stadium/design |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http://www.cabe.org.uk/case-studies/reebok-stadium/design |archive-date=18 January 2011 |access-date=4 March 2013}} as a modern, all-seater stadium with a capacity of around 29,000. In recognition of the club's former ground the stadium stands on "Burnden Way". It has four stands, though the lower-tier seating is one continuous bowl. It was originally known as the Reebok Stadium after long-time team sponsor, Reebok. This was initially unpopular with many fans, as it was considered impersonal, and that too much emphasis was being placed on financial considerations. This opposition considerably lessened since the stadium was built.{{Cite web |last=Antrobus |first=Sam |date=17 December 2012 |title=Should football fans really be so fearful of such deals? |url=http://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/should-football-fans-really-be-so-fearful-of-such-deals |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524081930/http://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/should-football-fans-really-be-so-fearful-of-such-deals |archive-date=24 May 2013 |access-date=21 March 2013 |publisher=FootballFanCast.com}} In April 2014, the stadium was renamed as part of a four-year deal with new sponsors Macron sportswear.{{Cite web |date=24 April 2014 |title=BWFC strike stadium and kit deal with Macron |url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-macron-announcement-24.4.14-1507087.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424131542/http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/club-statement-macron-announcement-24.4.14-1507087.aspx |archive-date=24 April 2014 |access-date=24 April 2014 |publisher=bwfc.co.uk}} When this deal came to an end in August 2018 the stadium was again renamed, this time as the University of Bolton Stadium.{{Cite web |date=1 August 2018 |title=Welcome to the University of Bolton Stadium |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2018/august/welcome-to-the-university-of-bolton-stadium/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801124755/https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2018/august/welcome-to-the-university-of-bolton-stadium/ |archive-date=1 August 2018 |access-date=1 August 2018 |publisher=bwfc.co.uk}} In 2023, a new record-breaking stadium naming rights deal was announced with Bolton-based recyclable building products manufacturer Toughsheet, leading the stadium to be renamed the Toughsheet Community Stadium.{{cite news |title=The Toughsheet Community Stadium |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2023/february/the-toughsheet-community-stadium/ |access-date=19 February 2023 |publisher=Bolton Wanderers FC |date=19 February 2023}}

In 2014 the club established Bolton Wanderers Free School at the stadium, a sixth form offering sports and related courses for 16 to 19-year-olds.[http://www.bwfreeschool.org.uk/l]{{dead link|date=May 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} However, this was later closed in 2017 due to low pupil numbers which deemed it 'not financially viable'.{{Cite web |date=7 March 2017 |title=Bolton Wanderers Free School 'not financially viable' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-39191242 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026102802/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-39191242 |archive-date=26 October 2018 |access-date=7 May 2018 |publisher=bwfc.co.uk}}

Bolton Wanderers Supporters' Association (BWSA) is the official supporters' association of Bolton Wanderers Football Club. The Supporters' Association was formed in 1992, on the initiative of a fan, Peter Entwistle. Later that year the Directors of the football club, satisfied that the Association had proven itself to be organised and responsible, officially recognised Bolton Wanderers Supporters' Association as the club's supporters' group.{{Cite web |title=About BWSA – Bolton Wanderers Supporters' Association |url=http://www.mybwsa.co.uk/?page_id=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728182605/http://www.mybwsa.co.uk/?page_id=2 |archive-date=28 July 2013 |access-date=2 April 2013 |publisher=Bolton Wanderers Supporters Association}}

In 1997, shortly after the move from Burnden Park to the Reebok Stadium, the BWSA accepted the invitation from the football club to hold its monthly meetings at the new stadium. The Toughsheet Community Stadium has continued to be their venue ever since. In the year 2000, the Association expanded significantly when its invitation to affiliate was accepted by Bolton Wanderers supporters groups in other parts of Britain, and also by groups around the world. All of these foreign groups have come on board to become independent, but integral, parts of the official Bolton Wanderers supporters' family. Requests for affiliated status continue to be received regularly from other places around the world where Wanderers fans find themselves gather together.

Historically Bolton's traditional rivals were near neighbours Bury, though due to limited league meetings and Bury's expulsion from the Football League in August 2019 the rivalry has lessened considerably. The club also has traditional rivalries with fellow Lancashire clubs Blackburn Rovers, Burnley and Preston North End, as all three sides are separated by less than 20 miles and are all founder members of the Football League.{{Cite news |last=Barclay |first=Patrick |date=24 March 2001 |title=More than a storm in a tea urn |work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3001608/More-than-a-storm-in-a-tea-urn.html |url-status=live |access-date=14 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509195549/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3001608/More-than-a-storm-in-a-tea-urn.html |archive-date=9 May 2014}}{{Cite news |last=Conn |first=David |date=15 April 2011 |title=FA Cup Wembley semi-finals criticised as fans head south |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/apr/15/fa-cup-semifinals-wembley-criticism |url-status=live |access-date=14 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110202420/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/apr/15/fa-cup-semifinals-wembley-criticism |archive-date=10 November 2014}} More recently, Bolton have developed an enmity with Wigan Athletic, whose fans generally regard Bolton as their main rivals.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Paul |date=12 May 2011 |title=Blackpool need a real rival to supplant Preston – how about Wigan? |work=The Guardian|type=blog |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/may/12/blackpool-rivalry-preston-wigan |url-status=live |access-date=14 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328054327/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/may/12/blackpool-rivalry-preston-wigan |archive-date=28 March 2014}} Wigan eventually became known as Bolton biggest rivals,[https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/19653634.bolton-wanderers-players-issued-challenge-trip-league-leaders-plymouth/ The Bolton News, Bolton Wanderers players issued challenge for trip to league leaders Plymouth, "We have suffered a really heavy defeat and a bad result against our biggest rivals"] and crowd trouble marred the 16 October 2021 meeting between the two clubs.{{cite news |title=Bolton Wanderers 0-4 Wigan Athletic |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58853258 |access-date=18 October 2021 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 October 2021}} A study in 2021 found that the Bolton/Wigan rivalry was the most competitive in all of English Football history, with both teams having an identical record against each other at the time.[https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/football/most-competitive-english-derby-iswigan-athletic-boltonofficial-3148267 Wigan Today: "Most competitive English derby is...Wigan Athletic-Bolton...official!"]

According to a survey conducted in August 2019 entitled 'The League of Love and Hate', Bolton supporters named Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Oldham Athletic and Bury as their biggest rivals.{{Cite web |date=27 August 2019 |title=The top five rivals of English football's top 92 clubs have been revealed |url=https://www.givemesport.com/1500300-the-top-five-rivals-of-english-footballs-top-92-clubs-revealed}}

The holding company of Bolton Wanderers F.C. is Burnden Leisure Ltd, a private company limited by shares. Burnden Leisure was previously a public company traded on the AIM stock exchange until its voluntary delisting in May 2003 following Eddie Davies's takeover.{{Cite web |title=AIM Market Statistics May 2003 |url=http://www.londonstockexchange.com/statistics/historic/aim/may-2003.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325053529/http://www.londonstockexchange.com/statistics/historic/aim/may-2003.pdf |archive-date=25 March 2014 |publisher=London Stock Exchange}} The club itself is 100% owned by Burnden Leisure;{{Cite web |title=Burnden Leisure plc Report and Accounts 2012 |url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/documents/burnden-leisure-ar-2012-web-ready201-470561.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202212816/http://www.bwfc.co.uk/documents/burnden-leisure-ar-2012-web-ready201-470561.pdf |archive-date=2 December 2012 |access-date=30 March 2013 |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C.}} businessman Davies owned 94.5% of the shares, with the remaining stakes held by over 6,000 small shareholders with less than 0.1% holding each.{{Cite news |date=29 December 2003 |title=Davies takes over Bolton |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/3302829.stm |access-date=30 March 2013}} After Bolton exited the Premier League, Davies revoked his investment into the club. This led to published debts of almost £200m and brought the club very close to being wound up over unpaid tax bills owed to HMRC. As a gesture of his goodwill and as incentive to sell the club, Davies promised to wipe over £125m of debt owed to him when the club was sold, which wiped a significant proportion of debt the club owed.

In March 2016, Sports Shield, a consortium led by Dean Holdsworth, bought Davies' controlling stake; a year later, Holdsworth shareholding in Sports Shield was bought out by Ken Anderson.{{Cite web |title=Financial problems at Bolton Wanderers examined |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11672/11610996/what-is-going-on-at-bolton-wanderers |access-date=2019-04-17 |publisher=Sky Sports |language=en}} Under Anderson, financial difficulties dogged the club, with player strikes, further winding up orders and financial disputes with other creditors. These culminated in the club (Burnden Leisure Ltd) going into administration in May 2019, and, with the club's future ownership unresolved, being threatened with expulsion from the EFL in August 2019.{{Cite news |date=24 August 2019 |title=Bolton could face league expulsion after being given Tuesday deadline by EFL |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49462871 |access-date=25 August 2019}} On 28 August, the club was sold to Football Ventures (Whites) Ltd despite opposition from Ken Anderson.

In January 2022, it was confirmed that the club had received an emergency loan from The Future Fund, a financial support scheme set up during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was subsequently converted into shares of the club, with around 8% of shares now owned by the British Business Bank, an economic development bank developed and run by HM Government.{{Cite news |title= Taxpayers left with stake in Bolton Wanderers after £5m pandemic loan turned into shares |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/01/26/taxpayers-left-stake-bolton-wanderers-5m-pandemic-loan-turned/|access-date=27 January 2022 |website=The Telegraph|date= 26 January 2022|last1= Lynch|first1= Russell}}

Bolton Wanderers had a long-established partnership with sporting goods firm Reebok, which was formed in the town. Between 1997 and 2009 this partnership encompassed shirt sponsorship, kit manufacture and stadium naming rights. The combined shirt sponsorship (1990–2009) and kit manufacture (1993–2012) deals covering 22 years represent the longest kit partnership in English football history.{{Cite news |last=Trotters waiting on answers from Jaaskelainen and Knight |date=22 May 2012 |title=Bolton duo offered new deals |publisher=Sky Sports |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11672/7770392/Bolton-duo-offered-new-deals |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019161854/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11672/7770392/Bolton-duo-offered-new-deals |archive-date=19 October 2012}} The stadium's naming rights were held by Reebok from its opening in 1997 until 2014.{{Cite web |date=3 July 2007 |title=Reebok Renews Naming Rights Deal at Bolton |url=http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/162085/reebok-renews-naming-rights-deal-at-bolton |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820143406/http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/162085/reebok-renews-naming-rights-deal-at-bolton |archive-date=20 August 2012 |access-date=2 April 2013 |publisher=Sportbusiness.com}}

Bolton's kit manufacturer from the 2014–15 season changed to Italian sportswear brand Macron, who also became stadium name sponsors for four years.{{Cite news |date=24 April 2014 |title=Bolton's ground to be renamed the Macron Stadium from July |work=The Guardian |agency=Press Association |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/24/bolton-wanderers-macron-renaming-july |access-date=11 March 2019}} In August 2018, the stadium naming rights went to the University of Bolton in an undisclosed deal.{{Cite news |last=Chaudhari |first=Saiqa |date=1 August 2018 |title=MACRON REBRAND: Home of Bolton Wanderers to be renamed |work=The Bolton News |url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/16390240.macron-rebrand-home-of-bolton-wanderers-to-be-renamed/ |access-date=11 March 2019}} From 1 July 2023 it became known as the Toughsheet Community Stadium.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2023/february/the-toughsheet-community-stadium/|title=The Toughsheet Community Stadium|date=19 February 2023|work=Bolton Wanderers F.C.|access-date=2023-02-19|language=en-gb}}

{{updated|30 May 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/squad/68 |title=First Team |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C. |access-date=9 April 2024}}

• Players marked with a * will leave the club on 30 June 2025 following the expiry of their contracts.

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player|no=1 |nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Nathan Baxter}}*

{{Fs player|no=2 |nat=AUS|pos=DF|name=Gethin Jones}}*

{{Fs player|no=3 |nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=Alex Murphy|other=on loan from Newcastle United}}

{{Fs player|no=4 |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=George Thomason|other=captain}}

{{Fs player|no=5 |nat=POR|pos=DF|name=Ricardo Santos}}*

{{Fs player|no=6 |nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=George Johnston}}

{{fs player|no=7 |nat=GNB|pos=FW|name=Carlos Mendes Gomes}}

{{Fs player|no=8 |nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=Josh Sheehan}}

{{fs player|no=9 |nat=NGA|pos=FW|name=Victor Adeboyejo}}

{{Fs player|no=12|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Josh Dacres-Cogley}}

{{Fs player|no=13|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Joel Coleman}}*

{{Fs player|no=14|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Jordi Osei-Tutu}}

{{Fs player|no=15|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Will Forrester}}

{{Fs player|no=16|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Aaron Morley}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player|no=17|nat=GRE|pos=MF|name=Klaidi Lolos}}

{{Fs player|no=18|nat=NIR|pos=DF|name=Eoin Toal}}

{{Fs player|no=19|nat=WAL|pos=FW|name=Aaron Collins}}

{{Fs player|no=20|nat=NIR|pos=GK|name=Luke Southwood}}

{{Fs player|no=21|nat=LCA|pos=DF|name=Chris Forino-Joseph}}

{{Fs player|no=22|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Kyle Dempsey}}

{{Fs player|no=23|nat=HUN|pos=MF|name=Szabolcs Schön}}

{{Fs player|no=28|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Jay Matete|other=on loan from Sunderland}}

{{Fs player|no=29|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Kion Etete|other=on loan from Cardiff City}}

{{Fs player|no=31|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Joel Randall}}

{{Fs player|no=40|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Luke Hutchinson}}

{{Fs player|no=41|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Luke Matheson}}*

{{fs player|no=45|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=John McAtee}}

{{Fs player|no=48|nat=EGY|pos=MF|name=Sonny Sharples-Ahmed}}

{{Fs end}}

{{Main|Bolton Wanderers F.C. Reserves and Academy}}

{{updated|30 May 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/squad/4 |title=B Team |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C. |access-date=1 August 2024}}

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player|no=30|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=Mark Isong}}

{{Fs player|no=32|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=Ben Andreucci}}*

{{Fs player|no=33|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Ajay Weston}}

{{Fs player|no=35|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Dubem Eze}}

{{Fs player|no=42|nat=SCO|pos=GK|name=Jack Dallimore}}

{{Fs player|no=52|nat=NIR|pos=DF|name=Sam Inwood}}

{{Fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Ellis Litherland}}*

{{Fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Noah Halford}}*

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Sean Hogan}}

{{Fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Joseph Toole}}*

{{Fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Harrison Fleury}}*

{{Fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Andrew Tutte|other=Player-coach}}

{{Fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=James Westwood}}*

{{Fs player|no= |nat=JAM|pos=FW|name=Trevon Bryan}}*

{{Fs player|no= |nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Yestin Shakespear}}*

{{Fs end}}

{{Fs start}}

{{fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Dan Nlundulu|other=on loan at Cambridge United until 30 June 2025}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player|no=34|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Max Conway|other=on loan at Crewe Alexandra until 30 June 2025}}

{{Fs end}}

Bolton Wanderers Football & Athletic Co management{{Cite web |title=First Team |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/staff/First%20Team |access-date=13 July 2023 |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C. |date=29 July 2023}}{{Cite web |title=B Team |url=https://www.bwfc.co.uk/staff/B%20Team |access-date=13 July 2023 |publisher=Bolton Wanderers F.C. |date=29 July 2023}}

{{Further|List of Bolton Wanderers F.C. records and statistics#Honours and achievements}}

League

• Second Division / First Division (level 2)
• Champions: 1908–09, 1977–78, 1996–97
• 2nd place promotion: 1899–1900, 1904–05, 1910–11, 1934–35
• Play-off winners: 1995, 2001
• Third Division / Football League Second Division / League One (level 3)
• Champions: 1972–73
• 2nd place promotion: 1992–93, 2016–17
• Fourth Division / League Two (level 4)
• 3rd place promotion: 1987–88, 2020–21

Cup

• FA Cup
• Winners: 1922–23, 1925–26, 1928–29, 1957–58
• Runners-up: 1893–94, 1903–04, 1952–53
• Football League Cup
• Runners-up: 1994–95, 2003–04
• FA Charity Shield
• Winners: 1958
• Associate Members' Cup / EFL Trophy
• Winners: 1988–89, 2022–23
• Runners-up: 1985–86
• Football League War Cup
• Winners: 1945

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{BBC football info|BBClinkname=bolton-wanderers}}

{{Bolton Wanderers F.C.}}

{{Bolton Wanderers F.C. seasons}}

{{Premier League}}

{{EFL Championship}}

{{EFL League One}}

{{EFL League Two}}

{{Original Football League clubs}}

{{Football in Greater Manchester}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1874 establishments in England

Category:Association football clubs established in 1874

Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom

Category:EFL Trophy winners

Category:FA Cup winners

Category:Football clubs in Bolton

Category:Football clubs in England

Category:English Football League clubs

Category:Premier League clubs

Category:The Football League founder members