Club Profile:Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers
Overview
Bolton Wanderers have established themselves as a respected Premier League club since rejoining the top flight in 2001. The Trotters made their Premier League bow in 1995 but were relegated after just one season when they finished bottom.

They returned to football's elite a year later after winning the Division One title, but went down again - this time on goal difference. Sam Allardyce guided Bolton back up in 2001 and the club has gone from strength to strength.

Bolton qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history in 2005 after finishing sixth. After an eighth-place finish the year after, they came seventh in the 2006/07 season to make the UEFA Cup again.

But Allardyce left the club for Newcastle United at the end of that season and was replaced by his assistant Sammy Lee. A poor start to the 2007/08 season saw Lee relieved of his duties and Gary Megson took over. Megson narrowly steered his side clear of relegation and will be looking to build on his progress in the 2008/09 season.

Club Heritage
The club was founded as Christ Church FC in 1874, but changed its name to Bolton Wanderers three years later. They were one of 12 founder members of the Football League which was formed in 1888. Bolton finished FA Cup runners-up in 1894 and were losing finalists again 10 years later, before making it third time lucky with victory over West Ham United in the 1923 final. More FA Cup success arrived in 1926 when they beat Manchester City and again in 1929 with a triumph over Portsmouth.

There was another FA Cup Final appearance in 1953, but Bolton suffered a 4-3 defeat at the hands of a Stanley Matthews-inspired Blackpool. Five years later, they made up for the disappointment by winning the FA Cup for the fourth time with victory over Manchester United.

Bolton had a 29-year spell from 1935 in the top flight and eventually slipped into the league's lowest tier in 1987. They eventually clawed their way back to the top flight in 1995. And as a Division One team, made an heroic run to the League Cup Final but lost out to Liverpool.

They suffered the same fate again - losing to Middlesbrough in the 2004 League Cup Final - although a club-best finish of eighth in the Barclaycard Premierhip softened the blow.

Premier League History
1994/95 - Reach FA Carling Premiership
1994/95 - Lost League Cup Final
1995/96 - Roy McFarland replaces Bruce Rioch as manager
1995/96 - Colin Todd appointed manager
1995/96 - Relegated from FA Carling Premiership
1996/97 - Division One winners
1997/98 - Bolton leave Burnden Park for new Reebok Stadium
1997/98 - Relegated from FA Carling Premiership
1999/00 - Sam Allardyce becomes manager
2000/01 - Promoted to Barclaycard Premiership via play-offs
2003/04 - League Cup Finalists
2006/07 - Nicolas Anelka becomes record signing for £8million
2006/07 - Sammy Lee takes over as manager after Allardyce leaves to take Newcastle United job
2007/08 - Sammy Lee leaves the manager's post by mutual consent
2007/08 - Gary Megson appointed manager