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Club History
Since guiding Bolton Wanderers back into the Premiership in 2001 behind Fulham and Blackburn Rovers, manager Sam Allardyce has not only consolidated their status as a top-flight club but also made them one of the most awkward opponents in the League and arguably the most effective at set pieces. Through close attention to detail, clever use of tactics and a knack in the transfer market of turning apparent has-beens and under-performers into good team players, Allardyce has transformed Bolton's situation and outlook since taking over at the Reebok in October 1999. Many thought that, after being overlooked as England coach in the summer of 2006, Allardyce might struggle to find the same motivation this season. But in fact Wanderers are enjoying their best-ever start to a Premiership campaign, despite the fact that the manager himself has been accused by secretly filmed agents of accepting illegal payments - allegations which he strenuously denies. Bolton's fortunes are likely to be closely linked to those of Allardyce, so completely is the club identified with him now; but whatever the outcome of possible investigations and threatened legal actions, there can be no denying the former Wanderers' centre-half has built a very solid structure at the Lancashire club. One of the founder members of the Football League in 1888, Bolton were formed in 1874 by boys of Christ Church Sunday School, Blackburn Street, led by their master, Thomas Ogden.  The new football club was named after the school and its president was vicar of Christ Church. But when the vicar began to impose too many rules about the use of church premises, the club broke away and formed Bolton Wanderers in 1877. They bounced like a yo-yo between the First and Second Divisions of the Football League until taking up residency in the top flight from 1911 until 1964 for all but two seasons (1933-35). Although they've never won the league championship, it was during this period - the 1920s to be specific - that they achieved a reputation as a great cup side. Wanderers won the FA Cup three times in that decade - including the first-ever final at Wembley in 1923. Another FA Cup triumph followed in 1958 - spearheaded by their greatest player, Nat Lofthouse; but for nearly 30 years from the mid-sixties Bolton were in the doldrums, and even spent a season (1987-88) in the old Fourth Division. In the Premiership era Bolton yo-yoed between the top flight and level one until Allardyce brought them back into the Premier League in 2001, since when they have finished 16th, 17th, 8th, 6th and 8th - and look capable of a top six finish again this season.