Jay-Jay Okocha
Spurs v Bolton – How the pendulum has swung…?
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 | BWFC Goals, BWFC News, BWFC People, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Gary Cahill, Gary Megson, Gudni Bergsson, Jay-Jay Okocha, Owen Coyle, Premier League, Sam Allardyce | 16 Comments
This weekend sees Bolton travel to White Hart Lane, and a clash between two famous old clubs that have 16 FA Cup
how times have changed
Finals (12 wins) and a combined total of 146 years of top-flight football between them, not to mention Spurs’ 4 League Cup wins, and 4 European trophies.
Recent history has been very different for the two clubs, with Spurs only spending one year out of the top flight since 1950, whilst Bolton have dropped through the leagues and back twice in the same period. However, looking further back in history paints a different picture of the two clubs.
Prior to 1950, Spurs had spent as much time in the Second Division as the First, and their only FA Cup win had come as a non-league club in 1901. Bolton had already won the cup three times, been runners-up twice, and spent the vast majority of their history in the top flight.
The abolition of the maximum wage in 1961 changed the football landscape at the time, and Bolton’s decline from this point onwards was dramatic and prolonged.
By the end of the 1959/60 season, Bolton were historically England’s 5th most successful club, based on average league position. At the same point, despite one league title success, Spurs were the 20th best team.
By the end of 2008, Spurs – by now winners of the FA Cup eight times, the League Cup four times, and four European trophies – had moved up to seventh in the table of overall average league positions, whilst Bolton had failed to add to trophy cabinet, had spent more time out of the top flight than in it, and slipped to 21st in the overall average league table.
In anticipation of the weekend’s clash, bwfcforum’s Statman takes a closer look at the history of the two clubs for Manny Road. › Continue reading
Every Day’s a cup final for Mark Halsey….!
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 | BWFC Goals, BWFC News, BWFC People, Football Association, Ivan Campo, Jay-Jay Okocha, Nicolas Anelka, Owen Coyle, Phil Gartside, Premier League, Premiership referees, Sam Allardyce, Youri Djorkaeff | 11 Comments
The support from football fans and ordinary people in the street has been inspirational
Click the link to listen to Mark Halsey’s Exclusive interview.
http://www.zshare.net/audio/751463426e948768/
Despite hailing from Hertfordshire, Mark Halsey has firmly established himself as one of Bolton’s favourite adopted sons. After spending 12 years playing non-league football for Cambridge City and Hertford Town he began his refereeing career in 1989 and a decade later refereed the famous 1999 Football League One Play-off Final between Gillingham and Manchester City at Wembley. The same year he was promoted to Premier League status and shortly after the FIFA List of referees. He quickly established himself as one of the most popular referees in the League.
Mark was kind enough to take time out of his schedule to speak Exclusively to Manny Road & bwfcforum’s Andi Walton. He started by asking him about his current health:
MH: Yeah I’m feeling very good, I seem to be getting stronger with every game I do and it’s a bonus for me because I never thought I’d be back refereeing again, so every day is a cup final and it’s really great to be back and the reception I’ve received from the two games I’ve done at Rotherham and Port Vale and Oldham and Bristol Rovers, the fans have been absolutely fantastic and it’s been very emotional and overwhelming for me.
AW: It must have been the furthest thing from your mind getting out on the football pitch when you were in the midst of your treatment but now you’ve got to that stage, it must be a real thrill.
MH: For me to come back and, you know, I suppose…for what I’ve gone through with all my chemotherapy and my radiotherapy…I mean if you saw me at Christmas, I was nowhere near the Mark Halsey of old, you know, but I’ve worked hard and a lot of people have helped me and it’s been great. The support I’ve received from people around the country – just ordinary football fans and ordinary people in the street. They’ve been inspirational to me and they’ve got to really pat themselves on the back for the way they’ve helped me and it’s down to them that I’m back where I am now.
Portsmouth 1-0 Bolton Wanderers: What the papers say
Monday, April 20th, 2009 | BWFC News, BWFC People, Gary Megson, Jay-Jay Okocha, Jussi Jaaskelainen | No Comments
- Image via Wikipedia
How the national newspapers reported the Wanderers’ 1-0 defeat at Fratton Park
The Express said that Bolton weren’t even trying to win the game and were seemingly content with a dull, goalless deadlock.
The contrast with the fighting spirit shown at Chelsea seven days earlier was also pointed out by the Guardian, who described the Whites as “uninspired”. The Telegraph, meanwhile, said we “lacked ambition and failed to ignite.”
Reebok Round-Up (19.04.09): Starring Chris Basham and Ronald McDonald
Sunday, April 19th, 2009 | BWFC News, BWFC People, Blerim Dzemaili, Chris Basham, Danny Guthrie, Ebi Smolarek, Gary Megson, Jay-Jay Okocha, Sebastien Puygrenier | No Comments
Image via Wikipedia
What Manny Road has been reading (and thinking) about Bolton Wanderers
Reebok Round-Up (10.02.09)
Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 | BWFC News, BWFC People, Gary Megson, Jay-Jay Okocha, Kevin Davies, Mark Davies | No Comments
What Manny Road has been reading (and thinking) about Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers Hall of Fame #9: Top 10 Kevin Nolan moments
Saturday, January 31st, 2009 | BWFC News, BWFC People, Jay-Jay Okocha, Kevin Nolan, Sam Allardyce | 1 Comment
A tribute to Kevin Nolan
I asked yesterday whether selling Kevin Nolan to Newcastle is a good idea. The response was mixed, but on the whole in favour.
Either way, Kevin Nolan’s contribution to the last decade of Bolton Wanderers has been immense. Here are 10 of his greatest moments in a White shirt…
Desert Island Goals: Jay-Jay Okocha v Aston Villa
Saturday, December 13th, 2008 | Alan Stubbs, BWFC People, Bruno N'Gotty, Jay-Jay Okocha, Kevin Nolan, Stelios, Youri Djorkaeff | 1 Comment
Celebrating great Bolton Wanderers goals from history
In the absence of Alan Stubbs’ 1994 FA Cup winner against Villa from You Tube, this goal from the thrilling Carling Cup semi-final in 2004 was the obvious choice for today’s Desert Island Goal.
Recommended reading (15.11.08): Everybody loves Sammy Lee
Saturday, November 15th, 2008 | BWFC People, Blerim Dzemaili, Danny Shittu, Gary Megson, Heidar Helguson, Jay-Jay Okocha, Kevin Nolan, Sam Allardyce, Sammy Lee, Youri Djorkaeff | 1 Comment
What Manny Road has been reading (and thinking) Bolton Wanderers today…
- This interview with Kevin Nolan in which he follows in Gary Megson’s footsteps by lavishing praise on former Wanderers manager Sammy Lee (shame he wasn’t more supportive when Lee was his boss).
Hull City v Bolton Wanderers: The fans’ view
Sunday, November 9th, 2008 | BWFC People, Ebi Smolarek, Gary Megson, Ivan Campo, Jay-Jay Okocha, Johan Elmander, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Kevin Nolan, Matt Taylor, Phil Brown, Ricardo Gardner | 2 Comments
The Bolton Wanderers match report you won’t read in the papers or see on Match of the Day…
Here’s what the various Bolton Wanderers discussion forums made of the 1-0 away win at Hull City:
- Credit where it’s due to Gary Megson and the team. We’re up to ninth in the Premier League table and it’s time we all stopped moaning. Those hoping we’d lose the next few games so Megson gets the sack will not get their wish. Megson is God!
Recommended reading (4.11.08): Megson clings on for dear life at ‘unfashionable’ Bolton
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 | Alan Cork, BWFC People, Fabrice Muamba, Gary Megson, Jay-Jay Okocha, Johan Elmander, Kevin Nolan, Phil Brown, Phil Gartside, Ricardo Gardner, Sam Allardyce, Youri Djorkaeff | No Comments
What Manny Road has been reading (and thinking) about Bolton Wanderers over the last few days…
- This amusing photo essay of Gary Megson’s career at Bolton Wanderers and, from the same site, a break down of the managers we shouldn’t get to replace Megson (not sure about Sam Allardyce’s inclusion, though).
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