1940 - 1949: PRIOR TO the 1939/1940 season many professional footballers joined the Territorial Army, or other National Service organisations, spending their leisure time preparing for what seemed to be the inevitable. Just three League games were completed before war was declared, the crowd of 12992 at Burnden against Cup holders Portsmouth, reflecting the tension.

Wanderers Soldiers, (from left back row): D Winter, H Goslin, S Hanson, G Catterall, J Ithell, J Hurst.
(front row): A Geldard, D Howe, R Westwood, J.H Roberts, T Sinclair

On September 6th, the Football League Management Committee met at Crew and officially suspended League activities and contracts between players and clubs automatically terminated. The government had placed a ban on assemblies of crowds, but on September 14th it was announced that friendly matches could be arranged, even in areas barred by the Home Office under defence regulations, providing the local police gave their approval; therefore football only ceased for a matter of days.

Two clubs had signed up for army or service duty virtually en masse, one being the Wanderers and the other West Ham. Fifteen professionals from the club had enlisted in May 1939 an when war was declared all were immediately called up with the exception of Syd Jones and Charlie Hanks who were too young. Stan Hanson, Danny Winter, George Catterall, Jimmy Thompson, Harry Goslin, Jack Hurst, Ernie Forrest, Jack Ithell, Albert Geldard, Tom Sinclair, Jack Roberts, Don Howe and Ray Westwood all joined the 53rd field regiment RA (Bolton Artillery). They spent much of the war together virtually as a team on many foreign fields. Of the 35 players on the staff in 1939, 32 eventually went into uniform, the other three either going into either coalmines or munitions.

A North West regional tournament was organised and began on October 21st 1939 with a 1-1 draw at Burnley. Strangely The Wanderers played in claret and blue whilst the home side were in white.

The club had a good run to win six pf their final seven games, finishing in fourth position. The crowd of only 500 for their final home game with Accrington prompted the club to announce that they would not take part in any competition organised for the following season. A loss had been sustained on every home game and it was increasingly difficult to recruit a team.

Despite the closure of the club, neither the players or the ground stood idle for the start of the 1940/1941 season. Many of the players guested for other clubs whilst the playing area of Burnden Park was used by the Education Authority and the stands used by the Ministry of Supply to store food.

However, the Wanderers returned to action on Christmas Day 1940 with a friendly at Blackpool, who were also resuming after closure. League football returned to Bolton in the form of the Football League North's second competition of the season with a visit from Oldham.

On January 25th 1941 the Wanderers had to take to the field with only 10 men against Manchester United. The aptly named Ron Bolton, a 19 year old 'keeper from Rotherham, had got lost on his way to the ground. Harry Goslin went in goal and United went one up inside a minute. Bolton (the player) eventually appeared after 12 minutes, going on to become man of the match with a magnificent exhibition.

During February after 21 years in the club's service, senior trainer Bob Young severed his connections with the Wanderers to become the licensee of the Shakespeare Hotel in Farnworth. His duties were taken over by George Eccles.

A long line of Wanderers fans queue up to get their tickets for the Football League War Cup (North) Final

On March 22nd a surprise change was made in the Wanderers attack for the visit to Bury. Nathaniel Lofthouse, a former Folds Road and Bolton Town Team centre forward appeared for the first time, aged 15 years 207 days. Bolton won 5-1 with Lofthouse grabbing his side's fourth and fifth goals.

Once again the job of attempting to raise a team caused manager Foweraker numerous problems at the start of the 1941/1942 season. He had to rely to a great extent on amateurs under military age or soldiers on leave.

During the summer, prior to the start of the 1942/1943 season Nat Lofthouse signed professional forms with the Wanderers. Bill Shankly, who had promised to give the Wanderers the benefit of his services, was unfortunately transferred to Scotland with his unit. Whilst there he turned out for East Fife but wrote to manager Foweraker explaining his disappointment in his inability to become a wartime Wanderer. He stated that tears had almost come to his eyes when from the northbound train he saw the deserted reaches of Burnden Park and thought of the scenes of the pre-war days.

Wanderers were still involved in playing football despite the war activity. The Bolton boys faced some stiff competition on improvised pitches where, what was lacking in facilities was more than made up for by the partisan enthusiasm of their crowds.

During the 1943/1944 season the club at last received the services of Scottish international Bill Shankly although only for two games. He made his Wanderers debut in a 4-2 defeat by Bury at Burnden but the following week scored for his side in a 3-0 win at Oldham.

Football became secondary later that season, when the news of the death of the club's captain Harry Goslin reached the town. Lieutenant Goslin was wounded in action whilst with the 8th Army Central Mediterranean Forces and died on December 18th. Goslin was a popular captain and exemplary athlete and it was he who had inspired the Wanderers staff to join the Territorial Army in the summer of 1939. He had since led a bunch of them in France, Africa and Italy, and had escaped from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940. His influence was a loss not only to the football club but also to King and Country.

German prisoners of war clear the Burnden paddock of 24000 baskets, May 1945

Captain Harry Hubbick lifts the League North Cup after beating Manchester United in the second leg

The 1944/1945 season saw a number of changes at Burnden Park. During August, secretary/manager Charles Foweraker retired, handing the reins over to his assistant, former player Walter Rowley. Unfortunately during November the club learned of another fatality when Walter Sidebottom lost his life after his ship was torpedoed in the English Channel.

Towards the end of the season, local neighbours Manchester United were the opponents for the final of the League North Cup. The first leg at Burnden was settled by a 50th minute goal from Lofthouse who bundled both the ball and the 'keeper, Jack Crompton, into the net.

The second leg took place at Maine Road, with Old Trafford being out of use due to bomb damage. A goal from Malcolm Barrass, his second of the game, in the 90th minute earned Bolton a 2-2 draw and the Football League North War Cup, which was presented to captain Harry Hubbick.

Harry Hubbick (captain) holds the League North Cup high after Bolton beat Manchester United 3-2 on aggregate, May 1945

On June 2nd the Wanderers visited Chelsea for the North v South Cup Winners Final. The proceeds went towards the King George Fund for Sailors, and despite coming from behind to win 2-1, the Bolton players received no medal but savings certificates instead!

Despite a successful season on the field, 1945/1946 can only be remembered for the loss of 33 lives on March 9th 1946, when in an FA Cup 6th round second leg tie against Stoke City at Burnden, barriers collapsed causing not only death but injury to many.

In 1946/1947 the Football League returned to normal with the fixtures originally scheduled for the 1939/1940 season taking place. There were, however, a number of problems off the field that affected the club. Firstly the players union threatened to strike if the weekly wage was not increased and also a heavy financial burden was placed upon the club as a consequence of the disaster a few months earlier.

Fans queue for their tickets ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Manchester City at Burnden Park, January 1947

During the 1947/1948 season, Ray Westwood, having been with the club for 18 years, played his final Wanderers league game in a defeat at Derby County.

Despite another disappointing season that season, securing the Lancashire Cup when Southport were beaten 5-1 at Haig Avenue completed the term. Willie Moir hit a hat trick to help capture the Cup, which didn't appear in the Wanderers' trophy cabinet again until 1988.

At the end of the following season Willie Moir's 25 League goals gave him the distinction of becoming the First Division's leading goal scorer.

Field Marshall Viscount Montgomery meets the Wanderers players at Burnden Park

In 1949/1950 the club spent a record fee of £20,000 on signing winger Bobby Langton from Preston North End. He made his debut in a 3-0 home win over Manchester City, which ended a run of eleven games without success.

Both Nat Lofthouse and Bobby Langton were selected for the Football League against the League of Ireland that season, whilst Lofthouse also appeared in an England B international against the Netherlands. Then once the season has finished both Lofthouse and Hanson went on the FA tour of Canada.

1950 - 1959: Despite a Nat Lofthouse hat trick the Wanderers went down 4-3 at Charlton Athletic on the opening day of the 1950/1951 season. The main cause for concern in the early stages was the defensive problems with 19 goals being conceded in the opening five games including a 7-1 reverse at Wolves.

On October 17 1950, the directors received and accepted the resignation of Secretary-Manager Walter Rowley. It had been Rowley's 39th season at Burnden and it was ironic in the fact that the foundations had now been laid for the club to go on to greater things. Bill Ridding took over the appointment officially in February 1951 with the duties of chief coach going to George Taylor. His assistant was another ex-Wanderers player in George Hunt, who had retired to the coaching staff at Burnden after ending his playing days at Sheffield Wednesday in 1948.

November saw Nat Lofthouse recognised at full international level when he led England's forward line against Yugoslavia at Highbury. He fulfilled his promise scoring both goals in a draw 2-2 draw. Sharing the goalscoring duties in the first team with Lofthouse was Harry Webster who had also made his way through the clubs youth ranks and kept expensive signing Jim Hernon on the sidelines.

Another Wanderer to win international recognition was Billy Hughes who had made his Northern Ireland debut in a game with Wales in Belfast.

In 1951/1952 a new club trainer was appointed in Bert Sproston allowing Bill Ridding more time on management duties. Sproston was a former England international full back who saw League services with Leeds, Tottenham and Manchester City.

The first significant change to the side came during October when Harry Webster was lost due to a cracked rib. In his place came Ray Parry, at 15 years 267 days old the club's youngest League player, although 111 days older than the youngest ever debutant, Albert Geldard then of Bradford.

At the end of the 1951/1952 season Nat Lofthouse went with England on their European tour, which kicked off with a 1-1 draw in Italy. The next game was against Austria in Vienna and this proved to be one of the classics with the home side-laying claim to England's mantle of top European Country.

With the game finely poised at 2-2 Tom Finney played the ball to Lofthouse in the middle of the field who then ran fully 50 yards with defenders in hot pursuit. The Wanderers centre forward shot and collided with the Austrian keeper unable to see the ball entering the net for what turned out to be his second goal of the game and the winner.

At the final whistle hundreds of British soldiers poured onto the pitch to cheer Lofthouse, which earned him the title 'The Lion of Vienna'. Lofthouse grabbed another two goals in the final game of the tour, a 3-0 win over Switzerland.

The 1952/1953 season saw the introduction of a 21-year-old right back by the name of Roy Hartle from Bromsgrove.

That same season Wanderers beat Fulham, second division Notts County and Everton to earn their first visit to Wembley since 1929 where their opponents were to be Lancashire rivals Blackpool.

The last minute goal that gave Blackpool the Cup for the first time

The 1953 final became legendary in the history of the FA Cup, as eventful as the 1929 final, and still today generally acknowledged to have been the most thrilling finish to any final in the annals of the FA Cup.

On the evening prior to the Cup Final, Nat Lofthouse was awarded footballer of the year trophy, having been leading scorer in the first division with 30 goals, eight of them coming in international matches.

He had also scored in every round of the FA Cup, a record he kept the following day, but after the Wanderers had led 3-1 with 20 minutes remaining, Blackpool hit back to take the trophy 4-3.

During the 1954/1955 season Johnny Wheeler, back after his injury problem of the previous season, was recognised when he was selected for the football League against the League of Ireland in Dublin.

Later that season Harold Hassall, playing at centre forward in place of the injured Lofthouse, tore his kneecap when the Wanderers faced Chelsea. Despite a comeback attempt this injured ended his playing career.

Improvements being made to the Burnden Park pitch, April 1955

The first League win since November 20th was registered on February 5th, against most unlikely losers, League leaders Wolves. The result of 6-1 was particularly surprising to the footballing public. With Ray Parry hitting his first hat trick as the Champions crumbled.

The club's youngster continued to make their mark by taking the Central League championship that season for the first time.

Huddersfield Town visited Burnden Park in the third round of the FA Cup in the 1955/1956 season, with Nat Lofthouse captaining the club for the first time. The game was abandoned after 47 minutes due to fog with no goals having been recorded.

An end of an era was reached in this game when Stan Hanson made his last appearance for the club - the goalkeeping position being strong with the likes of Ken Grieves, Joe Dean, Eddie Hopkinson and Arthur Barnard all in reserve.

The return to League football saw a debut given in goal to 16 years old Joe Dean, who, at the time was the youngest ever First Division keeper. He didn't finish the game, having to leave the field for stitches. Nat Lofthouse took over between the sticks, as Wolves ran out 4-2 winners.

The main talking point of the opening few weeks of the 1956/1957 was the form of Nat Lofthouse. The Wanderers striker was in scintillating mood as he struck twelve goals in the opening nine games, failing to score in only one of these, a 3-0 reverse at Sunderland. He commenced with a hat trick in a 4-1 win over Blackpool at Burnden, a game in which also gave Eddie Hopkinson his debut in goal, in what was to be the first of a record number of League appearances for the club.

During February that season, Lofthouse the centre forward became Lofthouse the goalkeeper, curiously enough, again at Molineux. The Wanderers found themselves three goals down at the interval only to lose keeper Eddie Hopkinson after 65 minutes with a suspected broken finger. Lofthouse went into goal and despite being down to ten men the team produced a rally, only going down 3-2, and the stand-in keeper saving a penalty from Hooper.

Later that season there was controversy brewing off the field when Nat Lofthouse became Licensee of the Castle Hotel, a move which was against the club policy. During the 1920's Frank Roberts had been transferred for going against the club's wishes but on this occasion matters did not come to a head.

1957/1958 heralded another new era at Burnden Park with the installation of floodlighting. They were officially opened on October 14th 1957 when the Wanderers entertained Heart of Midlothian before a crowd of 21,058 who witnessed a 1-1 draw.

Another Wanderer gained international recognition when Eddie Hopkinson won his first England cap against Wales at Cardiff. The 'keeper had a rapid rise to fame after only one full season in the seniors, which was the result of a number of outstanding displays. Ray Parry also impressed the selectors and he appeared for the England under 23 side.

The Cup had given the Wanderers a tough draw at third placed Preston but a second half goal rush saw them through. It needed a replay to see off Third Division York City in the fourth round, and suddenly the Cup began to take precedence over the League.

Stoke City were accounted for in the fifth round of the Cup but the draw was cruel handing out leaders Wolves to play at Burnden.

The sixth round tie became one of the most historic in Bolton's history. A titanic battle with neither side giving anything away, the home side being outplayed for long periods yet holding on to their 2-1 advantage in an epic struggle. Rarely had a defence seen as much luck as Eddie Hopkinson and his men kept Wolves down to a single goal, yet one of the stiffest obstacles any team could be asked to face on the Wembley trail had been overcome.

The semi final was contested with Second Division Blackburn Rovers before 74,000 at Maine Road. The Wanderers were without Nat Lofthouse but his stand in, Ralph Gubbins, became the hero as his goals in the 38th and 39th minutes saw Bolton through to Wembley with a 2-1 advantage.

For Roy Hartle the Final made up for the disappointment of missing the same in 1953, when he had been dropped after playing in all the rounds up to the big day. The Wanderers took on a decimated Manchester United side that had a wave of sympathetic backing after the Munich Air disaster.

Happy scenes after the final whistle of the 1958 FA Cup Final

Nat Lofthouse became the Cup winner with both goals in a 2-0 win. The second of which, when he shoulder charged both United 'keeper Harry Gregg and the ball over the line, was still a talking point many years after the event.

1958 FA Cup Final Victory

During October the Charity Shield was added to the Burnden trophy room with a 4-1 win over champions Wolves. Incredibly Lofthouse, who scored two goals, had to have a stint in goal for the third occasion against Wolves then Joe Dean had to leave the field with a shoulder injury.

Lofthouse was also recalled to the England team for the first time in two seasons, scoring in the last minute of the game against the USSR to equal the English scoring record of 30 goals held by Tom Finney. Although Nat made one more appearance for his country, against Wales at Villa Park the following month, this was to be his last international appearance.

Bolton Wanderers 1958 - FA Cup Winners & Charity Shield Winners

Nat leads the way with the Cup

During September the following season (1959/1960) Tommy Banks scored his first goal for the club in over 200 appearances. Also that season, Ray Parry became the ninth Wanderer since the war to win an England cap when he played against Ireland at Wembley.

Bolton became the first club to win under the Molineux floodlights, and then the first win at Goodison for 39 years was recorded thanks to a Dennis Stevens goal.

As the Wanderers prepared for their third round FA Cup tie with Bury at Gigg Lane, Nat Lofthouse announced his retirement from the game due to an ankle injury. It was premature as he attempted a comeback with a little success the following season.

As if the club hadn't suffered enough with serious injuries, goalkeeper Eddie Hopkinson then fractured his shinbone in training, which ended his season prematurely.

To assist with the compilation of these history pages, extracts were taken from 'Heroes, Heartbreakers & Headliners', The Official Bolton Wanderers History Book by Simon Marland.

The book is priced at £23.95 and can be purchased from the Club Superstore or online at www.bwfcsuperstore.co.uk