1960 - 1969: IRISH INTERNATIONAL Bill McAdams joined Wanderers from Manchester City in 1960/1961. He made his debut in the first win of that season scoring twice in a 4-1 defeat of Chelsea. This was swiftly followed by the first away victory at Blackpool, where a Fred Hill goal settled the issue in what was the first televised League game to be shown live.

The feared Nat Lofthouse in typical fighting mood

Nat Lofthouse at this time was playing in the Central League side and had netted six goals in seven games, his goalscoring ability was urgently needed in the first team. He returned to the side for the first time since April 1959 for the visit of Manchester United.

On December 17th, during a 2-2 draw with Birmingham at St Andrews, Lofthouse received a leg injury that finally ended his illustrious career. In 1961/1962 McAdams was sold to Leeds United for £12,000 having scored 26 goals in 44 League appearances in just over a year.

A record fee of £35,000 was received by the Wanderers from Everton for the services of Dennis Stevens and his subsequent success at Goodison included a League championship medal. Within two days of Stevens' departure 19 year old Wyn Davies was recruited from Wrexham for a fee of £20.000 with the Wanderers reserve striker Ernie Phythian going to the Racecourse Ground as part of the deal.

The 1962/1963 season proved to be another difficult one for the Wanderers in terms of hanging on to their First Division status. The season, however, became most remembered not for the football, but more for the lack of it, when the game virtually closed down between the middle of December and the beginning of March due to the bad weather.

After a 1-0 home win over championship chasers Tottenham on December 8th, Peter Deakin hitting an 88th minute winner, the Wanderers didn't kick a ball again until February 16th.

The season wound up with the first team winning the Manchester Senior Cup for the last time when they defeated Fourth Division promotion winners Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.

The club continued to be dogged with a relegation fight, and 1963/1964 was to prove decisive in ending their First Division status. Of the team that opened the season only Roy Hartle proved to be consistent, missing just one game.

Later that season, Wanderers centre forward Wyn Davis was selected for Wales to become the club's first player for thirty years to win full Welsh honours.

After 34 games had been played the Wanderers still found themselves in 21st place, four points behind Birmingham City.

The Wanderers final game was at home to an average Wolves side. Just when it really mattered, Bolton slumped, going down 4-0 and Birmingham took the initiative the following day in defeating Sheffield United at St Andrews to assure their safety and to end Bolton's run of 29 years in the top flight.

1964/1965 saw the Wanderers, for the first season out of the top sphere since 1935, having to rely on a young team built around the experience of Hopkinson, Hartle and Edwards. The only new signing was that of Barry Fry who had been given a free transfer by Manchester United.

Expectations for the 1965/1966 season were high with the Wanderers team having more or less 'as you were' look about it. Bids from both Newcastle and Sunderland for Wyn Davies had been turned down and Francis Lee's transfer request had been resolved. The only major change was at centre half where Irishman John Napier replaced Bryan Edwards who had retired.

A new innovation for this season was that of a substitute who could be brought on at any time for an injured player. The first appearance of a 'sub' in League football was at Burnden Park when Charlton Athletic's Keith Peacock came on as the Wanderers won 4-2. Gordon Taylor was Bolton's first substitute to appear.

Sweating it out in the sauna in 1966, Dave Hatton, Gordon Taylor, Barry Fry,
Brian Bromley and Eddie Hopkinson

Despite the club's fall in League stature, Burnden Park still remained high on the FA's list of venues. This was borne out when the ground was awarded an FA Cup semi final between Manchester United and Everton, which kept Bolton on the football map.

For the start of the 1966/1967 season, the squad was strengthened for the third consecutive term in the Second Division with the acquisition of the charismatic John Byrom from Blackburn Rovers for a £25,000 fee.

Nottingham Forest put the Wanderers out of the FA Cup competition at the third round stage in 1967/1968, with a 4-2 win on the City Ground. A return to League action brought rivals Blackburn Rovers to Burnden along with the best League gate of the season. Gareth Williams hit both Bolton goals in a 2-1 win, the referee, Mr Fussey, blowing for full time after only 85 minutes. His mistake was pointed out by a linesman and a further five minutes were played with Bolton holding on for victory.

There was an early season change at the top for the start of the 1968/1969, when Nat Lofthouse took over as temporary manager from Bill Ridding who retired from management to concentrate on his work in physiotherapy. Another former player, Ted Rothwell, became secretary.

A toast to new boss Nat Lofthouse as he is congratulated by chairman Harry Tyldesley

The Burnden coffers were empty and so no new signings were made before the season commenced. The fixtures were, for the first time, worked out by a computer.

After four months as caretaker manager Nat Lofthouse was officially appointed as team manager on December 18th having gone six games unbeaten since the reverse at Palace. His first game in full charge was a 2-1 home defeat by Cardiff City and it wasn't until March 15th that the next win in the League was recorded.

The start of the 1969/1970 season saw a change in club colours when the side reappeared sporting an all white kit.

Eddie Hopkinson also began his fourteenth season as first choice goalkeeper and made his 500th League appearance in the opening day 4-1 win over Millwall at Burnden Park.

Wanderers' tie with Sheffield United on November 15th was significant for the fact that Eddie Hopkinson received a knock and it proved to be his last appearance for the club. He was later appointed assistant coach with Jim Conway being promoted to the position of Chief Coach.

The club made a major coup during December that season when, for £32,000, Roger Hunt joined the Wanderers from Liverpool after initially turning down the offer.

1970 - 1979: 1970/1971 season was to prove one of the most traumatic seasons in the club's history both on and off the field, yet the first month gave little indication of what was to follow, which culminated in relegation to the Third Division for the first time.

Nat Lofthouse welcomes Jimmy McIlroy to Burnden

Jimmy McIlroy was appointed chief coach and aide to Nat Lofthouse and on November 3rd, took over as a team manager with Lofthouse taking over administrative duties. McIlroy's dilemma was whether to put out a young side and hope they could turn things around or rely on the more experienced members of the squad.

Eighteen days after taking on the manager's job, McIlroy resigned and left the club, leaving Lofthouse again in charge of team affairs.

Off the field, financial problems hung over the club. There had been a poor response to a share and loan notes issue and the Board of Directors had to give personal guarantees to keep the club afloat. Just before Christmas, Gordon Taylor got his wish to leave the club when he joined Birmingham City for a fee of £18,000. Other players were offered in an attempt to raise money and both John Manning and John Byrom turned down moves.

The search for a team manager to assist Lofthouse continued and on January 15th, after Wilf McGuinness had turned down the job, Jimmy Meadows, a Bolton born former England international, took over. The following day Bolton fielded their youngest side ever, which had been selected by Lofthouse, for the game against promotion chasing Sheffield United at Burnden.

February that same season centre forward Paul Fletcher joined Burnley for £60,000. There would be no money for replacements as this had to go on simply keeping the club alive. The scramble to avoid relegation became a four club race between the Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, Bristol City, and Charlton athletic. Five consecutive defeats, including one at Everton where a young Trevor Francis scored all their four goals, left Wanderers in a desperate position.

On April 6th Jimmy Meadows had had enough and resigned leaving a bemused Lofthouse in charge once again. The final nail in the coffin came on April 17th when a further relegation, which had been brewing for a number of years, was finally confirmed after the team suffered a 4-1 defeat at Charlton Athletic.

A month later was Eddie Hopkinson's testimonial which attracted both Eusebio and Simoes from Benfica as star attractions.

On May 19th the managerial problems were finally sorted out when Jimmy Armfield was appointed manager. He had a monumental task before him to sort out players' differences and get the club back on the rails in time for their first ever season in the Third Division.

One of the first tasks to be performed by Jimmy Armfield at the start of the 1971/1972 season was to revert the club's colours back to the traditional white shirts and navy blue short, for the first season outside the top two divisions.  He then imported three capable campaigners from his old club, Blackpool.  Grahame Rowe on a free transfer, and small fees for both Peter Nicholson and Henry Mowbray, brought some experience to the club.

Wanderers' skipper Warwick Rimmer hols up the
1972-73 Third Division Championship trophy

The third Division championship was presented to Warwick Rimmer in 1973 after defeating already relegated Brentford at Burnden Park.  The game turning out to be a curtain raiser to the celebrations.  The club, which two years previous had been at its lowest ebb, had turned the tide.  The youth policy, which had succeeded without the need for big money signings along with some fast, entertaining and sometimes even spectacular football.

The following season (1973/1974) youngsters Sam Allardyce and Peter Olinyk were given their League debuts but Armfield made two significant moves to counter the worrying situation.  Peter Thompson, the former England winger, was signed on loan from Liverpool and Neil Whatmore was reintroduced to first team football.

History was made that season, on January 6th 1974, when the Wanderers entertained First Division Stoke City in the third round of the FA Cup on a Sunday.  The club became one of the pioneers of Sunday football, the game attracting the best gate of the season, 39,138, witnessing a John Byrom hat trick which earned Bolton a 3-2 win.

The last two games of the season were something of a disappointment however.  Relegated Preston becoming the first side to win a League game at Burnden since November, and an 86th minute Ken Knighton winner for Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsbrough saving them from relegation.  Consolidation had been earned however with 42 points from 42 games and 11th position being a satisfactory return to the higher level.

After three seasons at the helm, Jimmy Armfield was finally tempted away from Burnden Park in 1974/1975.  It took some time, however for Armfield to put aside the club that gave him his first chance in management, but how many could have resisted the overtures of the League champions and European Cup contenders Leeds United?  When he finally accepted the Yorkshire club's offer at the end of September, Armfield had already created an obvious successor for the Burnden Board to consider.

Ian Greaves, manager of Huddersfield Town's Second Division championship winning side of 1970, linked up with Armfield in an assistant's capacity early in the season and his promotion to the manager's chair was rubber stamped within a matter of days.

The Burnden brigade of 1974
Back row: S Taylor, J Ritson, P Nicholson, R Greaves, T Dunne, P Olinyk
Centre: P Jones, J Byrom, S Allardyce, B Siddall, I Holbrook, M McBurney, G Jones, D McAllister
Front row: A Waldron, N Whatmore, W Rimmer, J Armfield, R Phillips, M Darling, P Thompson, S Lee

Despite the arrival of experienced striker Hugh Curran, for £40,000 from Oxford United, results remained inconsistent.  One week defeating high flying Aston Villa, the losing to lowly Sheffield Wednesday, both at Burnden.  The situation was calmly dealt with.  Youngsters Sam Allardyce, Peter Reid and Brian Smith all made their mark, but a run of four defeats just before Christmas left the Wanderers only three points clear of the bottom club Sheffield Wednesday.

Despite relative success to what had gone on in the early seventies the club still had a financial burden but this was eased when Don McAllister joined Tottenham for a fee of £80,000.  His place in the team was taken by Sam Allardyce.  Another player to part company was the experienced Warwick Rimmer.  After fifteen years in League football, he was given a free transfer and saw out his first class career with Crewe Alexandra.

Any promotional hopes ended when eventual champions Manchester United won 1-0 at Burnden before the best gate of the season.  Only two wins in the final twelve games were recorded, both on away territory.  One at West Brom avenged the earlier Cup exit. Peter Thompson scoring a rare goal to win the game, whilst the final outing of the season was a 2-1 win at Cardiff that sent the Welsh Club into Division Three.

In 1976/77 Paul Jones asked for a transfer as he was looking for First Division football and John Byrom announced his retirement, although he had second thoughts and joined his former club Blackburn Rovers.  The loss of Byrom caused something of a striker crisis with Hugh Curran out injured, 19 year old Steve Taylor grabbed his chance and became a regular goalscorer.

Later that season Barry Siddall's transfer request was granted and he joined Sunderland in an £80,000 deal.  Jim McDonagh took over in goal, he had been signed from Rotherham United for a £15,000 fee after an initial loan period, and made his debut in a 1-0 defeat at Patrick Thistle in the Anglo Scottish Cup.

That season Bolton played in a controversial league Cup replay with Fulham in which Mike Walsh made it 2-2  in the fifth minute of injury time.  The referee blew for time three minutes later and was immediately surrounded by the Fulham players remonstrating at his time keeping.  The outcome was that Bobby Moore was sent off and the Fulham players appeared to walk off in support.  It needed an ultimatum from the referee to get them to return for extra time, which remained goalless, the Wanderers winning the second replay at St Andrews.  Fulham were then the visitors to Burnden in a League game which saw crowd segregation on the ground for the first time.

The League Cup semi finals were reached for the first time after defeating First Division Derby County 2-1 at the Baseball Ground.  The Wanderers had to fight their way back after conceding a Charlie George penalty and their battling qualities spilled over into the League when two goals in the last eight minutes gave them a point from a 3-3 draw at lowly Hereford United.  League football took a back seat as Wanderers played two Cup ties in a week.  Firstly West Ham put any FA Cup hopes out of the players minds with a 2-1 third round win at Upton Park.  The Wanderers then took on Everton at Goodison Park in the first leg of the League Cup semi final.

An 88th minute goal from Neil Whatmore gave Bolton a 1-1 draw and bookings for Wembley were already being made such was the confidence that the home leg would be a formality.  Stage fright hit the Wanderers in the Cup second leg and it was Everton who made it to Wembley thanks to a goal from Bob Latchford.  The crowd of 50,413 was the last over 50,000 to be seen at Burnden.  League form, as in previous years, then began to crumble.

8ft high fences are erected behind the goals in 1977 to eradicate crowd invasions

After problem with crowd invasions, Burden Park greeted supporters for the 1977/78 season with fences behind each of the goals.  On the park, however, the Wanderers meant business.  There was to be no slip up this time and they were quick off the mark, the first seven games producing six wins and a draw with only two goals conceded.

An inspired signing in the form of Frank Worthington was made, his debut, on loan from Leicester City, coming in a 1-1 with Stoke City in which he netted the Wanderers' goal.  His transfer was made permanent with £90,000 going to Leicester whilst £38,000 was recouped from the sale of Steve Taylor to Oldham Athletic, whose place in the team had been taken by Worthington.  The strength of the squad was now greatly improved and this became obvious when a player of the calibre of Paul Jones was unable to get back into the team after injury.  Even Peter Reid failed to return immediately after an FA ban for reaching twenty disciplinary points and he asked for a transfer.  A fortnight later he had regained his place and he came off the list.

On April 26th, three years of blood, sweat and tears came to fruition when a Frank Worthington goal won the Wanderers the two points needed to confirm promotion at Blackburn.  The fans used Ewood Park as the location for a late night party as the despair and disappointments of the previous two seasons were washed away.

The face of Burnden Park changed for the club's first season back in the top flight in 1978/79, with 4000 seats installed on the Great Lever End along with adjustable fencing on the Embankment to allow for easier segregation.  The playing squad was not improved in the early weeks of the season, despite Peter Reid missing the opening two months after damaging his knee ligament in an Anglo Scottish Cup game against Sheffield United.

The team made an indifferent start.  On the opening day Alan Gowling netted his first goal for the club to give the Wanderers a 32nd minute lead against Bristol City ant Burnden Park, although City hit back to win the game.  £250,000, a then club record, was splashed out on bringing Neil McNab to Burden from Tottenham.

Frank Worthington

The highlight that season was without doubt Frank Worthington's goal against Ipswich Town at Burnden Park that won him the goal of the season award.  He also topped the division's scoring charts with 24 goals, whilst his partner, Alan Gowling also finished in the top ten.

Hopes were raised the following season (1979/80) for an improvement on the return of both Willie Morgan and Frank Worthington from their summer stints in the United States.  Worthington, however, failed to find his previous form and left to join Second Division Birmingham City during October in a £150,000 deal.

The early part of 1980 saw hopes of a revival in fortunes when the Wanderers went to Second Division high flyers Sunderland and won a third round FA Cup tie.  This game heralded the return of Peter Reid to the side after a twelve month absence through injury.  A fourth round win over Halifax Town at Burnden earned the Wanderers a money-spinning tie at home to Arsenal, but it proved to be the end of the road for manager Ian Greaves.  After the win over the Yorkshire side Greaves was sacked an Stan Anderson took over as caretaker boss.  This game also proved to be the last in a Bolton shirt for Neil McNab who returned south with a £220,000 transfer to Brighton and Hove Albion.

At the end of February Stan Anderson was appointed Manager with Tony Dunne taking over as coach.  Both celebrated their initial game in charge as the Wanderers recorded their first League win for 24 games with a Neil Whatmore goal being enough to defeat Nottingham Forest at Burnden.  This preceded the club's best run of the season with only two defeats in a seven game spell, although there was never any real chance of escaping the drop, and this was confirmed with five games remaining.

At the season's end, more experienced players left the club.  Sam Allardyce and Jim McDonagh departed, although both were later to return.

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