In total, the club have racked up 13 seasons in the top division since it was rebranded in 1992, playing 494 matches and scoring 745 goals.
The Bolton News takes a look back at each season, talking to some of the stars who featured, and re-living some of the moments that mattered.
This time, the 1997/98 season.
The infamous Goal That Never Was - Gerry Taggart (out of picture) seeing his header cross the line near Terry PhelanThe infamous Goal That Never Was - Gerry Taggart (out of picture) seeing his header cross the line near Terry Phelan (Image: NQ)
“IT was a terrible game, dreadful, but the header was over the line, of course,” – approaching 28 years on, and Gudni Bergsson’s memory of a controversial first night at the Reebok Stadium was as clear as ever.
Dubbed The Goal That Never Was, defender Gerry Taggart was denied the prestige of scoring the first goal at Bolton brand new £35million home when neither referee Stephen Lodge nor his assistants spotted it had crept over the goal-line before Everton’s Terry Phelan could hook it away.
It is a moment that still sticks in the craw of Wanderers fans to this day, particularly as by the following May, a point would prove so crucial to both clubs’ survival.
Colin Todd had reinvigorated his team after relegation in 1995/96, waving goodbye to Burnden Park in glorious title-winning fashion, and unlike last time there was a true belief in the camp that Bolton could remain in the big time with a squad that had blazed their way to silverware.
“We were ready for it,” Bergsson recalled. “You had the Reebok opening, we had a good squad with that little bit more experience, it was exciting again.
“Stepping out that night was something I’ll always remember. The architecture was so futuristic compared to Burnden but the noise was still loud. It was a proud moment to lead the team out for that game.”
The first three games of the season were played away from home as Bolton got their new HQ ready, and Nathan Blake scored three times as Todd’s side collected four points.
The Everton game proved a turning point for more than one reason, with £2.5m club record signing Robbie Elliott breaking his leg in an innocuous challenge with Tony Thomas, an injury which left him side-lined for more than a year.
Bolton had made Newcastle United’s John Beresford their main target until Kevin Keegan refused to let him leave – but as another new Geordie addition Peter Beardsley put it, Elliott’s injury was “of more concern than the result."
Peter Beardsley proved a hugely unsuccessful signing for Colin ToddPeter Beardsley proved a hugely unsuccessful signing for Colin Todd (Image: NQ)
The resentment over Taggart’s header has stood the test of time – but Bolton’s transfer business that season could also be questioned.
Colin Todd admitted that Dean Holdsworth, recruited in the September for £3.5m, was a let down until Sam Allardyce turned up a few years later. And the Bolton boss has since been even more critical of Beardsley, the veteran who didn’t see out a whole season with the Whites before being farmed out on loan to Fulham and Manchester City.
“Peter just didn’t work out at all” he told The Bolton News. “I wanted him to play up front, in the hole, but he kept coming beyond midfield and dropping back.
“I kept telling him: ‘Peter, I don’t want you doing that, I want you to play just behind the striker, come into the areas where you can really affect the game. But he kept disobeying us, and there were other little problems in the dressing room. It just wasn’t the right time.”
Mark Fish closes down Newcastle United's Alan ShearerMark Fish closes down Newcastle United's Alan Shearer (Image: PA) Nathan Blake and Gary Pallister are sent off at the Reebok in September 1997Nathan Blake and Gary Pallister are sent off at the Reebok in September 1997 (Image: NQ)
Though other new additions like Jussi Jaaskelainen, Mark Fish, Mike Whitlow and Arnar Gunnlaugsson would prove in time to be excellent purchases, emphasising Todd’s excellent eye for talent, their impact was a slow burn. Bolton drew too many games and missed out on survival by the narrowest of margins.
“We had got some good results early on,” Bergsson recalled. “We beat Chelsea, drew against Manchester United when a couple of players were sent off (Blake and Gary Pallister) and then against Liverpool as well.
“We amassed 40 points, which is quite respectable, and you can say we were a touch unlucky to get relegated in the end. It hurt more because it was Everton who stayed up.”
The 1997/98 campaign would also see a changing of the guard at Wanderers.
Burnden legends Scott Green, David Lee, Mixu Paatelainen and John McGinlay would all leave early in the season, Jamie Pollock left in a £1m deal to Manchester City in March and Alan Thompson sealing a £4.5m move to Aston Villa once relegation was confirmed.
Gareth Farelly scores the goal that eventually relegated Bolton on the final dayGareth Farelly scores the goal that eventually relegated Bolton on the final day (Image: PA)
Ironically, the crucial goal on May 10, 1998, would come from the boot of a future Wanderer, Gareth Farrelly. His equalising goal for Everton against Coventry ensured that Bolton’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea would spell the end of their time in the Premier League.
There was hopeful talk inside the camp about another immediate return – Taggart himself appeared to quash rumours that he was about to leave on a Bosman when he said: "We've brought some players in on top of the squad that won the title last season. Now we've just got to knuckle down and hopefully bounce back up.”
But Taggart left that summer to stay in the top-flight with Leicester City, and it would be a few heartbreaking years before Bolton would join the elite again.