Bolton Wanderers F.C.
English football team.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club, commonly known as Bolton or the Trotters, is a professional football club based in Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. Founded in 1874 as Christ Church F.C., the club adopted its current name in 1877 and has a storied history as one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888. The team plays its home matches at the University of Bolton Stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 28,000.Throughout its history, Bolton has experienced significant success and notable challenges. The club's early years were marked by participation in local leagues before they joined the Football League. They quickly established themselves as a competitive side, reaching their first FA Cup final in 1894, where they finished as runners-up. However, it was during the 1920s that Bolton truly made their mark, winning the FA Cup four times: in 1923, 1926, 1929, and 1958. The 1923 final, famously known as the "White Horse Final," was played at Wembley Stadium and is notable for being the first-ever FA Cup final held at that venue. Bolton defeated West Ham United 2-0 in front of a record crowd, with David Jack scoring the first goal ever at Wembley.The club enjoyed a golden era during the 1950s, led by legendary striker Nat Lofthouse. Bolton remained a prominent force in English football during this time and consistently finished in the top tier of the league system. However, following relegation in 1964, Bolton faced a series of ups and downs over the following decades. They were relegated again to the Third Division in 1971 but managed to bounce back by winning promotion shortly thereafter.In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Bolton experienced financial difficulties that led to their relegation to the Fourth Division by 1987. Remarkably, they achieved promotion out of this division just a year later and began a resurgence that saw them climb back up to the Premier League by the late 1990s. Under manager Sam Allardyce, Bolton became known for their physical style of play and enjoyed several successful seasons in the top flight.The club reached the pinnacle of its modern success when they qualified for European competition for the first time in over a decade during the early 2000s. They competed in the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) and had memorable runs in domestic competitions, including reaching the League Cup final in 2004.In recent years, Bolton has faced significant challenges again, including financial struggles that led to administration and relegation from the Championship in 2019. The club worked hard to rebuild and stabilize its operations while aiming for promotion back to higher divisions. In 2021, Bolton achieved promotion to League One after an impressive season.Bolton Wanderers has a fierce rivalry with Wigan Athletic, known as the Lancashire Derby.