IT'S a match which has a special place in the hearts of Wanderers fans and next week the build-up and the euphoria of the White Horse Cup Final can be enjoyed once again as the Octagon stages the famous game at the home of The Trotters.

In 1923, Bolton Wanderers celebrated one of their finest hours when players took on West Ham United at the newly-built Wembley Stadium.

The town was euphoric with victory but the 1923 Final, which attracted 126,000-strong crowd, was remembered not only because of Bolton's success, but because of the crowds which descended on Wembley, and the police on horses who tried to control them.

It became known as the White Horse Cup Final when a policeman on a white horse called Billy famously helped restore order before the match began and excited fans spilled onto the pitch.

Wanderers went on to win 2-0.

PC George Scorey, on the horse, managed to coax the fans off the pitch with the help of his colleagues. Even so, the match still started 40 minutes late. It was the first time the cup was won at Wembley, and the first time it was brought home by Bolton, who had lost finals in 1894 and 1904.

The team was made up of Pym, Haworth, Finney, Nuttall, Seddon, Jennings, Butler, Jack, JR Smith, J.Smith and Vizard. Players in the West Ham team were Hufton, Henderson, Young, Bishop, Kay, Tresardern, Richards, Brown, Watson, Moore and Ruffell.

The Bolton Evening News reported at the time: "The Challenge Cup of the Football Association, the most coveted of all trophies offered for competition in connection with the greatest of our national pastime was won on Saturday by the players of the Bolton Wanderers Club and won deservedly.

"They beat West Ham United pretty much as they pleased on the new Wembley Stadium which was invaded and stampeded on by the greatest crowd that has ever assembled in the history of the game.

"It had been confidently stated that this new amphi-theatre, the home of English sport, was structurally and scientifically perfect, offering comfortable accommodation and an unobstructed view to the upwards of 125,000 spectators.

"Clearly the authorities were totally unprepared for what happened.

"It is computed that fully 250,000 people made their way to the imposing and spacious ground from all parts of the Empire all anxious to see the blue ribband of the football world decided.

"About 60,000 people had passed inside the turnstiles when pandemonium broke loose.

"One of the main exits was broken down and thousands of people surged inside the enclosure and from the moment the situation showed signs of getting out of hand

"People scaled high walls and clambered into seats for which others had paid. Such was the pressure on the ringside fences that they gave way. The crowd rushed across the larger cinder track which encircles the playing pitch and in an incredibly short time the beautiful greensward was occupied by a black uncontrollable mass.

"The police, apparently taken by surprise, were for a time powerless to deal with the situation and even more officers, mounted and on foot, had been rushed to the ground. The task of clearing the playing pitch was a tediously slow process. Indeed, when the players came into the arena, there seemed very little prospect of the game being started. Finally, however, when they players added their persuasion to the force resorted to by the constabulary, the crowd was gradually pressed back to the touchline and at 14 minutes to four the referee found it possible to make a start."

The report went on: "Dozens of Bolton people saw none of the game.

"Scores of people who had paid a guinea for a seat never got to it."

Following the match, the police had to help the team reach the Royal Box where the King presented the cup to the then Wanderers' captain Joe Smith.

And Did Those Feet will open at The Lion of Vienna Suite at the University of Bolton Stadium on Sunday and will run until Thursday, November 1.

Ticket prices from £14.50 - £28.50. For more information visit octagonbolton.co.uk/whats-on/theatre/and-did-those-feet/