Thompson to leave Burnden

STEVE Thompson, 10 years a Wanderer and widely regarded as Phil Neal’s most talented player, upset the Burnden Park applecart when he handed in a written transfer request.

Neal reluctantly accepted the midfielder’s request but made it clear he did not wish to lose the player he considered central to his own ambitions to take the club to a higher level.

Thompson was adamant though that he wanted to move on.

“I don’t want to go through my entire career thinking I can play in the First or Second Division,” he said. “I want the chance of playing there.

“I feel the years have caught up with me at Bolton. I’ve been here since I left school and I’ve had nearly eight years in the first team — I’ve been as loyal as anyone. But I feel a change would be for the best.”

The news came 48 hours after Thompson helped Wanderers come from behind to beat Wigan 3-2 at Burnden to go sixth in Division Three.

They looked set to lose their unbeaten home record which stretched back almost 10 months when they trailed 2-0 after half an hour. But Wanderers had developed a determined streak and once Tony Philliskirk had pulled on back from the penalty spot and Julian Darby had equalised, there was only going to be one winner.

Victory was secured two minutes from time but long after the final whistle both Philliskirk and Darby were claiming the goal.

These were the days when Wanderers were chasing Bury, who won 5-2 at Chester to go third in the table.

As the battle for control of Manchester United moved to the High Court, former Wanderers chairman Barry Chaytow was reported to be lined up for a place on the Old Trafford board if property developer Michael Knighton was successful with his controversial £20million takeover bid.

Mr Chaytow said reports that he was set to become a United director had “come as a complete surprise”.

Biggest surprise of the lot, however, was that Marseille — the French club that paid £4m for Chris Waddle — were lining up a £2m bid for Manchester United and England captain Bryan Robson.

30 Years Ago

IAN Greaves asked for a fighting riposte from his embattled Wanderers after they dropped to the foot of First Division — and he got one.

Four days after a 4-0 thrashing at Derby County, Neil Whatmore’s goal earned a well-deserved 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Burnden Park — the second point they’d taken from the reigning champions in two months.

Greaves had reacted to the derby defeat by admitting: “It’s time for bayonets drawn and over the trenches”. And that was what the Bolton fans got as the new-look Wanderers — Roy Greaves, Frank Worthington and Neil McNab were all dropped while Chris Thompson was handed his debut in the oddest midfield that included defenders Peter Nicholson and Mike Walsh — took everything Bob Paisley’s Reds could throw at them.

And when Whatmore squeezed a shot past Ray Clemence in the 64th minute, they even sensed a famous victory.

Kenny Dalglish’s header 10 minutes from time rescued a point for Paisley’s men but it failed to dampen spirits.

“I asked for character and I got it from every player,” said a delighted Greaves, who reserved special praise for unsettled central defender Sam Allardyce, who was outstanding.

“Sam was brilliant,” the manager said. “It’s only Sam who wants to leave. I don’t want him to go.”

Meanwhile, figures released by the Burnden board revealed the club’s first season back in the top flight had cost the club £285,000 — largely due to a big splash on the transfer market.

Terry Venables was rewarded for steering Crystal Palace to the top of the First Divsion for the first time in their history when he was named Bell’s Manager of the Month.

Bolton’s rising international snooker star Tony Knowles gained revenge over fellow England player Dave Martin 7-0 to win the Pontins Amateur Championship at Prestatyn — seven months after losing to Martin in the English Championships.

“That defeat needled me and I needed to prove I am the better player,” 24-year-old Knowles said.

45 Years Ago

SCOTLAND’S Robbie McGregor won Britain’s first medal at the Tokyo Olympics when he swam bravely to take silver medal in the 100metres freestyle.

McGregor was beaten to gold by just a fingertip by Don Scollander of the United States, after producing a fighting finish in the last 20metres. But there was no Olympic joy for two local wrestlers. Bolton’s Albert Aspen and Bury’s Ken Stephenson were eliminated but not disgraced.

Stephenson scored one victory before dropping out and although Aspen lost his first day bout, he was applauded for his courage for soldiering on against his Bulgarian opponent after twisting his ankle during the match.

Back home, Wyn Davies, Francis Lee and Freddie Hill were all on target as Wanderers’ go-for-goal policy paid off with a handsome 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Burnden Park.

Ray Parry scored one and Colin Bell bagged a couple to help Bury to a 3-2 half-time lead at Middlesbrough. But the Shakers had to settle for a 3-3 draw after failing to maintain the momentum after the interval.

David Herd scored the only goal at Old Trafford where Manchester United beat Sunderland to move to within two points of First Division leaders Chelsea.

Over at Central Park, rugby league legend Billy Boston took his career total of tyries to 500 when he scored four in Wigan’s 49-0 hammering of Barrow.