Review Of The Year 2002

Here Richard Mulligan looks back on the ups, downs, highs and lows of another memorable 12 months.

JANUARY

THE new year starts in fine style for Wanderers when Bolton achieve a 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield on January 1.

Captain for the day Kevin Nolan scores the equaliser to cancel out Steven Gerrard's opener, as Bolton add to the points they had already gained at Old Trafford and Highbury.

Nolan said: "It is fantastic to score such an important goal against the club I supported as a kid."

Later in the week Sam Allardyce secures the capture of German international Fredi Bobic on loan from Borussia Dortmund, while Bruno N'Gotty signs a two year deal with the club.

Japanese striker Akinori Nishizawa returns to his homeland having failed to make an impact while Djibril Diawara's contract is terminated.

The month continues with a draw against Chelsea and then a point at the Riverside versus Middlesbrough.

But the worst result of the season for many fans is the 4-0 home defeat by Manchester United, which features an Ole Gunnar Solksjaer hat-trick.

FEBRUARY

YOURI Djorkaeff, the French World Cup winner and former Inter Milan star, joins Bolton until the end of the season.

The 33-year-old had left German side Kaiserslautern before joining Wanderers' fight to avoid the drop.

He said: "I had opportunities to join other clubs, but my meeting with Sam was very important. I'm very, very happy to be here. I'll do my best for the team and hope to do very well."

He makes his debut in the goalless draw at Southampton where he lines up alongside Michael Ricketts, who is awarded his first England cap in the 1-1 draw with Holland on February 13.

The striker plays the first half in the Amsterdam Arena, but is harshly criticised by the national media for his performance.

Danish international midfielder Stig Tofting joins on a two-and-a-half year deal from SV Hamburg for £250,000.

There were mixed fortunes for the team during the month with a 4-0 FA Cup defeat against Spurs and a 3-2 reverse against Newcastle which sends them into the bottom three.

But Allardyce's climb out of the dreaded drop zone at the expense of Blackburn when they record their first win in 13 league games following a 1-0 win over West Ham thanks to a Ricardo Gardner goal.

MARCH

THE worst performance of the season sees Bolton humbled 3-1 at home by relegation favourites Derby.

In a crunch game Wanderers have no answer to John Gregory's revitalised side and slip back into the drop zone.

Sam Allardyce said: "It was a poor performance to say the least. But there are eight games left and 24 points to play for.

"The thing is we've struggled to win a game for so long now, we've forgot what it's like how to win a game."

The Whites also draw at home against Blackburn in a bad-tempered game that sees Andy Cole sent off for a foul on Mike Whitlow. Rovers' Tugay is the subject of a police investigation for his behaviour after the game but is eventually cleared of any wrong-doing while Graeme Souness accuses Whitlow of being "a cheat".

Former Wanderer Jason McAteer scores the goal that confirms another loss for the Whites at Sunderland, but fortunes begin to turn around with back to back wins against Charlton and Aston Villa.

Djorkaeff grabs his first goals in a Bolton shirt when he fires a brace at The Valley, while Kevin Nolan hits a free-kick winner in the 3-2 victory over Villa.

Nolan makes his England U20s debut at the Reebok against Finland, while Ricketts is short-listed for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

APRIL

FREDI Bobic is the hat-trick hero as one of the most important games Wanderers have ever taken part in sees them hammer drop zone rivals Ipswich 4-1.

After a dreadful run - and Ipswich's improved form after Christmas - Bolton are beginning to look like relegation fodder, but Bobic's three goals and another from Djorkaeff take the "six pointer" game in easy style.

It was a desperately needed win after Bolton had been humbled 3-1 at Everton the previous week, which saw on-loan Greek defender Konstas Konstantinidis sent off.

The three remaining games of the month see Bolton draw at home with Spurs and lose away at Fulham and Arsenal.

But Wanderers are officially safe after Ipswich are beaten by Manchester United, with the Tractor Boys, Derby and Leicester each demoted.

Kevin Nolan said: "I just can't wait for next season now. Having tasted the top flight we would not have fancied Division One again."

Mike Whitlow receives a Championship winners medal 10 years after being part of the Leeds squad that won the league.

MAY

AN exciting season comes to a close with a 2-1 defeat against West Ham at Upton Park, despite a goal from Youri Djorkaeff.

Bolton eventually finish in 17th position and are a relatively healthy four points above the relegation zone. Dependable defender Simon Charlton is awarded the BWFC Player of the Year award.

Charlton said: "The season has been magnificent. The lads have put everything they have into it and the manager should have accolades coming out of his ears because he has really got the best out of all the players in the squad.

"He should win Manager of the Year hands down."

Djorkaeff announces that "Bolton has saved my career" and makes the French World Cup squad that suffers a disastrous time over in the Far East.

Things go better for Dane Stig Tofting, whose country are eventually eliminated by England. Both Djorkaeff and Tofting decide to retire from the international football at the end of the tournament, with 82 and 41 caps respectively.

Per Frandsen and Michael Ricketts miss out on the trip to Japan and South Korea. It is confirmed that Henrik Pedersen will return to the Reebok after his loan spell with previous club Silkeborg.

JUNE

WORLD Cup ace Jay Jay Okocha joins Wanderers on a free transfer from Paris St Germain, after previously being linked with Chelsea.

The Nigerian flies in as speculation links Wanderers with a host of players on show at the World Cup including Russian midfielder Valeri Karpin and German forward Jan Koller.

Allardyce reveals he came very close to bringing in former Spanish international Abelardo and Brazilian World Cup winner Aldair.

Wanderers enter into a war of words and a transfer tribunal when they snap up Delroy Facey from Second Division side Huddersfield Town. Terriers chairman David Taylor said: "We're very annoyed about this." Eventually an undisclosed fee is agreed by tribunal.

Fredi Bobic is not to be signed on a permanent contract by Wanderers and instead joins Hannover, Rod Wallace moves to Gillingham and Paul Wheatcroft signs for Scunthorpe.

JULY

YOURI Djorkaeff puts pen to paper on a deal that will keep him at Bolton for two years.

Paul Warhurst and Gudni Bergsson also lengthen their contracts at the Reebok

Sam Allardyce is boosted by the "major, major signing" of Turk Akin Bulent from Galatasaray on a free, while young defender Bernard Mendy joins on loan from PSG for a year.

Mendy said: "It is a dream to play alongside Youri Djorkaeff, Bruno N'Gotty and Jay Jay Okocha."

Bolton's attempt to bring in former Spanish international Ivan Campo are resurrected, while deals for Taribo West and Michael Duberry are also in the pipeline but do not materialise.

Wanderers take part in a pre-season tour of Italy, which includes a game against Inter Milan. Young Italian Emanuele Morini is released from his contract.

AUGUST

BOLTON'S second Premiership season begins in awful style with a 4-1 whipping at Fulham. Michael Ricketts actually put the Whites ahead at Loftus Road with an early penalty but Jean Tigana's side is too good.

August gets much worse a week later when Charlton are the visitors to the Reebok Stadium for the opening home game.

Djorkaeff puts the Whites in front but Chris Bart-Williams and Jason Euell gift three points to the Addicks.

So no points from two games in the opening month of the season and Sam Allardyce is already answering questions about relegation. "You have to be worried," he said.

His problems are increased by the constant speculation that Michael Ricketts is to leave. Reports link Tottenham with a multi-million pound bid but Allardyce denies this, calling the North London club merely a "nuisance".

Before transfer deadline day on August 31 Allardyce secures Chris Armstrong on a free transfer and the long-running Ivan Campo saga is concluded when the Spanish defender is taken on a season's loan from Real Madrid.

Bo Hansen leaves for FC Midjylland after over three years at the Reebok.

SEPTEMBER

ANOTHER amazing trip to Old Trafford sees the Wanderers win at Manchester United for the second year in a row.

Last season the Whites had to come from behind, but this time a lone Kevin Nolan strike in the last ten minutes is enough to take the points over their prestigious neighbours.

Sam Allardyce is in the mood to praise his budding star, who had missed out on the England under-21 squad for a game with Yugoslavia held at the Reebok a couple of weeks previously.

He said: "Kevin is an intelligent, flowing footballer who has really progressed well. It was a poor mistake to leave Kevin out of that squad."

Better news is the fact it was Bolton's second win on the bounce after another Ricketts penalty gives the Whites a home win over Aston Villa during a televised Sunday afternoon game.

Bolton then do themselves proud in their next two outings, but come away pointless

In the home game versus Liverpool they twice come back from goals by Milan Baros through Ricardo Gardner and Ivan Campo, but Emile Heskey seals a win at the death.

The following week and a Gareth Farrelly strike looks to have gained a draw at Highbury until Kanu grabs a winner three minutes into injury time.

OCTOBER

AN awful month for the Whites sees them pick up just one point in three Premiership games, and suffer a humiliating home defeat against Bury in the Worthington Cup.

Bolton hit rock bottom of the Premiership after defeats versus Tottenham and Middlesbrough, and struggle to a draw at home to club in crisis Sunderland.

In a televised Monday night game Bolton play poorly throughout against the Black Cats, who lead for most of the game thanks to a belter from Michael Gray.

But the Whites are saved by a Phil Babb own goal close to the end.

Injured skipper Gudni Bergsson is still confident. He said: "The lads did well to come back and get a point after going a goal behind and they can build on this. We live to fight another day."

Away from football, midfielder Stig Tofting who has struggled with injuries all season, is awarded a four month jail sentence in his native Denmark.

He announces his intention to appeal but it is decided his contract at Wanderers will end in June 2003.

NOVEMBER

SPIRITS during a lean spell are briefly lifted with a superb 4-2 win at struggling Leeds.

Henrik Pedersen's first two Premiership strikes, and a goal apiece from Djorkaeff and Ricketts are enough to give Bolton their first win in over two months.

Pedersen said: "I've waited a long time for this. I had a big opportunity at the beginning of the season but they didn't go in. We're off the bottom now and that's nice. We can look forward again with confidence."

But it is Bolton's only win during a month in which they are beaten on their travels by newly promted sides Birmingham and Manchester City.

They gain two points from home games with West Brom and Chelsea. They trail the Baggies but Per Frandsen scores at the end to gain a 1-1 draw.

A fortnight later and Pedersen puts the Whites ahead against Claudio Ranieri's side, but Dutchman Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink equalises during injury time.

DECEMBER

WANDERERS end the year with a timely festive boost - by avoiding the infamous "bottom of the table at Christmas" spot. A Michael Ricketts equaliser, which is his first goal from open play since January, is enough to grab a point against West Ham at Upton Park and condemn the Hammers to that poisoned chalice.

Mike Whitlow said: "That was the Bolton of old. The lads worked so hard and fought for everything."

The month started with a frustrating afternoon at the Reebok when Bolton looked to have beaten local rivals Blackburn, after Jay Jay Okocha's goal had put them ahead in the first half. The home side continued to dominate the match but were caught out during injury time at the end of the game when Craig Short levelled.

The following week came one of the lows of the year when Bolton are torn to pieces by Leeds at home - their first at the Reebok since Liverpool beat them in mid-September. Allardyce watches a good performance first half performance but sees his side go down to a freak long shot from Danny Mills and a Robbie Fowler tap-in following some calamitous defending.

Things get worse when Youri Djorkaeff misses a penalty before Jason Wilcox adds a third in the second period.

Leaving the club this month are Dean Holdsworth, Colin Hendry and Leam Richardson who all go on loan deals, while David Norris joins Plymouth Argyle.