POSITION: Retail Operations Manager

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL?: Ensuring the smooth operation of the club shop- I am also responsible for the purchase and marketing of all merchandise with the official Bolton Wanderers brand. I also over see the running of Caf '58 and the Visitors' and Tour Centre.

PREVIOUS CLUBS/JOBS?: I have always worked in the retail industry. I started at George Bell Sports which was owned by my grandfather. My father then managed the business before passing it on to me. However, Bolton Wanderers is the only football club I've worked for.

EXPERIENCE IN THE JOB?: Basically I worked from an early age in the family business and then progressed upwards. I initially helped out my grandfather and eventually ended up running the shop.

WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO BOLTON WANDERERS?: I have always supported the Wanderers and, when the opportunity came along to join them, I found that the timing was right. The small independent retailer was slowly being forced out of town centres by the major retail groups.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED FOR WANDERER?: I have worked at Bolton Wanderers for 13 years.

IN WHAT WAYS, IF ANY, HAS YOUR JOB CHANGED?: When I first joined the club at Burnden Park, we had a shop that was no bigger than an average-sized living room. As the club got more successful, we had to expand and, consequently, opened 'The Centre Spot' in Bolton town centre. At the Reebok we have a much larger shop, which gives us more scope. Since we moved here, I'm responsible for a larger turnover and more staff. We have bigger targets to achieve and being in the Premiership puts us in a higher profile. The last time we were in the Premiership, we had lots of visiting supporters in the shop comparing how Bolton's club-shop was to their own club's. Feedback is always welcome.

THE HIGH POINTS AND LOW POINTS DURING YOUR CAREER WITH THE WANDERERS?: High -- Since I've worked for the club there hasn't been a dull season. The first year I was here, we won promotion from the Fourth Division when we beat Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground. Since then we've been in every single division of the Football League. This season will be our third occasion in the Premiership. We have also been to Wembley on many occasions, a League Cup final and a semi-final of the FA Cup.

Low -- Being a supporter of the club as well as working here, the lowest points have been when we got relegated from the Premiership. This season, we've got a very good chance of staying up and establishing ourselves.

DOES YOUR JOB/WORKLOAD CHANGE DURING THE SUMMER WHEN THERE IS NO FOOTBALL?: We are still busy sourcing and purchasing products for the following season. We get the samples made, approved and then photographed for the following season's catalogue. Matchdays, however, are our busiest days. When we have kit launches, we can get people queuing up hours before we open. Kit launches are always popular.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES BEING IN THE PREMIERSHIP MEAN TO YOU IN YOUR DEPARTMENT?: Obviously, with SKY television filming some of our matches, we are under a larger spotlight than before. We also have higher targets to meet and the turnover is expected to be a lot greater than when we are in First Division.

OTHER COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR JOB/YOUR CLUB/YOUR TEAM ETC?: The shop runs smoothly and that is down to the team of staff I have with me.They are Jackie Chadwick, Angela Stebbins and Sue Swindells, and all the part-time and Saturday staff who all work very hard to make the department efficient.