THE spirit of Bolton Wanderers is set to stay alive and kicking next season in the fans' favourite pubs around Burnden Park.

Colin Todd's heroes may have played their last ever match at the famous old ground ready for their move to the Reebok Stadium at Horwich.

But supporters who want to enjoy the best of both worlds - drinking in their traditional watering holes and enjoying Bolton's futuristic new home - will be able to . . . thanks to a range of matchday transport plans.

Pubs including the King William IV, Waggon and Horses and Churchills on Manchester Road, and the Lever Bridge Inn on Radcliffe Road, are all drawing up special mini-bus and coach packages for their Wanderers'-mad regulars. Manager of the King William, David Trow, said: "The fans are saying they want it. We like having the supporters in and if they want to keep coming here before they go to the match we'll sort something out.

"It's been excellent, particularly this season. There's not been any trouble which is great for a pub so close to a football ground."

Further up Manchester Road at the Waggon and Horses, landlord John Butterworth has already pencilled in one 50-seater coach for next season.

He said: "I've been here for 19 years, through the good and bad times, and the Wanderers fans have been great loyal customers.

"It's a matchday ritual going to their favourite pub before a game. "And if we can organise it so they drink and eat here, and we get them to the match at Horwich, that tradition can continue and everyone is happy."

Landlord at Churchills, Russ Marsh, has already got names signed up on a poster inside the pub offering transport deals.

He said: "We want to keep these customers on match days.

"They've been marvellous over the past nine years I've been here."

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