End of an era

Bolton Wanderers will say an emotional farewell to Burnden Park tonight after 102 glorious years.

It will be a tearful occasion, a dramatic bitter-sweet end to an era that has taken fans and players alike through the full range of emotions.

There is sadness at the prospect of seeing the curtain come down on their spiritual home, excitement at the prospect of seeing their team pick up the Championship trophy and the anticipation of kicking off next season back in the Premiership at the new £35 million Reebok Stadium.

Charlton will provide the opposition for the final fixture at the famous old ground but the Londoners will understand if their presence is considered incidental in the scale of things.

Colin Todd is determined to crown the historic occasion with a win and insists his players should not be distracted by the night's events. Wanderers still have their targets, despite having run away with the Championship - promoted with five games to go and the title secured with four still to play.

The double of 100 points and 100 league goals is still achieveable - as is the manager's own target of ending the season 20 points clear of the field.

Top scorer John McGinlay is expected to play - even if he has to have an injection to dull the pain of the thigh injury that has kept him out of the last two games - and skipper Gudni Bergsson has been given the thumbs up after a six-match lay-off with a calf problem.

Michael Johansen will take over from the suspended Jamie Pollock in midfield.

Tony Doyle, a lifelong fan, summed up the sense of tradition among supporters when he said: "I haven't actually walked down Manchester Road for many years but I'm determined to do that tonight. And I know a lot of people who are planning to do the same."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.