15 Years Ago

BRUCE Rioch issued an emotional rallying call to stir the souls of anxious fans after Wanderers lost 2-1 at Wolves in the first leg of their promotion play-off semi-final.

The Bolton manager, pictured, refused to speak in the immediate aftermath of the defeat at Molineux, where his players faced a hostile, intimidating atmosphere.

But 24 hours later, through the pages of the Bolton Evening News, he made an impassioned appeal to a local audience, calling on supporters to turn Burnden Park into a “cauldron of passion” for the second leg.

“I want every fan to appeal for every foul, every throw-in, every corner – in fact, I want them appealing to turn everything that happens out there on the pitch to our advantage.

“We need the full and total backing of the supporters. That’s paramount. But, more than that, they’ve got to be partisan. Why? Because that’s what teams are doing to us when we go away.”

Wanderers came away from Molineux angered by the controversial dismissal of Neil McDonald – a decision which appeared to be influenced by the crowd and the touchline appeals of the Wolves bench.

All the Molineux goal action came in a seven-minute spell either side of half-time – Jason McAteer scoring a minute afer the break to cacel out Steve Bull’s 44th-minute opener before Mark Venus made it advantage Wolves five minutes later.

David Pugh’s 18th-minute goal gave Mike Walsh’s Bury a 1-0 win at Preston in the first leg of their Division Two play-off semi-final.

40 Years Ago

WITH the Mexico World Cup just days away, England’s first full-scale practice match in the Olympic Stadium ended with Sir Alf Ramsey and his players being pelted by missiles.

Throughout the 80-minute workout, the World Champions were the target of boos and jeers from groups of young spectators who alternately chanted “Brazil” and “Mexico” but it turned particularly nasty when the players had to protect themselves as objects rained down on them.

Back home – as the song went – Wanderers released fringe players Geoff Roberts and George Jones.

The Lawn Tennis Association, desperate to improve Great Britain’s standing in the sport, announced its intention to set up 50 open tennis centres across the country.

10 Years Ago

WANDERERS’ hopes of returning to the Premier League were hanging by a threat after they squandered a 2-0 lead in the first leg of their play-off semi-final duel with Ipswich Town.

Dean Holdsworth and Eidur Gudjohnsen put Sam Allardyce’s Whites in the driving seat and, seemingly, coasting until they allowed Ipswich back into it. By half time Marcus Stewart had pulled it back to 2-1 and when he struck again to square it at 2-2 midway through the second half, punishing Wanderers for missing a number of chances, it was advantage Tractor Boys.

Former Lancashire and England player and coach David Lloyd was under fire for criticising several players in his autobiography.

Lloyd claimed Graham Thorpe had “a rebellious streak”, Nasser Hussain’s preparation for Test matches on his own was “disruptive to any team planning” and Andy Caddick was “insecure about his cricket”.

But Lloyd stood by the comments and motives for writing the book.