NEVER mind the goal-that-never-was, as far as Robbie Elliott is concerned it was "the game that should never have been played".

An hour into his home debut, the left-back who had joined Wanderers for £2.5million from Newcastle was stretchered off with a broken leg, which put him in hospital for almost two months and out of first-team action for more than a year.

Peter Beardsley, who had seen young Elliott come through the ranks and build his reputation at St James' Park and was again sharing a dressing room with his fellow Geordie, poignantly put the events of that Reebok stalemate with Everton into perspective.

"Robbie's injury is more concerning than the result," Beardo said."It's obviously a major blow for Robbie, first and foremost, and the team after that."

Elliott has painful memories of the first Reebok fixture, when he was laid low by an innocuous challenge and, although he went on to complete a full recovery and make a significant contribution to Wanderers playing their way back into the Premiership limelight, he can't help but curse his luck.

"It was a significant game for the club - that goal being disallowed after the ball crossed the line and then being relegated on goal difference on the last day of the season - and it was obviously a significant game for me," he said.

"But I think it should never have been played. Princess Diana had died the previous weekend and Newcastle's game the day before had been postponed.

"We thought our game would be called off. But, unfortunately for me, it went ahead and we all know what happened. It's interesting that Bolton are playing Everton again on Saturday. I'll be keeping an eye on that one."

For Elliott, who was only 23 at the time, it was a major setback, but the collision with Everton's Tony Thomas was purely accidental.

"There was nothing malicious: my studs were caught in the turf and the lad actually sat on my leg," he said. "It was a long road back but I had good people looking after me."

Elliott went on to make more than 100 appearances for Bolton, suffering his share of disappointments before he left on a high. Versatile enough to play at centre-back and in midfield, in addition to his familiar left-back role, Elliott was on the losing side at Wembley in May 1999, when Colin Todd's team lost to Watford in the play-off final then endured a hat-trick of near-misses in the 1999-2000 campaign. But he was instrumental in helping the Whites bounce back into the Premiership with a memorable play-off triumph over Preston at Cardiff.

"That was a great first season under Big Sam, but we fell at the final hurdle every time," he added.

"We got to three semi-finals and lost them all, to Tranmere in the League Cup, Aston Villa in the FA Cup at Wembley then that controversial play-off defeat at Ipswich just summed everything up for us. It would have been easy for us to mope around, but it says everything about the staff and the players who were around at that time that we bounced back.

"They were great times and the Reebok was a special place. Coming to Bolton was a big step for me but I went there because I knew the club was going places.

"They had the new ground and it was like a breath of fresh air. I know we struggled at first as we got used to the Reebok, but it became a special ground for us and it still is.

"It would have been a waste to have had a 50,000 stadium; you build for a purpose and the atmosphere at the Reebok can be absolutely spot on, as I've found out to my cost when I've come back with Newcastle."

Elliott, who has planned for the future by gaining a degree in sports science, returned to St James' Park on a free transfer in the summer of 2001 and, after spells at Leeds and Sunderland, is now playing for Hartlepool in League One.

"A move to America fell through in the summer but, since then everything has fallen into place." he said. "I'm at a good club and I'll carry on playing as long as I can. You're a long time retired."