The best James Trafford quotes from his time at Bolton Wanderers

The Manchester City keeper proved a big with the Bolton fans, not only for his work on the pitch but also his colourful character off it, too.

We have collated some of our favourite ‘Traff-isms’ from his time at the University of Bolton Stadium that were committed to the pages of The Bolton News.

No-one does anything else apart from farming in my family, apart from my older cousin who is a dentist, and even that was a bit frowned upon!

“He should have either been a farmer or a jockey.”

Trafford explains his family ties in Cumbria.

I still have to explain a few things to my dad, like the offside rule, because he doesn’t really know much about football.”

At least Trafford didn’t have to explain VAR in League One.

I can smile about it now because now I don’t have Twitter – there’s just no point. Regardless of what you do, you get battered. People will message you with negative stuff.

“I’d only played 11 games but it was what it was – I was happy to prove people wrong. And then once I’d got over the hill I just enjoyed performing.”

Bolton’s fans were lukewarm about an inexperienced keeper arriving at the club in January 2022. And Trafford was happy to prove the doubters wrong.

I try and integrate myself as much as I can. While I am here, I play for Bolton. And I love it. It helped being here at the end of last season and I was really happy coming back.

“But I am invested in the whole thing. I like the area, I’m always knocking around, and I am really enjoying the place. I just want us to be successful and keep pushing on.”

He might have been contracted to Manchester City – but Trafford was determined to invest fully as a Wanderers player in his time on loan.

I saw bits of what people were saying. And it was nothing personal on me, the stick I was getting. “They were just tweeting and people would rather tweet bad news than good news. I just want to keep contributing and make the chants louder.”

More on that ‘lukewarm’ reception. Within 45 minutes of Trafford’s Bolton debut, fans began to chant “England’s Number One!”

When I was young I liked Rob Green – and then he made that mistake and because I was young and didn’t really understand anything he wasn’t my favourite anymore.”

We asked Trafford who his favourite keeper had been growing up. He then switched focus to another Premier League veteran.

Petr Cech – Chelsea won the Premier League the first year I got into football, so I saw him and he was my favourite”

I was there (at Accrington) for five months, it isn’t really a big thing. I have had bottles of water in my room for longer.”

A short loan spell at the Wham Stadium really didn’t register for the young goalkeeper.

I like to enjoy myself, whatever it looks like. I always feel like I am more focussed and can get the best out of myself when I am having a bit of fun.”

Happy to goad the odd group of away fans, Trafford says ‘keeping it light’ helps his game.

I’m a big-time goalie, I should be making those saves. If I am not, I’m not as good as I think I am.”

Let’s just say confidence is a commodity Trafford does not lack.

I was a long, skinny boy when I first turned up and now I’m a long, skinny man with part of a beard. I have grown up massively and all the lads have seen me go on that journey”

Trafford’s facial furniture was one of the topics of discussion post-Barnsley. But also his huge progress at Wanderers.

I’m gutted we couldn’t say bye in the best fashion with promotion, but I have made friends for life and memories I’ll never forget, and I will always be a Wanderer. Thank you for everything.”

Trafford said goodbye in an emotional tweet after the play-off semi-final.