WANDERERS will face Premier League side Everton in one of two home pre-season friendlies this summer.
Sean Dyche’s side will play at the newly-named Toughsheet Community Stadium on Tuesday, July 25 (kick-off 7.45pm).
Another home friendly against top-flight European opposition is expected to be announced in the coming days, to be played on the final Saturday of pre-season.
Everton have not played at Bolton in nearly a decade, their last visit being a FA Cup fourth round tie in January 2013, which required several hours of snow-clearing before kick-off.
After Steven Pienaar had deflected Victor Anichebe’s shot in for the opening goal, Marvin Sordell equalised for Dougie Freedman’s Wanderers by turning in Darren Pratley’s low cross.
The tie looked destined for a replay at Goodison until Dutchman Johnny Heitinga made the Whites pay for a poor clearance, burying a 90th minute winner past Andy Longergan in David Moyes’ 500th match in charge of the Blues.
Everton survived relegation from the Premier League for the first time just a couple of weeks ago, with victory against Bournemouth enough on the final day to send Leicester City and Leeds United into the Championship instead of them.
The Toffees memorably supplied the opposition in 1997 when Wanderers opened the new 'Reebok Stadium' - but the game was marred by controversy when a Gerry Taggart header was deemed not to have crossed the line by officials. Replays suggested the goal should have been given - and when Everton stayed up at Bolton's expense on goal difference later that season, the pain resurfaced once again.
Wanderers had previously announced four pre-season games ahead of the 2023/24 campaign in League One.
Ian Evatt’s men will kick off their schedule by heading to the Sir Tom Finney Stadium to take on Bamber Bridge on Saturday, July 8 (3pm) That is quickly followed by a trip to Tameside Stadium to face Curzon Ashton on Tuesday, July 11 (7pm).
The Whites head to the Deva Stadium on Saturday, July 15 (3pm) to take on National League North outfit Chester Their final away pre-season fixture is against League Two side Salford City at the Peninsula Stadium on Saturday, July 22 (3pm).
EFL games are scheduled to start on the weekend of August 4, with fixtures being announced on June 22.
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