Bolton Wanderers fan column: Why has abuse spiked now?

by Liam Hatton

A statement was put out by Sharon Brittan this week, ultimately celebrating her four years as custodian of Bolton Wanderers, but also commenting on abusive language directed towards Ian Evatt and CEO Neil Hart, which you presume relate to comments mainly made on social media.

Now, I have spoken about social media before. I use it quite a lot to promote my blog, but I understand how emotions can cause fans to make comments that they may later regret. As they say, the internet is forever and does not forget.

Evatt also commented on the matter to BBC Radio Manchester by saying: “I just find it a bit strange that we have had to make these statements.”

“But I do understand that 99.9 percent of the Bolton fans are firmly behind us. We are all trying to push this club in the same direction and the right direction.

“Togetherness is what makes us stronger and we have to be together in everything that we do.”

I understand where Evatt is coming from as Bolton currently find themselves third in the table after five games - with three wins, one draw and one loss, which is hardly a terrible start when you look at it.

Maybe it was the manner of the defeat against Wigan that has allowed some negative feelings to creep in this early in the season, but I feel we are a fan base that has always been highly emotive.

I went to Burton last Saturday, a game in which Bolton were not at their best in the first half. After conceding they found an equaliser almost immediately but could not grab that second goal. From being in the crowd I could easily identify who the targets were, for want of a better word.

Let me just say, I am not standing here and telling anyone how to conduct themselves, because that is not my place and I am not above anyone. I feel that fans have a right as paying customers to voice their opinions, whether that is in the stands or on social media.

However, it goes back to my piece about Deli Alli a couple of weeks ago and the impact that words hold. There is a difference between logical criticism and outright abuse, which I feel the club is trying to draw a line under.

At Burton, there were individuals singled out - Jack Iredale received some pelters and as soon as the duo of Dan Nlundulu and Cameron Jerome were introduced, there were groans from a few.

It is an odd situation, but it feels like some individuals have already set out their pitchforks and are writing off a few players. Again, fans can comment on ability or performances and I have no issue with that, but the moment it turns personal or vicious (which is important to say that it is likely a very small minority) then that behaviour needs to be stamped out.

I try not to get wound up too much but if I do, I will definitely think twice before hitting send on a tweet.

I believe the club are trying to differentiate between criticism and abuse, but for this statement to be made this early in the season is a slight concern.

Here is hoping this is the last we hear of it, because that is in the best interests of the club.

Bolton Wanderers' Elias Kachunga and Bolton Wanderers' Jon Dadi Bodvarsson battle with Derby County players in the 0-0 draw last season (Image: Camerasport)

Car trouble

by Tony Thompson

You get relegation six-pointers but what is the equivalent at the top of the table?

Whatever it is, it is happening at the Toughsheet Stadium on Saturday because for my money the game sees the best two squads – and sets of fans – in League One, go head-to-head.

I have never particularly liked Derby. I had an auntie who lived in a village called Burnaston about a 20-minute drive from the city centre and the trip down a couple of times a year would always bore me to tears.

One weekend, as I was getting into my teens, my dad suggested that we go and watch the football, which let my mam catch up with her sister and chat about inconsequential nonsense, while we got to see a bit of football. It would have been the early to mid-eighties, and the Rams were still playing at the old Baseball Ground.

I can remember watching them in a game against Reading and picking out the distinctive figure of Jeff Chandler, who had been one of my early favourites at Burnden Park. The game was great but when we went back out into the cold evening air we returned to the car to see the front door slightly ajar and the side window put in.

We waited around for ages for a police officer and by the time I got back in I was freezing cold and my backside was soaking wet, as the heavy rain had left the car interior looking more like a lido than a Lada (it wasn’t, it was a burgundy Ford Granada but it sounded better).

Bolton’s fortunes against Derby have been pretty poor since my childhood. I read the other day that they hadn’t won at Pride Park for about 40 years, a time when old Jeff Chandler would have been in his pomp.

It is only worth three points, I know, and nothing is won in September, but with everyone jumping on the moaning bandwagon after the Wigan result it would be great to see the Super Whites get a result.

Maybe then I’ll venture to Pride Park later in the season and revisit the scene of the crime?