Bolton Wanderers vs Barnsley

FROM THE MANAGER
IAN EVATT
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO, THIS FOOTBALL CLUB WROTE ITS NAME
INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL BY BECOMING THE
FIRST CLUB TO WIN THE FA CUP AT WEMBLEY STADIUM.
The White Horse Final, as it became
known, is perhaps the most famous
of them all and began a love affair
between Bolton Wanderers and the
FA Cup that continues to this day.
To acknowledge those heroes of
1923, the lads are wearing a special
commemorative shirt this afternoon
to celebrate the centenary - history
that everybody connected with
Bolton Wanderers is rightly proud of.
I understand that the replica
souvenir shirts are selling really well
and it will be good to see many of
you wear them at the University of
Bolton Stadium this afternoon.
As a competition, the FA Cup is
revered the world over and I have
been privileged to play in it as well
as manage in it.
Although today’s tie against Barnsley
will be a battle, as we remember
from our league game against them
recently, we are determined to
progress as far as we can, not only
because of the financial rewards that
progress in the tournament provides,
but also the momentum it will give to
our league campaign.
There is no shying away from
how disappointed I was after last
weekend’s game against Oxford
United - but today gives us the
chance to bounce back and play
the kind of football we know we
are capable of, and hopefully put
ourselves in the hat for the next
round.
We just need to be a lot better than
we have been in the last month
WE KNOW THERE IS LOADS
MORE TO COME AND WE WILL
WORK REALLY HARD WITH THE
PLAYERS TO ENSURE THAT WE
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.
and that is across all departments.
We can’t kid ourselves and pretend
things have been really good and
we’ve been playing really well
because we haven’t, especially last
month.
I know there will be loads more
and better performances to come,
but what I will say is we’ve found a
way, against Accrington Stanley and
Burton Albion in particular, to win
when we’re not at our best.
Last weekend, we couldn’t and got
found out but we’re still in the top six
and that’s where we aim and want to
be. I still think with 30 games to go,
there is plenty more to come from
this group.
One important thing to note is the
progression we have made year on
year. If you look at the comparable
league tables from this year and last,
we are in a much better position.
We know there is loads more to
come and we will work really hard
with the players to ensure that we
continue to improve.
Yes, defeat hurts us all but we’ve
to take the rough with the smooth.
We’ve had a couple of highs,
and now we have to manage last
weekend’s low and come back
stronger, which you will hopefully
see this afternoon.
Keep up your fantastic support and
enjoy the game,
Ian.
www.bwfc.co.uk
The Wanderer | 5