Thousands of jubilant Bolton Wanderers fans, young and old, filled Victoria Square on Tuesday night for a civic reception to celebrate the club’s promotion from EFL League One to the Championship. On more than one occasion during the evening the fans sang along to Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’, which seems to have become the club’s unofficial theme song. Even the famous town hall lions joined in the celebrations, being notably adorned with Wanderers scarves. The media, local and national, were there to cover the event.
Before the players and manager appeared, we heard some impressive statistics relating to the successful 206-17 season. For the first time the club recorded ten consecutive home wins; it was the best start to a season for over 80 years; the club had the best defensive record in the entire English Football League – and over the season the team had more supporters at ‘away’ matches than any other in the league.
After the introduction of council dignitaries, including the Mayor, Councillor Lynda Byrne – and council leader Cliff Morris, as well as officials and directors of the club, the Mayor gave a short speech, speaking of her pride in the success of the town’s football club. Each member of the Wanderers’ playing squad was then introduced individually, in numerical order, and walked down the steps of the town hall to be greeted with rapturous applause from the assembled supporters.
Manager Phil Parkinson then spoke about the club’s philosophy of ‘sticking together’ and successfully overcoming a number of setbacks during the season, along the way to its successful conclusion, with Bolton finishing second in League One and being automatically promoted to the Championship at the first time asking, after relegation last season. Mr Parkinson is clearly a cautious man, not given to premature celebration; when asked to describe the point at which he was certain Bolton were going up – “When Alfie (Adam Le Fondre) scored the third goal on Sunday!’’. Admirable restraint and caution on the manager’s part – but most fans were celebrating long before that moment. He concluded his speech to supporters with an assurance that “This was just the beginning”.
The ceremony on the steps of the town hall concluded with the presentation to the players and manager, by the Mayor, of the EFL League One Runners-Up Trophy.
( photo credits: Bolton Live)