BWFC VS LEEDS UNITED SATURDAY 30TH JANUARY 2016 1-2

"BWFC VS LEEDS UNITED SATURDAY 30TH JANUARY 2016 1-2"
FA CUP 4TH ROUND 

I went to this as I expected a good atmosphere with 6000 Leeds fans and having just beaten MK Dons 3-1 . The atmosphere would have been less one sided if we hadn't conceded 2 easy goals before half time one after 8 minutes and the other just before half time .I have not gone into any detail of wages not being paid , Sunday newspaper scandals but I was starting to hope we had a settled team who could come together with a never say die attitude and turn things around . Things like that happen in football , strikers can suddenly start scoring , luck changes .  This is the same  team that  started for the win against MK Dons .
 

Amos, Vela, Holding, Dervite, Moxey, Trotter, Davies , Feeney, Pratley, Wellington Silva , Madine

A good manager should be able to avoid relegation with this lot , plus those on the bench and players returning from injury . The games left could be the making of Neil Lennon , if he can pull it off. His ability is rightly being called into question , but its not been a job many would relish . I wish him the  best of luck .  Anyway we are out of the FA CUP . The first half performance was embarrassing. 2nd half was better and we could have got a draw as they were hanging on at the end . 

Verdict   

As least it wasn't a league game .

BWFC VS EASTLEIGH FC TUESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2016 3-2

"BWFC VS EASTLEIGH FC TUESDAY 19TH JANUARY 2016 3-2"
FA CUP 3RD ROUND REPLAY

Wow can't believe my last match was August 22nd 2015 . There has been so much pain since then . It always seems worse listening on the radio or following on the internet . I suppose because its lonely. When you go to the game you are not suffering alone , and you can see for yourself where things went wrong . This was a good game to watch . 5 goals and we won . The teams were evenly matched and  I kept wondering what our players must think about earning so much more money than the opposition and not being any better. If ever there was a wake up call this was it . Surely it crossed their minds they could be playing non -league football soon unless they get a grip . The upper tier was shut so the crowd was packed into the lower tiers and I found myself among a group of proper supporters . I am a supporter but not on that level . They use first name's for the players , give encouragement and forgive mistakes . They love the young home grown players . They don't swear or barrack their own players , but laugh off people who do as being part of the atmosphere . They love and  follow football, with all its ups and downs. The rumors, the personalities the gossip . Its a great game . 

                                                                VERDICT 
Good game we were lucky to get past Eastleigh FC , they are a team on the up . So glad it didn't go to extra time . It was a cold cold cold  Tuesday night .   

 

BWFC VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST SATURDAY AUGUST 22ND 1-1

"BWFC VS NOTTINGHAM FOREST SATURDAY AUGUST 22ND 1-1 "

This game was of interest for a number of reasons . First the ticket price . 15.00 quid , how good is that . Then it is the return of Dougie Freedman as the manager of Forest . We were also making history , the longest period without scoring a goal since 18 something . It is not a statistic I  care to look up . As with the Derby game the first half was very tame from both sides . The big screen has disappeared at the Macron so there are no replays and no countdown . I find this annoying as you are never to sure of how long is left. Anyway it was 3 minutes into the 2nd half when we were awarded a penalty . Now this was a big thing as so far we had not scored a goal this season . I don't really put much store by  premonitions , but myself and 16,000 other people simultaneously had one . Hey amazing the premonition was correct . The penalty was saved and we retained our goalless record , and then guess what . They became inspired and scored a unstoppable goal , we were 1-0 down with 10 minutes to go . Disaster looming and no clock to watch I could feel a depression coming on .The sign board came out . 5 minutes extra time . Forest seemed pretty good at running down the clock and the minutes passed . I always check the ref to see when he looks at his watch . Not long now .Then a miracle happened . WE SCORED . Wow , Yes. I am sure that used to happen to us when Dougie was in charge . Seconds later the whistle went .

Verdict.

The late goal was a BWFC highlight . The crowd went crazy and the players , you could feel the relief and joy . Thew, got out of jail this time .   

BWFC VS DERBY COUNTY SATURDAY AUGUST 8TH 2015 0-0

"BWFC VS DERBY COUNTY AUGUST 8TH 2015 0-0"

So here we are the very first game of the new season . A lovely sunny day and a good crowd (17,000). Some new faces , Gary Madine, Lawrie Wilson and Prince-Desir Gouano. It was difficult not to feel gloomy about the season ahead , with the departures of Matt Mills, Adam Bogden , and possibly Tim Ream all suggesting we needed to reduce our wage bill even further it would need a miracle worker and a huge slice of luck if we were to do anything this season . The prospect of youngsters getting a chance and setting the Macron on fire was a rather optimistic view but dreams do come true in football . The first half was rather dull , pretty even but Derby looked the more dangerous and I felt if they got a goal we would collapse . We made it to half time with the score level and what a cracker of a second half . It looked like BWFC of old , underdogs but full of spirit and we made Derby look pretty ordinary . With Heskey (super sub) replacing Clough for the last 20 minutes and having  already hit the cross bar I could see a win . The atmosphere was great . Still 0-0 with 5 minutes to go doubts crept in , surely we won't lose this 1-0 , please don't let us lose. Relief and optimism at the final whistle. Miracles do happen in football . 

Verdict  

A great afternoon out , a lot better than I thought , left happy with the point and looking forward to the next game .

Move forward  2 weeks and this isn't good . 

     

Double Header . BWFC V LIVERPOOL WED.4TH Feb 2015 1-2 , BWFC V WATFORD SAT. 14TH Feb 2015 3-4

"Double Header . BWFC V LIVERPOOL WED.4TH Feb 2015 1-2 , BWFC V WATFORD SAT. 14TH Feb 2015 3-4"

After the Watford game Neil Lennon stated an entertaining game was no compensation for a loss. Obviously for a fan  is it better to win a boring game than to lose an entertaining one. Is it ? Yes I think so . Do I ? . Obviously the ideal scenario is to win an entertaining game which both Liverpool and Watford did so their fans must be very happy . We could have won both these games , but we didn't , so I can't be happy , but I was entertained. An old cliche is to" take positives from a game" , but when both teams have played well and entertained  and you lose due to minor errors/inexperience , a bit of bad fortune or in need of a bit more luck , you can't even take positives."Well lads you played well but still lost " Bet Neil Lennon is right pissed off.
   You might have noticed I go to most games on my own , so am I a" Billy no Mates ". Not really over the years the people I have gone with have either moved away , lost interest or found something better to do . The last few seasons have been difficult and its a brave man who would say "lets go watch Bolton its great and fantastic value for money " So I am OK with going on my own . My son was up for the Liverpool game as were a lot of people, as its a while since we have had a "big" club at the Macron. We sat on the very front row of the East stand and its something I would recommend to everybody once in awhile . You are so close to the action . We saw both Liverpool goals from a perfect position and they were a delight to watch so close up . Especially Coutinho's. You get a chance to witness the ball skills and commitment from both sets of players close up .I know we have fantastic TV coverage with close ups and  slow motion etc , but its not the same.  I wouldn't sit there on a regular basis as I prefer the upper tiers for overall view.

                                                           Verdict 

      The Watford game was a cracker , 0-1 ,1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3,3-3, 3-4 . It was great to see Zach Clough score 2 . Its about time we had a home grown star . Glad I kept going to the games .
        

BWFC VS LEEDS UNITED SATURDAY 10TH JANUARY 2015 1-1

"BWFC VS LEEDS UNITED SATURDAY 10TH JANUARY 2015 1-1 "

I normally sit in East Stand Upper end of a row but today was very cold and very windy so I went for North Stand Upper . A good decision as there were more than a couple of blizzards and hoods going up in the East stand proved me right . The view is good from the North Stand but goal mouth incidents at the far end are difficult to see and not being able to follow the play as closely as you would like makes it definitely more nerve racking when the ball is at that end . Leeds always fill their away end which adds to the atmosphere and with them getting a penalty in the first couple of minutes they were in fine voice. In my youth  Leeds United were THE team . Their decline has been painful but the support is good and their delight at being in front away from home was celebrated through out the first half with a sarcastic chant of "we are winning away , we are winning away ". I was very excited before this game as we had signed both  Eidur Gudjohnsen and Emile Hesky . They both started and were getting a lot of interest in the press ,if only for their combined ages! The dream of them both scoring never happened though Gudjohnsen looked classy . I think we were expecting to win but Leeds played well and deserved the draw . Its was odd that a  penalty was given right at the start of the 2nd half , luckily in our favour .

VERDICT 

It was very cold . I was sat at the right end for both penalties so had a great view for those . The Leeds fans contributed to the atmosphere . Bolton have come along way since Lennon took over and as I write this we have a home replay against Liverpool to come in the F.A . Cup . Leeds played well and in the end it was a hard fought point .

BWFC v's IPSWICH TOWN SATURDAY 13 TH DECEMBER 0-0

"BWFC v's IPSWICH TOWN SATURDAY 13 TH DECEMBER 0-0"

Two tickets . I managed to drag my son James along . We had  season ticket's for a number of years but once he turned 16 he found better things to do on a Saturday . We went to Cardiff for the Carling Cup final against Middlesbrough in 2004 and to the 2001 play off final against Preston . That was an epic day which I will cover later . I must commend BWFC on running a promotion for this game . Promotions are difficult as season ticket holders can easily be pissed off , this was £20.00 anywhere in the ground and £15.00 for under 23's . The ticket office saw the flaw in the under 23's idea . How does a 50+ year old guess the age of someone under 30. James was offered an under 23 ticket without having to ask , they had just given up . Saved me a fiver though . This could turn into a bit of a moan the tickets we were sold were restricted view due to the hand rails at the exits , surely this should have been mentioned after all it was a £28.00 ticket and I could have paid £56.00 . We could have and did move but that's not the point .At half time our kiosk ran out of hot drinks and we had to move to another kiosk and queue again . Minor I know but a business has to get the basics right after all we are one up from customers we are fans and need treating professionally . Something they do in abundance with the players and staff .

Verdict 

Very cold ! started well but fizzled out . Under pressure in the 2nd half but didn't buckle . Happy with the point .

BWFC VS HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 1-0

"BWFC VS HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER 1-0"

Apparently the bookies ran out of money at the Wigan game ,as so many people had 3-1 to Bolton . The same score line was heavily backed again so as always the bookies got their money back . Another 3 goals was a bit unlikely ,however we did get the 3 points . Personally I enjoyed this game more than the Cardiff game , which had a wow factor but had an air of fantasy about it . This was for real . Both goalies had a cracking game saving their sides (what they are paid for after all! ) on more than one occasion . We hit the bar when a goal looked certain and Huddersfield defended well and hit us on the break and were unlucky not to take the lead in the 2nd half . Admittedly the 1st half  was a bit cagy but after the interval it came alive and could have gone either way . Deservedly it went our way courtesy of a well taken goal from Craig Davies.

Verdict

A good game played to a high standard by both sides . This division is amazing and is going to be difficult to get out of . But if anyone can do it Mr Lennon can .  

BWFC VS CARDIFF CITY TUESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2014 3-0

"BWFC VS CARDIFF CITY TUESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2014 3-0"

Feeling sorry is not the right word . There is a lot of money in football. Dougie set out to build a team to compete in the Championship and gain promotion to the Premier League . He had to do this with next to no money and reduce the wage bill at the same time . Tonight looked like he had achieved his goal, trouble is the team was the same bar a few tweaks but the management was new. Neil Lennon was the new manager . After defeats to Fulham away (0-4) and AFC Bournemouth home (1-2) Dougie left by mutual consent and Mr Lennon took over . He won the first game away at Birmingham (1-0) then lost to Charlton away (1-2) before beating Brentford at home (3-1) , which I considered a must win game . An away loss to Norwich followed (1-2) so we had picked up 6 points from 12 under Lennon , with three of the games being away .Not bad at all . Our next two were home games against Cardiff and Wigan, to win those would take us out of the bottom 3 but it was a big ask against strong teams .

A small crowd of 12,000 watched the destruction of Cardiff

 It was like watching a different team , the mistakes had practically all gone and we were playing with determination and confidence . In fact Cardiff reminded me of the old BWFC . A team of players stealing a living . Lets hope the new BWFC is here to stay . This result was followed by a 3-1 win over Wigan three days later . HAPPY DAYS INDEED !

Verdict 

Wow very impressed with the the team substitutions and the overall performance . Happy Happy Happy ! Oi Oi Oi .And well done to Feeney on scoring 2

BWFC VS DERBY COUNTY SATURDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2014 0-2

"BWFC VS DERBY COUNTY SATURDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2014 0-2"

GK

1

Keith Branagan

DF

2

Scott Green

DF

3

Jimmy Phillips

DF

5

Guðni Bergsson

DF

6

Alan Stubbs

MF

7

Neil McDonald

46'

MF

4

Jason McAteer

MF

10

Mixu Paatelainen

MF

11

Alan Thompson

FW

8

Owen Coyle

FW

9

John McGinlay

Substitutes:

GK

12

Peter Shilton

DF

14

John Dreyer

FW

15

Fabian de Freitas

46'

Manager:

Bruce Rioch

This team  seems such along time ago . Saturday was awful a new low ! The pitch protest was a bit of light relief but this game has to be forgotten . We are playing Fulham tonight . This was my first game of the season . Undecided about Saturdays game .

    Verdict

Totally and utterly depressed after this game 

B.W.F.C. VS WIGAN SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 2014 1-1

"B.W.F.C. VS  WIGAN SATURDAY 29TH MARCH 2014 1-1"

This was a great day out ! Always after a bargain I saw an offer on Amazon Local for "The Lion of Vienna Suite " £39.00 , normal price £79.99 . I followed the instructions and a few days later got my ticket . Now the £39.00 included a padded seat on the half way line , a program , a buffet lunch plus half  time coffee and cake  . Throw in a quiz , team sheet and entertainment it was a good value . Thing is I wasn't the only person realizing this . I arrived at 1.30 and it was busy . Every table was occupied and luckily being on my own I was able to find a seat . Not so for the people arriving after me . Regulars who had sat at the same table all season were unable to find a seat together . I kept my head down and tucked into my roast pork . I will be on the look out for more offers like this . The 2nd half was the best I had seen all season .Wigan equalized in the 88th minute and after  being awarded a penalty 4 minutes into extra time looked certain to take all 3 points . A Bogdan save kept the game level at 1-1 and it felt like a win !!

Verdict .
     Great afternoon out .

 

Double Header . BWFC V BOURNEMOUTH SAT. 8TH Feb 2014 2-2 , BWFC V BURNLEY TUES. 11TH Feb 2014 0-1

 " BWFC V BOURNEMOUTH 8TH Feb 2014 2-2 , BWFC V BURNLEY 11TH Feb 2014 0-1"

"Are you buying a ticket " YES "Is it for the home end "YES "Do you mind where you sit " NO . The steward gave me the ticket explaining it was given to him to hand out . No charge . THANK YOU VERY MUCH . It was in the lower tier Row Z , back row no one behind , I could stand up for the whole match .
     My ex father in law , he is now deceased and I am divorced had a theory .

 " Football mimics life and especially business life, hence the interest in the game from the business sector .Its to do with the highs and lows , the changes in fortune ,the  reliance on a bit of luck, the need to compete and  push the rules to their boundaries, and the need to keep going when one thing after another goes wrong ,and the need to make changes , believing things will soon come right."

         He was a passionate Bolton fan , however bad things got , and however bad we played he  would find something funny to joke about ( a few whiskeys helped , I have to admit ) and always look forward to the next game.
        My sense of humor was tested in the second half of the Bournemouth game . We were definitely second best and 2-2 was a fair result . Two first half goals from Chung -Lee and a blinder from new loan signing  Jutkiewicz gave us a commanding 2-0 lead , but a speculative long range effort from Bournemouth saw them pull a goal back before half time . They got a deserved equalizer with 20 minutes remaining of the 2nd half  and the 3 points could have been anybodys after that .

 Verdict .

Bournemouth were a good side and went on an impressive run after this game which could see them earn a play off spot . 

Three days later I was back at the Reebok for a local derby against high flying Burnley .We looked up for it and played well for the first 30 mins after which the game slowed down . The 2nd half  showed why Burnley were heading for the premiership , they looked the better side and eventually got the goal to take all 3 points .

Verdict 

 No complaints 
 .
     

Bolton Wanderers vs Doncaster 7th December 2013 3-0

Bolton Wanderers vs Doncaster 7th December 2013 3-0

A bad week , the bonnet catch broke on the car , a letter arrived from Santander saying our mortgage deal had finished and we would switch back to their standard rate from January making us worse off by nearly £200 a month , and finally the cooker broke just as I was putting a pizza in . However come 5pm Saturday evening none of this mattered, we had won 3-0 and that winning feeling returned . Its a great feeling , contented relaxed , smiling to myself as I shut my eyes to go to sleep . The feeling still  there when I woke up the next day "Come on you Whites " ha ha . The last few years have not been kind to a Bolton fan , turning up paying good money is not for the faint hearted, many friends have jumped ship leaving me to attend most games alone . They are still supporters but I have lost interest in ringing them up now .The roller coaster season had continued,  my last game was the home draw with Ipswich, then we won 2-0 away at Bournemouth, beat Millwall 3-1 at home had a 1-0 away win at Watford . Then we lost to Middlesbrough away 1-0 followed by a 1-0 home loss to Huddersfield . A win today was important, and first half goals from Joe Mason and Andre Moritz with a late 2nd half strike from Neil Danns got the result we wanted .

Verdict

The 3 games that I have been to this season have all ended 1-1 , so to get a 3-0 win was great . Not too convincing though we were only 2-0 until the very end , and they had a very good chance hit the bar in the first half . We should have stuffed them 4 or 5 nil . 

Bolton Wanderers Vs Ipswich Town Saturday 26th October 2013 1-1

"Bolton Wanderers Vs Ipswich Town Saturday 26th October 2013" 1-1

This was my next match after the Yeovil game and my prediction for us having turned a corner seemed to be slowly coming true . Since then we had drawn away at Blackpool , had a great away win at Birmingham and a draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday which was disappointing but a win today would make up for it.Liam Feeney a breath of fresh air had gone back to Millwall but I was feeling confident about Dougie's loan signings and his ability to take us forward. This game was a bore it was great to take the lead with Medo's free kick but it only lasted 5 minutes and I left disappointed and wondering why I had paid £32.00 hard earned quid for that .

Verdict

      Boring BOring BORing BORIng BORINg BORING BORING BORING

Bolton Wanderers Vs Yeovil Town Saturday 28th September 2013 1-1

"Bolton Wanderers Vs Yeovil Town Saturday 28th September 2013"  1 -1

    This was my first match of the season at the Reebok. I had been away and things had gone from bad to worse since the opening game at Burnley .We had now drawn 3 and lost 5 , and been knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Tranmere.Yeovil were above us with 4 points . It felt strange to be in this position after years in the Premiership. In fact things were so bad it was almost funny . The crowd seemed relaxed , safe in the belief that things could surely not get any worse. The first 10 minutes seemed to suggest we would soon be on the way to our first 3 points. A win was expected , we were on a hiding to nothing . The game evened out, and was not great to watch , my concentration wandered and I started messing with my phone. Roll on half time . I was not on the motorbike so I treated myself to a pint of Carling.The 2nd half was much of the same, until the 80th minute that is .I had a perfect view , the shot was long range , Bogdan had it covered and made an easy save , then , almost like laying a egg it popped out from under his backside and trickled into the net . What a moment for the traveling Yeovil fans behind the net. A comedy goal and on their way to 3 points against BWFC. Things had just got worse and to be honest I felt ok and even smiled at the funny side of the goal . So ten  minutes left to rescue a point, I didn't hold out much hope . Then one minute into extra time we scored, I didn't really celebrate, but did wonder if this marked the start of a change in fortune .  

Verdict

A strange atmosphere , maybe it was the shock of being 1-0 down against Yeovil ( no offense ), it felt like a win when we equalized(in extra time) and I went away feeling relieved rather than happy .

Richard Mason

"Burnley v Bolton Wanderers Saturday August 3rd 2013" 1-1

"Burnley v Bolton Wanderers Saturday August 3rd 2013" 1-1

  Turf Moor is closer to my house than the Reebok Stadium.I don't know too much about Burnley . I know and like Townley Park and I have passed through a few times on my way to the Yorkshire Dales and the Lakes but that's about it . I did attend a charity concert in the town center once and it had a fun , friendly and lively atmosphere. Burnley gets its fair share of bad press but I won't be adding to it .
              I try to travel to football matches on my motorbike. There are many advantages . Most grounds let you park outside for free and getting to and from the stadium is easy . Even the bike gear keeps you warm in winter.

       Parking at Burnley was straight forward . The stadium is in the town and there seems to be plenty of street parking. I parked my bike on the road at the side of the stadium ( the road at the front was closed off) but opted instead for the cricket ground for £2.00 after being told local residents make a fuss on match days . This car park was gridlocked at full time as were all the streets round the stadium. I weaved my way through on the bike , but car drivers, be prepared for delays.
   

  

 The away end entrance is easy to find at the front of the stadium . The David Fishwick stand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnley_Savings_and_Loans

The four turnstiles bring you out into HELL!. SHIT! is this a prison ? it should be shut down  . High brick walls dim lighting and rough concrete floors . I needed the loo, GRIM! but I did like the one way system , it worked well .I checked my ticket for the seat number and found the correct entrance. Climbing the concrete steps I was apprehensive , but if the concourse was HELL , this was HEAVEN.

  Row G felt close to the action , it looked so much smaller than the Reebok , and the players came out right in front of us . It was a good atmosphere, we didn't need the wooden seats . Away fans stand . Would I swop this stadium for the Reebok . Yes I think I would .

Good simple instructions.

       The game was just OK . I thought we could have won it , but happy with 1-1 this time .

Verdict

A good afternoon out , brill weather, good atmosphere . The 2nd half fell a bit flat , but happy with a point in the end as it was the first game of the season away from home. I would go again , but a bit pricy at £28.00.  

Richard Mason