Soccer club boss thanks farmer for snow rescue
A FOOTBALL League manager who got stuck in snow on the way to the game has thanked a farmer who came to his rescue.
Ian Evatt, boss at Bolton Wanderers, was driving over the tops to Disley on Saturday, April 10, when the weather took a significant turn for the worse.
He was travelling from his home in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, to the University of Bolton Stadium, but had to abandon his car.
Luckily he managed to flag down a van driver - named only as ‘Paul’ who lived at a nearby farm who gave him a lift.
His van then got stuck so the pair also abandoned that, walked to the farm and got in a Landrover Discovery. Paul then drove the beleaguered boss all the way to Bolton in time for the game.
Speaking after the match, Ian said: “You wouldn’t believe the day I’ve had today honestly. Driving here from my house in Chesterfield.
“I come over the tops through Buxton to Disley, drove into a snow globe and had to abandon my car because I was snowed in.
”Fortunately for me I flagged a driver down who managed to have a Land Rover Defender and it was also his birthday - thank you Paul, who I’ve met today - and he managed to drive me here to get me here on time.”
Ian then watched his Bolton team come from behind to beat Harrogate 2-1 to complete a dramatic day.
The result lifted Bolton to third in League Two, the same league as Macclesfield Town were in last year.
Ian added: “It was a crazy day, a crazy game, but thankfully we’ve won and we’ve got the three points.
“You wouldn’t believe it was April and weirdly enough as soon as we got here, the guy who dropped us when got home text us to say the snow had gone!”