BOLTON WANDERERS

LAST SEASON

CHAMPIONSHIP 23rd FA CUP Fourth Round

LEAGUE CUP First Round TOP SCORER Josh Magennis (7)

FANFILE THEO OGDEN @Thogden

The big talking point among the fans mainly consists of fretting about the survival of our proud football club, one of the world’s oldest. With relegation, financial meltdown, player strikes, fan protest marches and some truly awful football, last season was our worst in living memory.

Save the date for Bolton vs Bury on September 8 – a good old Lancashire derby against black pudding-eating rivals from up the road.

Our key player will be forward Josh Magennis. He isn’t known as a prolific scorer, but he’s combative and strong in the air. He could be a real handful in League One this season.

Our most underrated player is attacking midfielder Erhun Oztumer. ‘Ozzy’ [below] was a threat at Walsall but Phil Parkinson [above] hasn’t given him much of an opportunity at Bolton. He could shine in League One.

The best club social media account is @bwfcbible on Instagram. The signature local dish is simply the humble pastie. As Bolton fans love to sing, mainly to taunt Wigan fans, “I’d rather eat a pastie than a pie”.

The other recommendation for away fans is – if it’s a nice summer’s day – to hike up Rivington Pike, then enjoy a real ale in one of our excellent pubs. Defeat to the mighty Wanderers will be more palatable after that.

Look out for 18-year-old Ronan Darcy, who caught the eye on his Trotters debut back in May.

The opposition player I secretly admire is Jay Spearing at Blackpool. I’d have him back in an instant.

The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that Parkinson should get plenty of stick for his defensive style and tactical choices, but conditions are so tough. If he left, he should be replaced by assistant academy director David Lee. He was a Bolton midfield legend in the 1990s and has done great things with the youth squad.

We’ll finish 18th. We’re starting off with a 12-point (or more) deduction; however, I’m hopeful we can claw back the deficit, survive and then be promoted as champions a year later.