Nolan goes from fan to fantastic
ON a barmy night in May, Ke v i n N o l a n w a s slumped on the floor of Istanbul airport drunk on the euphoria of seeing his Liverpool heroes win the Champions League.
Even a 24- hour flight delay failed to dampen his spirits, for the Bolton midfielder is still a Kopite at heart.
The irony for the man who did not make it at Anfield is that — months after watching Steven Gerrard hoist the trophy to a roar of approval from Liverpool fans — he is the player everybody is raving about.
Nolan, the other midfielder from Huyton, is the form player of the Premiership. He has captained Bolton to five successive victories, scoring four goals, including the classic winner against Tottenham on Monday that lifted his side to third in the table.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce said: ‘He’s worth a shout for England. His versatility and ability to change roles during a game make him an ideal candidate. His form is excellent and his overall game has improved 20 per cent this year. He can force his way into Sven Goran Eriksson’s reckoning.’
But while England fly out to Switzerland tomorrow i n r e a d i n e s s t o f a c e Argentina in Geneva on S a t u r d a y, N o l a n h a s booked his own flight — to Dubai for a sunshine break.
It is a trip that could be of great benefit to Bolton, where the club’s work ethic takes its toll on the players.
But Nolan’s dedication to that demand has made him a Bolton hero and a contender for his country.
The Englishman in a cosmopolitan dressing room has always been one to throw himself into the mix. Whether it is joking about the latest ‘ bling, bling’ watch on the wrist of Jay- Jay Okocha or ribbing best pal Nicky Hunt about his fashion and music sense, Nolan is often seen as the life and soul of the party. He even embraces Allardyce’s more bizarre methods — such as training in sub-zero temperatures in a Polish cooler wearing nothing more than a body stocking, clogs and an oxygen mask. Nolan said: ‘It was a laugh but certainly one of the strangest things we’ve done.’
His boot boy, academy defender Rhys Powell, is also benefiting from the 23-year- old’s generous streak. Nolan has promised him £50 a goal — and has already scored seven this season. Nolan said: ‘He’s told me to lump it together for his Christmas bonus and it’s fair to say he’s really looking forward to Christmas.’
It is no surprise that the motto at Nolan’s Liverpool school, Blue Coat, is Non Sibi Sed Omnibus — Not For Oneself But For All.
Former Liverpool striker and Tranmere manager John Aldridge used to watch Nolan play alongside his son Paul. He said: ‘Kevin would play anywhere. If someone hadn’t turned up he’d volunteer to play in their position. He started off at centre half, then midfield, then up front. You knew he had something, it was just a case of what level he could go to. I tried to pinch him for Tranmere but he was happy at Bolton.’
By then, Nolan had suffered rejection by Liverpool but his pedigree meant he always had a chance. When Steve Heighway signed his release papers from Liverpool — ‘I’ve still got the letter, he told me to go out and prove him wrong’ — Nolan joined his pals at successful Sunday side South Hill, where he once scored nine goals in a match.
He was following in something of a family tradition. His father played semi-pro with St Helens and for top Merseyside amateurs Nicosia alongside Bobby Fowler — Robbie’s dad. Cousin Dave had a few matches for Chester before going on to manage Hyde.
Nolan said: ‘When we’re all round at my nan’s on a Sunday, we always say that one of us had to make it.’
He has done his family proud and, like them, he continues to dream about what he can achieve.
He said: ‘I’ve been part of it here since the beginning and that’s been very pleasing for me. I’ve come through play- offs and promotion to the Premiership. We had our relegation dogfights, finished in the top 10 and now Europe. I’ve always said I would like to win a trophy with Bolton and there’s no reason why we can’t do that this season.
‘ Every season we want to finish higher than the previous one. Last season we finished sixth and we believe we can go on and do better. It’s a dream to play in the Champions League, but why not? Why not dream about it and have a go?’
s.jones@dailymail.co.uk