By Mark Heys
August 6 2005

Every summer Bolton Wanderers have to organise friendlies against teams from at home and abroad in order to prepare themselves for the rigours of the season ahead.

Here we take a look at the summer results/happenings for the last 10 years. Bear in mind that there is likely to be some gaps, so if you can help fill those gaps, please e-mail us at: Walkingdownthemannyroad@yahoo.co.uk

1995-1996

Pre-Season New signings:

Gerry Taggart (Barnsley) £1.5 million

Andy Todd (Middlesbrough) £250,000

Chris Fairclough (Leeds United) £450,000

Greg Strong (Wigan Athletic) £20,000

Pre-Season Departures:

Neil Fisher (Chester City) Free Transfer

Mark Seagraves (Swindon Town) £100,000

Peter Shilton (Coventry City) Free Transfer

Gary Martindale (Peterborough United) Free Transfer

Andy Mason (Hull City) Free Transfer

Bolton Pre-Season Results:

28/07/1995 Atherton L.R 0 Bolton Wanderers 1 (McDonald)

Tour of Scotland

31/07/1995 Queens Park 0 Bolton Wanderers 3 (Coyle, Thompson, De Freitas)

02/08/1995 Dundee 2 Bolton Wanderers 2 (Green, Coyle)

05/08/1995 Dunfermline Athletic 3 Bolton Wanderers 2 (Coyle 2)

08/08/1995 Bolton Wanderers 3 (Thompson, De Freitas, Coyle) Aberdeen 1

12/08/1995 Kilmarnock 1 Bolton Wanderers 2 (Paatelainen, De Freitas)

In The Music Charts

Never Forget - Take That

Waterfalls - TLC

So Good - Boyzone

Roll With It - Oasis

Country House - Blur

News from July 1995

Prime Minister John Major remains as leader of the conservative party, Weather temperatures swealter in the United States, Hundreds killed in the Srebrenica massacre, Fabio Casartelli dies in the Tour De France, Blur & Oasis battle it out to be the kings of Britpop.

Jason McAteer and Alan Stubbs are subject of a double £10 million swoop from Blackburn Rovers, Roy McFarland replaces the Arsenal bound Bruce Rioch as Bolton manager in a joint role with Colin Todd

1996-1997

Pre-Season New signings:

Michael Johansen (FC Copenhagen) £1,000,000

Per Frandsen (FC Copenhagen) £300,000

Pre-Season Departures:

Sasa Curcic (Aston Villa) £4,000,000

Alan Stubbs (Celtic) £3,500,000

Fabian De Freitas (Osasuna) £225,000

Bolton Pre-Season Results:

19/07/1996 Atherton LR 0 Bolton Wanderers 5 (Sellars, McGinlay, Taggart, Curcic, Taylor)

24/07/1996 Queen of the South 1 Bolton Wanderers 3 (Thompson, Paatelainen, McGinlay)

27/07/1996 Hull City 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

31/07/1996 Wrexham 1 Bolton Wanderers 1 (McGinlay)

03/08/1996 York City 0 Bolton Wanderers 2 (Frandsen, McGinlay)

06/08/1996 Rotherham United 0 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Green)

10/08/1996 Carlisle United 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

In The Music Charts

Everything Must Go - Manic Street Preachers

Freedom - Robbie Williams

Good Enough - Dodgy

Trash - Suede

Virtual Instanity = Jamiriquai

News from July 1996

Martina Hingis becomes the youngest ever Wimbledon champion, Olympic Games staged in Atalanta, Centennial Olympic Park bombing kills one and injures many others, 230 killed in Long Island air disaster.

Bolton rocked by the sudden departure of fans favourite Sasa Curcic to Aston Villa. Danish pair Per Frandsen and Michael Johansen are added to the squad to soften the blow. Ex-Wanderers captain Phil Brown replaces Ian Porterfield as Bolton's First Team Coach.

1997-1998

Pre-Season New signings:

Neil Cox (Middlesbrough) £1.2 million

Robbie Elliott (Newcastle United) £2.25 million

Arnar Gunnlaugsson (I.A Akranes) £100,000

Pre-Season Departures:

David Lee (Wigan Athletic) £250,000

Scott Green (Wigan Athletic) £300,000

Mixu Paatelainen (Wolves) £300,000

Bolton Pre-Season Results:

16/07/1997 Crewe Alexandra 2 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Blake)

19/07/1997 Notts County 3 Bolton Wanderers 4

22/07/1997 Colchester United 1 Bolton Wanderers 1 (McAnespie)

25/07/1997 Norwich City 0 Bolton Wanderers 1

29/07/1997 Bury 1 Bolton Wanderers 2 (McGinlay, Taggart)

02/08/1997 Port Vale 1 Bolton Wanderers 2 (Sellars, Thompson)

In The Music Charts

Black Eyed Boy - Texas

Picture of You - Boyzone

Backstreets Back - Backstreet Boys

Men In Black - Will Smith

Tubthumping - Chumbawamba

News from July 1997

UK hands sovereignty of Hong Kong to P.R China, Fashion designer Gianni Versace gunned down, 50 killed in Si Karrouk massacre, NASA lands on Mars, Actor James Stewart dies.

Bolton prepare to move into their new Reebok Stadium ground but must play their first fixtures of the 1997-98 season away from home to allow the final touches to be added. Newcastle's Robbie Elliott and Neil Cox of Middlesbrough sign for the club. Fans are jubilant at the talk of Newcastle legend Peter Beardsley signing for the club, but an injury to Alan Shearer holds up the deal

1998-1999

Pre-Season New signings:

Claus Jensen (Lyngby) £1.6 million

Ricardo Gardner (Harbour View) £1 million

Bob Taylor (West Bromwich Albion) Free Transfer

Eidur Gudjohnsen (KR Reykjavik) Free Transfer

Pre-Season Departures:

Gerry Taggart (Leicester City) Free Transfer

Chris Fairclough (Notts County) Free Transfer

John Sheridan (Doncaster Rovers) Free Transfer

Alan Thompson (Aston Villa) £4,000,000

John Salako (Fulham) Free Transfer

Bolton Pre-Season Results:

Tour of Ireland

18/07/1998 Galway United 0 Bolton Wanderers 5

21/07/1998 Waterford 3 Bolton Wanderers 2 (Gudjohnsen, R.Taylor)

24/07/1998 Sligo Rovers 0 Bolton Wanderers 3 (R.Taylor, S.Taylor, Beardsley)

25/07/1998 St. Patrick's Athletic 0 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Holdsworth)

Other Games

01/08/1998 Blackpool 2 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Frandsen)

04/08/1998 Bolton Wanderers 1 Celtic 1 * (Sellars)

* = Jimmy Phillips Testimonial

In The Music Charts

Come with Me - Puff Daddy feat. Jimmy Page

Freak Me - Another Level

Deeper Underground - Jamiraquai

Ace of Base - Life is a Flower

Immortality - Celine Dion feat. Bee Gees

News from July 1998

France win the World Cup, Nicholas II of Russia is finally buired in St.Petersburg, 1,500 killed in a Tsunami earthquake in Papua New Guinea, Monica Lewinski trial rumbles on following her relations with US president Bill Clinton.

Unknown teenage players Ricardo Gardner and Eidur Gudjohnsen are brought to Bolton by Colin Todd following Premiership relegation. Claus Jensen joins up too whilst veteran Bob Taylor completes his permanent move from West Bromwich Albion.

1999-2000

Pre-Season New signings:

Gary Haveron (Wolves) Free Transfer

John Roberts (Liverpool) Free Transfer

Neil Gregson (Liverpool) Free Transfer

Pre-Season Departures:

Scott Sellars (Huddersfield Town) Free Transfer

Bolton Pre-Season Results:

17/07/1999 Stoke City 2 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Gudjohnsen)

21/07/1999 Blackpool 1 Bolton Wanderers 1

24/07/1999 Cambridge United 0 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Holdsworth)

28/07/1999 Wrexham 0 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Frandsen)

01/08/1999 Bolton Wanderers 2 Preston North End 1 **

** = Abandoned due to heavy thunderstorms

In The Music Charts

9pm (Till I Come) - ATB

My Love Is Your Love - Whitney Houston

Livin La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin

Better of Alone - DJ Jurgen feat. Alice DeeJay

If You Had My Love - Jennifer Lopez

News from July 1999

Mohammed VI is appointed as the King of Morocco, John F.Kennedy Jnr and family are killed in an air crash in Massachusetts, ANA Flight 61 in Toyko is hijacked, Canyon disaster in Switzerland kills 21, Actor Bill Owen dies

There is no money to strengthen the Bolton squad as a number of top earners such as Robbie Elliott, Dean Holdsworth, Mark Fish and Per Frandsen are put up for sale. An electrical storm forces the abandonment of the Wanderers friendly with Preston.

2000-2001

Pre-Season New signings:

Per Frandsen (Blackburn Rovers) £1.6 million

Michael Ricketts (Walsall) £400,000

Anthony Barness (Charlton Athletic) Free Transfer

Simon Charlton (Birmingham City) Free Transfer

Paul Wheatcroft (Manchester United) Free Transfer

Leam Richardson (Blackburn Rovers) £50,000

Pre-Season Departures:

Eidur Gudjohnsen (Chelsea) £4,000,000

Claus Jensen (Charlton Athletic) £4,000,000

Hasney Aljofree (Dundee United) Free Transfer

Michael Johansen (AB Copenhagen) Free Transfer

Greg Strong (Motherwell) £150,000

Bolton Pre-Season Results:

Tour of Denmark

12/07/2000 Brondby 2 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Hansen)

15/07/2000 Lyngby 6 Bolton Wanderers 0

17/07/2000 OB Odense 6 Bolton Wanderers 1

Tour of USA

25/07/2000 Indiana Blast 0 Bolton Wanderers 2 (Holdsworth, Hansen)

30/07/2000 USA U23 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

Other Games

05/08/2000 Bury 1 Bolton Wanderers 2 (Frandsen, Ricketts)

07/08/2000 Chester City 0 Bolton Wanderers 0

In The Music Charts

Babylon - David Gray

Spinning Around - Kylie Minogue

Real Slim Shady - Eminen

Yellow - Coldplay

Breathless - The Corrs

News from July 2000

France win Euro 2000, Vincente Fox is the new president of Mexico, Concorde flight in Paris crashes killing 114

Sam Allardyce takes on a large number of trialists in his first pre-season as Bolton manager. Injuries to key players leave the squad thin on the ground following the departures of Claus Jensen, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Michael Johansen, Paul Ritchie and Allan Johnston.

2001-2002

Pre-Season New signings:

Nicky Southall (Gillingham) Free Transfer

Akinori Nishizawa (Cerezo Osaka) Loan

Djibril Diawara (Torino) Loan

Henrik Pedersen (Silkeborg) £625,000

Pre-Season Departures:

Robbie Elliott (Newcastle United) Free Transfer

Tommy Wright (Ballymena United) Free Transfer

Nicky Summerbee (Nottingham Forest) Free Transfer

John O'Kane (Blackpool) Free Transfer

Franck Passi (Retired)

Bolton Pre-Season Results:

14/07/2001 Radcliffe Borough 1 Bolton Wanderers 3 (Ouedec, Holdsworth, Gallacher)

30/07/2001 Boston United 3 Bolton Wanderers 4 (Nishizawa 3, Frandsen)

31/07/2001 Halifax Town 0 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Marshall)

03/08/2001 Bolton Wanderers 0 Athletico Bilbao 1

07/08/2001 Bolton Wanderers 0 Deportivo Alaves 1

In The Music Charts

A Little Respect - Wheatus

Another Chance - Roger Sanchez

Elevation - U2

Take Me Home - Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Eternal Flame - Atomic Kitten

News from July 2001

Flight Tupolev Tu-154 crashes in Russia killing 145 people, MP Jeffrey Archer is imprisoned for Perjury, Alejandro Toledo is named as the new president of Peru

Striker Akinori Nishizawa becomes the first Japanese player to sign for an English club when moving to Bolton on loan from Cerezo Osaka,

2002-2003

Pre-Season New signings:

Delroy Facey (Huddersfield Town) £150,000

Jay-Jay Okocha (Paris Saint Germain) Free Transfer

Bernard Mendy (Paris Saint Germain) Loan

Akin Bulent (Galatasary) Free Transfer

Jonathan Walters (Blackburn Rovers) £30,000

Pre-Season Departures:

Bo Hansen (FC Midtylland) Free Transfer

Rod Wallace (Gillingham) Free Transfer

Bolton Pre-Season Results:

Tour of Italy

20/07/2002 Bormio 0 Bolton Wanderers 13 (Facey 3, Holdsworth 2, Ricketts 2, Nolan 2, Gardner, Pedersen, Baldacchino, Johnson)

27/07/2002 Inter Milan 2 Bolton Wanderers 0

Other Games

31/07/2002 Burnley 1 Bolton Wanderers 1

03/08/2002 Cardiff City 2 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Ricketts)

08/08/2002 Bolton Wanderers 2 Verona 0 (

07/08/2002 Bishop Auckland 0 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Norris)

12/08/2002 Barrow 2 Bolton Wanderers 2

In The Music Charts

Wherever You Will Go - The Calling

Anyone of Us - Gareth Gates

Colourblind - Darius

Round Round - Sugababes

Crossroads - Blazin Squad

News from July 2002

Bastile day sees the attempted assasination of French president Jacques Chirac, The Massacre of the Innocents painting is sold £49.5 million at auction, Iraq rejects new U.N weapons proposals.

Pre-season is spent between Italy and Poland for Bolton. The squad spend time in a giant cooling fridge to improve fitness but this backfires as new striker Delroy Facey contracts a life-threatening virus.

2003-2004

Pre-Season New signings:

Kevin Davies (Southampton) Free Transfer

Stelios Giannakopoulos (Olympiakos) Free Transfer

Ibrahim Ba (AC Milan) Free Transfer

Pre-Season Departures:

Gudni Bergsson (Retired)

Colin Hendry (Retired)

Chris Downey (Leigh RMI) Free Transfer

Chris Armstrong (Wrexham) Free Transfer

Mike Whitlow (Sheffield United) Free Transfer

Paul Warhurst (Chesterfield) Free Transfer

Stig Tofting (Taijin Taida) Free Transfer

Akin Bulent (Genclerbirligi) Free Transfer

Bolton Pre-Season Results:

Tour of Northern Ireland

16/07/2003 Ballymena United 1 Bolton Wanderers 7 (N'Gotty, Frandsen, Pedersen, Facey, Nolan, Walters 2)

19/07/2003 Portadown 0 Bolton Wanderers 4 (Pedersen, Nolan, Walters, Davies)

Other Games

23/07/2003 Bolton Wanderers 4 (Nolan 2, Davies, Pedersen) Royal Antwerp 0

24/07/2003 Halifax Town 2 Bolton Wanderers 1

06/08/2003 Bolton Wanderers 0 Real Mallorca 0

09/08/2003 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Nolan) Olympiakos 1

Birkirkara Cup

29/07/2003 Birkirkara 1 Bolton Wanderers 2 (Okocha, Djorkaeff)

31/07/2003 Floriana 1 Bolton Wanderers 5 (Pedersen, Giannakopoulos, Facey 2, Ba)

In The Music Charts

Crazy In Love - Beyonce

Never Gonna Leave Your Side - Daniel Bedingfield

Maybe Tommorow - Stereophonics

Dance (With U) - Lemar

Sleeping With The Light On - Busted

News from July 2003

Canada to host 2010 Winter Olympics, 15 people killed by suicide bombing at a Moscow rock concert. Last Volkswagen Beetle car is produced in Mexico, M.O.D worker Dr. David Kelly is found dead near his home, Veteran actor Bob Hope dies

Bolton change their kit to an all-white format for the first time since the early 1970's, this move is met with mixed results by the club's supporters, some of whom prefer the white/navy blue combination

2004-2005

Pre-Season New signings:

Michael Bridges (Leeds United) Free Transfer

Les Ferdinand (Leicester City) Free Transfer

Julio Cesar (Real Valladolid) Free Transfer

Gary Speed (Newcastle United) £750,000

Radhi Jaidi (Esperance de Tunis) Free Transfer

Fernando Hierro (Al-Rayyan) Free Transfer

Blessing Kaku (Ashdod) Free Transfer

Tal Ben-Haim (Maccabi Tel-Aviv) Free Transfer

Pre-Season Departures:

Ibrahim Ba (Caykur Rizespor) Free Transfer

Simon Charlton (Norwich City) £250,000

Youri Djorkaeff (Blackburn Rovers) Free Transfer

Per Frandsen (Wigan Athletic) Free Transfer

Emerson Thome (Wigan Athletic) Free Transfer

N'Diwa Lord Kangana (Stalybridge Celtic) Free Transfer

Bolton Pre-Season Results:

14/07/2004 Bolton Wanderers 2 (Nolan, Davies) Dundee United 0 ***

21/07/2004 Sporting Lisbon 1 Bolton Wanderers 2

22/07/2004 Vitoria Setubal 2 Bolton Wanderers 0

28/07/2004 Chesterfield 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

31/07/2004 Bolton Wanderers 0 Inter Milan 1

07/08/2004 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Giannakopoulos) Real Zaragoza 1

*** = played at County Ground, Leyland

In The Music Charts

Obviously - McFly

Burn - Usher

Lola's Theme - Shapeshifters

Dry Your Eyes - Streets

These Words - Natasha Bedingfield

News from July 2004

A Greece side containing Bolton midfielder Stelios wins Euro 2004, Groundbreaking of the Freedom tower at Ground Zero in New York, Lance Armstrong wins the Tour de France again, Actor Marlon Brando dies

Jay Jay Okocha is nominated for the African player of the season award but is pipped to the post by Cameroon hot shot Samuel Eto. Former England striker Les Ferdinand signs for the Wanderers from Leicester City.

2005-2006

Pre-Season New signings:

Ian Walker (Leicester City) Free Transfer

El-Hadji Diouf (Liverpool) £4,000,000

Jared Borgetti (Pachuca) £1,000,000

Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye (Lens) Loan

Pre-Season Departures:

Anthony Barness (Plymouth Argyle) Free Transfer

Kevin Poole (Derby County) Free Transfer

Blessing Kaku (Maccabi Tel-Aviv) Free Transfer

Charlie Comyn-Platt (Swindon Town) Free Transfer

Ricky Shakes (Swindon Town) Free Transfer

Jason Talbot (Mansfield Town) Free Transfer

Julio Cesar (Tigres) Free Transfer

Bolton Pre-Season Results:

Asia Trophy

20/07/2005 Manchester City 1 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Davies) ****

23/07/2005 Thailand U23 0 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Diouf) ****

**** = In Bangkok

Other Games

09/07/2005 Rushen United 0 Bolton Wanderers 10 (Davies 4, Nolan, Pedersen, Mountford 2, Speed, Vaz-Te)

26/07/2005 Vissel Kobe 1 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Diouf)

28/07/2005 Kawasaki Frontale 1 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Sinclair)

30/07/2005 Hull City 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

01/08/2005 Bury 2 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Thompson)

02/08/2005 Bolton Wanderers 2 (Speed, Pedersen) Malaga 1

06/08/2005 Bolton Wanderers 1 (Jaidi) Heerenveen 1

In The Music Charts

Ghetto Gospel - 2pac feat. Elton John

Crazy Chick - Charlotte Church

Army of Lovers - Lee Ryan

News from July 2005

A number of Al-Queda explosions kill many on the London Underground, London wins rights to host the 2012 Olympics, Live 8 concerts take place all over the World as people such as U2, Robbie Williams, The Who perform. Singer Luther Vandross dies, Former English Prime minister Ted Heath passes away.

Bolton win the Asia Cup with a 1-0 win over the Thailand U23 team in Bangkok. Sammy Lee returns to the club as Assistant Manager following the departure of Phil Brown to Derby.