Heroes & Villains – Bolton Wanderers
Hero – John McGinlay
‘Super’ John McGinlay was a real hero at Burnden Park in the early 90’s, having moved to Bolton from Millwall in 1992.
In 192 league games, McGinlay scored an impressive 101 times. He scored to knock holders Liverpool out of the FA Cup in his first season at Bolton, who were in the Second Division at the time.
McGinlay struck up a formidable partnership with fellow Scottish striker Andy Walker as Bolton finished runners up in the old Second Division.
More giantkillings followed the following season as Everton and Arsenal were brushed aside with ease in the Cups. McGinlay netted 33 goals in all competitions, proving that he was more than capable of the step up in Division.
In the 1994/95 season, Bolton reached the play off Final and beat Reading to secure a place in the Premiership. It was their second visit to Wembley of the season, their first was in a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the League Cup Final.
Bolton had to leave their spiritual home Burnden Park at the end of the 1996/97 as it was too old and dated.
Who else but John McGinlay scored the last goals at the old ground. Her joined Bradford City the following season but will always be a Wanderers icon.
Villain – Ken Anderson
The man who Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince called “a rogue chairman” makes it on to the ‘Villain’ list.
Vince also called Anderson “a slippery character and untrustworthy”, something that no club would want to hear of their owner.
Anderson came in to assume a 95% controlling share after a Dean Holdsworth’s company went bust. He had previously had 50/50 ownership with Holdsworth, but the former Bolton striker’s company went bust, allowing for Anderson to buy up the shares.
Anderson sold the club to Football Ventures (Whites) Limited in August last year after the club almost went into liquidation with Anderson at the helm.
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