Wandering up the ladder

The English Premier League’s Bolton Wanderers look to take down the elite

LIAM BRENNAN VOLUNTEER STAFF

It’s been a wild ride in the English Premier League this season, with Manchester United reclaiming the top spot ahead of defending champions Chelsea. But the bigger story could be the excellent form of former Division One squad Bolton Wanderers. Having only returned to the Premiership in the 2000-01 season, the team has revamped its lineup and even lowered its ticket prices, pushing them into fifth place just behind Liverpool and Arsenal for third. If Arsenal’s recent pitfalls continue, this could be the best season Bolton has had in almost 80 years.

The club’s last cup victory came in 1958 when they beat out Manchester United for the FA Cup, their third win after a dominant run in the ’20s. Bolton was the very first team to win the FA Cup at the old Wembely Stadium in 1923. But since that time, the club has experienced a drought that saw them relegated from the Premier league in 1997-98.

However under coach Sam Allardyce, the squad returned to England’s top football league six years ago, and has been climbing the ranks ever since, with this season looking to be the best season the team has ever had.

The battle has been a hard one, however, as Bolton attempts to battle its way into the upper echelon of English soccer — one that includes some of the richest teams in the entire world.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool are all among the top 20 richest teams in the world, with Manchester being in top spot with a record $1.2 billion worth. It’s not surprising then that these teams stand at the top of the Premiership each and every year. But Bolton represents a shift in the times as they strive to step into the top five for the first time in their long history.

While the club is nowhere near winning the championship, a top-five finish for a team outside the billionaire’s club is an extraordinary accomplishment.

But of course they had to spend money to make money, signing famed French striker Nicholas Anelka to the tune of eight million pounds in 2003, a record signing for the club. However, Bolton became the first team in the English league to permanently drop their prices this year, announcing a 10 per cent decrease in season tickets on February 20.

Bolton’s prospects for next year look to be very promising. Coach Allardyce has refuted rumors putting him in line as the next coach of Manchester City and pledged his allegiance to Bolton for as long as they will have him. His first order of business for the off-season is the signing of two major upcoming stars in Dundee leftback Paul Dixon and Racing Santander’s Ruben Gonzalez, which should bring some depth to the starting lineup.

If the Wanderers can finish strong this season, they will have the opportunity to start fresh in September and have a go at the top five as Arsenal appears to be heading for a downfall and possibly a new coach, and the rumours continue to spread about Man. United striker Christiano Ronaldo heading over to Real Madrid. It appears as though the league is beginning to become more open for contenders, which is a good thing for everyone involved.

Perhaps money can’t buy you a championship after all.