Ah for the romance of the FA Cup. The great leveller that gives a whiff of glory, however fleeting, to the lads from below, and sometimes deep below, the Premier League. Didn’t we all turn our thoughts in May back to the day – whether or not we were there, or even alive – our Division Two heroes overcame the then mighty Leeds United of Don Revie to win the cup? Don’t some of us possess replica shirts from the previous Cup Final win, against Preston North end in 1937? Don’t we all want Blyth Spartans to get one over Big Sam this weekend? Well, yes. But then, how many Premier bosses will field weakened sides, vaguely hoping for some sort of run but not if it means compromising prospects of a top six finish, or survival, in the league? And how many fans of either side will turn up at the Stadium of Light, eight days after a 44,000+ gate for Sam’s real team? But hey, we’re due a run ourselves after the dismal early exits of recent times. Craig Johnson* – found at the Bolton Wanderers FC fansite BWFC UK Forum – feels the same about his club. It’ll be his first visit to Sunderland, and he expects to go back to Lancashire with Bolton’s fourth round place we secured, or at least a Reebok replay to look forward to……
Hello and happy new year to all the fans of Sunderland AFC from a supporter of the greatest football team in Lancashire, Bolton Wanderers.
Let’s get on to the topic of our clubs up and coming encounter… I shall be making my first ever trip to the Stadium of Light and Sunderland in general this Saturday.
With former Wanderers first team coach Ricky Sbragia as your new manager and Bolton fan favourite El Hadji Diouf currently playing for you, it should certainly make for a fantastic atmosphere and a great game of football.
Our recent run of form makes our 4-1 victory over you in November seem like a very long time ago. Our home defeat at the hands of our arch rivals Wigan Athletic last Sunday has left a very bitter taste and all Bolton fans are hoping that a good performance and a victory on Saturday will give our players the confidence to turn our recent poor league form around.
Maybe it’ll be the 100th Bolton victory in a match I’ve attended. See you all on Saturday and may the best team win. Now it’s time for me to tackle the questions: