In Pictures: Bolton’s journey over 145 years

Bolton look set to survive beyond their 145 years to date after a takeover was completed to save the stricken Sky Bet League One club from expulsion from the English Football League.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at Wanderers’ history in pictures.

1923 FA Cup final

Fans congregate on the pitch at the 1923 FA Cup final at Wembley, where Bolton beat West Ham 2-0 to lift the trophy for the first time (PA Archive)

Bolton also won the FA Cup final in 1926

Bolton also won the FA Cup in 1926, beating Manchester City 1-0 in the final at Wembley (PA Archive)

Soccer – FA Cup Final – Bolton Wanderers v Manchester United – Wembley Stadium

Bolton captain Nat Lofthouse holds aloft the FA Cup following their 2-0 win over Manchester United at Wembley in 1958 – the last of Wanderers’ four FA Cup triumphs (PA Archive)

Nat Lofthouse

Bolton great Lofthouse scored 255 goals for his hometown club between 1946 and 1960. He also netted 30 times in 33 appearances for England (PA Archive)

Soccer – Bolton Wanderers Photocall – Burnden Park

Bolton celebrate winning the FA Cup and the Charity Shield in 1958 (PA Archive)

Soccer – Sherpa Van Trophy Final – Bolton Wanderers v Torquay United – Wembley

Bolton added the Sherpa Van Trophy (Football League Trophy) to their silverware collection in 1989 after beating Torquay 4-1 in the final (PA Archive)

Soccer – FA Cup – Fourth Round Reply – Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers – Highbury

Bolton established a reputation as FA Cup giantkillers in the mid-1990s, knocking out several top-flight teams, including holders Arsenal in a fourth-round replay (above) at Highbury in 1994 (John Giles/PA)

Bolton auction

Bolton held an auction at their Burnden Park ground ahead of the move to their new stadium in 1997 (Dave Kendall/PA)

Burnden Park

Burnden Park had been Bolton’s home for over 100 years (PA Archive)

Reebok Stadium

Bolton moved to the Reebok Stadium – now known as the University of Bolton Stadium – in 1997 (Dave Howarth/PA)

Bolton celebrating

After several seasons bouncing between the top two divisions, Bolton beat Preston in the 2001 Division One play-off final to win promotion back to the Premiership – where they would stay for the next 11 seasons (Tom Hevezi/PA)

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce celebrates Premiership survival in 2003, when Wanderers finished one place and two points above the drop zone (PA Archive)

Jay-Jay Okocha

Bolton, boasting the international talents such as Jay-Jay Okocha (pictured), Youri Djorkaeff and Ivan Campo, reached the 2004 Carling Cup final but were beaten 2-1 by Middlesbrough (Nick Potts/PA)

Allianz Arena

Bolton faced the likes of Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid en route to reaching the last 16 of the 2007/08 UEFA Cup, where they lost to Sporting Lisbon (Nick Potts/PA)

Bolton

Bolton reached the semi-finals of the 2011 FA Cup but were beaten 5-0 by Stoke (Nick Potts/PA)

Bolton

Bolton were relegated from the Premier League in 2012 and dropped down to League One in 2016 (Dave Howarth/PA)

Bolton

Bolton were promoted back to the Championship at the first attempt in 2017 but lasted only two seasons back in the second tier before suffering relegation again (Barrington Coombs/PA)

Bolton Wanderers

Bolton have been beset by financial problems in recent years (Martin Rickett/PA)
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