Bolton Wanderers: A History of Success and Struggle
The Early Days: 1874-1920
Bolton Wanderers was founded in 1874 and quickly became one of the most successful clubs in England. They won the FA Cup three times in the 1920s and were one of the founding members of the Football League.
FA Cup Delight: 1923-1929
Bolton Wanderers' most successful period came in the 1920s when they won the FA Cup three times in a row. They defeated Manchester City 2-0 in 1923, Sheffield United 2-1 in 1926, and Manchester United 2-0 in 1929.
Wembley Return: 1953-1959
Bolton Wanderers returned to Wembley Stadium in 1953 for the FA Cup final but lost 4-2 to Blackpool. They also reached the FA Cup final in 1958 but lost 2-0 to Manchester United.
Testing Times and Giants
Bolton Wanderers spent the rest of the 20th century yo-yoing between the top two divisions of English football. They were relegated to the second tier in 1971 and did not return to the top flight until 1995.
Bolton Wanderers' most recent spell in the top flight was from 2001 to 2012. They reached the final of the League Cup in 2004 and finished sixth in the Premier League in 2005. However, they were relegated back to the Championship in 2012 and have not returned to the top flight since.
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