JULY 21 has been declared Bolton Wanderers Day — 3,500 miles away in the small Canadian town of Bolton!

The town has a population 10 times as small as its UK counterpart. But Bolton, Ontario, does have its own football team...and guess what it’s called? Bolton Wanderers.

The community club is more akin to Bolton Lads and Girls Club than our town’s Premier League Club.

But excitement among fans of the Canadian “soccer club” is reaching fever pitch, as the stars of Bolton Wanderers, Lancashire, are set for a trip across the Atlantic.

The Premier League Wanderers will play a pre-season friendly close to Bolton, Ontario, against Toronto FC.

And supporters of the Canadian Wanderers are planning on turning out in force for the big match.

Now, the local Caledon Council, has passed an official proclamation declaring the day BWFC play Toronto FC as Bolton Wanderers Day.

The idea of the day was first put forward by one of the founders of the Canadian Wanderers, Hal Siemens.

He said it would be a great way to celebrate the achievements of the Ontario club.

He said: “The coaches, the referees and the parents have taken this club with only 40 players in its first year to over 3,100 registered local players in different leagues and from the age of three to 74. That to me is an unheralded phenomenal success story.” The whole population of Bolton, Ontario, which stands at 26,500, could fit inside the Reebok Stadium.

Bolton Wanderers are set to jet off to the USA this Monday and will play two friendly games in America before heading north of the border to play Toronto.

Whites captain Kevin Davies was surprised to hear that the club had a namesake across the pond.

He said: “I didn’t know that there was a town called Bolton near Toronto so it is a bit of a coincidence. We appreciate support whenever and wherever we play and it’s great that these fans are making the effort to come and cheer us on.”

* From Monday: Follow Wanderers on tour with our reporter Mark Iles