IN the latest in our series looking at Bolton Wanderers heroes of the past, Liam Chronnell puts the spotlight on Dave Felgate, the goalkeeper who had a rich and varied career and is now passing on his knowledge to aspiring youngsters

DAVE Felgate loved being a goalkeeper so much that he has dedicated his life to producing the next generation.

The former Wanderers favourite never really hung up his gloves after retiring from playing and has worked with keepers ever since.

Felgate, now head goalkeeping coach at Manchester City’s academy, has brought through a host of talent, including Kasper Schmeichel (ex-Notts County), Wayne Hennessey (Wolves), Kieren Westwood (Coventry) and Joe Lewis (Norwich). And now the 50-year-old, who made more than 300 appearances for Wanderers, has set up his own goalkeeping school in Bolton to help hone the talents of future Jussi Jaaskelainens.

Born in North Wales, Felgate started as a schoolboy with Everton before being released in 1978. Two days later he was playing for Wanderers youth team against Blackburn in the start of what was to be a rollercoaster career with Bolton. When Stan Anderson took over as manager from Ian Greaves the following season, Felgate was immediately shipped out on loan to Rochdale.

“It was the best thing I ever did,” he said. “I then went on loan to Crewe. They had a young goalkeeper called Bruce Grobbelaar at the time. They couldn’t get international clearance for him so I came in until it was sorted. He was incredible and a joy to work with.”

Felgate returned to Rochdale briefly before Colin Murphy paid £25,000 to take him to Lincoln in 1980. “I had five happy years and we had some good players like Mick Harford, John Fashanu, Tony Cunningham and Trevor Peake,” he said.

“Every year the club sold someone for £100,000 to balance the books. The manager always said ‘It’s your turn next’ so I never bought a house there.” But, when his turn came, his dream turned into a nightmare. “I was due to sign for Liverpool and the clubs agreed a £40,000 fee. It was a dream,” explained Felgate. “I was supposed to go to Liverpool on the Monday so, on the Sunday, I drove over there to make sure I knew the route. But I got a call that night saying the move had been put on hold. Lincoln had raised the price to £100,000 and Liverpool signed Mike Hooper.”

Felgate ended up at Grimsby and a “horrendous” 18-month spell followed. But from the depths of his despair, a chance return to Burnden Park paved the way for a reunion with his former club.

“I came home one weekend because my wife, Lynn, was homesick and ended up going to watch Bolton,” he said. “Just as I was leaving Phil Neal asked if I’d come on loan.”

Eight years after first joining Wanderers, Felgate finally made his full debut in a 4-0 home win over Newport in February 1986.

His loan spell famously ended, denying him an appearance in the Freight Rover Trophy final against Bristol City at Wembley. He recalled: “It was a tough time. I went back to Grimsby and I thought that was it – I’m going to stagnate forever.”

But Felgate returned to Bolton in February 1987, initially on loan, then on a permanent deal costing £15,000. And the disappointment of missing out on Wembley was forgotten when he helped Wanderers beat Torquay in the Sherpa Van Trophy final in 1989.

Felgate was number one but his turbulent Bolton career was to take another twist when Bruce Rioch replaced Phil Neal. “I went off to Canada in the summer to run a coaching school but I just had a strange feeling,” he said. “I phoned my father in law and he told me Bolton had just signed Keith Branagan from Millwall, which was Rioch’s old club. I thought ‘Here we go again’. I knuckled down in pre-season, we went on a training camp to the Wirral where the manager again said he hadn’t made his mind up who was going to start and was looking forward to the battle for the number one shirt.

“I was really looking forward to the season and I phoned my wife. She said ‘You’re upbeat considering you’re not going to play this season. Bruce Rioch’s told the Bolton Evening News that Branagan is first choice’. I couldn’t believe it but, in fairness, Branny had a great season. That’s the problem with being a goalkeeper, there’s only one position.”

He added: “We had a good season and were promoted against Preston. I’ll never forget that game because we’d gone to Chester races on the Tuesday because a few of the boys, like Phil Brown and John McGinlay, liked a flutter.

“We had the Wednesday off and were back in training on Thursday, but there was no sign of McGinlay.

“Then he came staggering in in the same suit he’d had on at the races with a wad of cash in one hand and a bottle of champagne in the other. The manager sent him home but he played against Preston and scored the winning penalty – that was McGin for you.”

Joy again turned to despair for the Welshman. “I was told my contract would not be renewed,” he said. “I was gutted, especially as I’d done nine years with the club and was due a testimonial. I went to see Bruce and asked if I’d be entitled to the win bonus the lads got for being promoted because I’d travelled home and away as Branny’s understudy.

“Bruce just said ‘Was your name on the teamsheet? Well you’re not getting anything then’.

“I came out in a right mood and bumped into Nat Lofthouse and explained what had happened.

“Next day I got call saying the manager wanted to see me. I went into his office and Bruce was there behind his desk with the chairs arranged so he’d always be looking down on you. He said he’d sorted it for me. I told him I knew Nat had but he just mumbled ‘You’ve got it haven’t you?’”

Bonus in hand, Felgate was on the move again. Spells at Bury, Wolves, Chester and Wigan followed before there was one last hurrah at Leigh RMI.

The UniBond League outfit drew Fulham in the first round of the FA Cup in 1998 and Felgate was inspired form in the televised 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage, prompting Kevin Keegan, the then Fulham manager, to describe it as the best goalkeeping performance he had ever seen.

Felgate, who lives in Westhoughton and has two children, finally retired at 42 after a season with Radcliffe Borough. He took a part-time job at City’s academy, which he combined with working at Anthony Axford timber merchants after a brief stint as a financial planner.

He then became goalkeeping coach at Stockport before leaving to take a full-time role with City in January 2009.

“It’s strange how it works out,” said Felgate. “I never had a goalkeeping coach until I worked with Eric Steele at Wolves and I benefited from it unbelievably. I wonder how much better I could’ve been if I had it all my career. But I can’t complain.

“I had a few successes during my time, played at Wembley twice and was capped by Wales. My best times were at Bolton. The club’s in my blood and I never wanted to leave, but now I enjoy passing on my experience to others.”