HARRY Brockbank has ended a lengthy stay at Wanderers to pursue an opportunity in the United States.

The Bolton-born defender has made 36 appearances for his hometown club but both parties feel it is the right time to move on.

From wearing the captain’s armband to relegation heartbreak, here are the highs and lows of his time at the UniBol.

Making his debut

Brockbank made his senior debut in a 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa in April 2019, playing the full 90 minutes at right-back.

The defender made a positive impact, clearing John McGinn’s effort off the line early in the first half.

It must have been a proud moment for the youngster to play for his hometown club after joining the Whites’ youth ranks at the age of seven.

However, the occasion was bittersweet for Brockbank as the result saw the Whites relegated from the Championship.

Captaining the side

Wanderers’ first-team squad – who hadn’t been paid in five months due to issues off the pitch – went on strike in August 2019.

In their absence, the Whites named their youngest ever starting line-up with an average age of just under 19.

Brockbank was given the captain’s armband and led the side to a hard-fought draw against Coventry City, becoming one of the youngest in the club’s history.

The side – often referred to as the ‘Junior Whites’ – were cheered off by the 9,000 supporters in attendance at the UniBol.

Relegation heartbreak

Brockbank made eight first-team appearances in the 2019/20 campaign, which ended in heartbreak for Wanderers.

The Whites found themselves at the foot of the League One table when the season was cut short in March due to the pandemic.

Clubs voted to use a points-per-game model to decide the promotion and relegation places, which saw Bolton drop to the fourth tier for the first time in over 30 years.

Then-manager Keith Hill left the club the following summer, with chairman Sharon Brittan looking for “a fresh approach to our management and coaching structure”.

Community work

Brockbank became a mental health ambassador for the club in January 2021, taking on a role endorsed by the Community Trust.

The defender wanted to help others after life in lockdown left him seeking to improve his own mental health.

“Playing for Wanderers is probably the dream for the majority of lads in Bolton, so it’s important I give something back,” he said.

Brockbank went on to win the PFA Community Champion Award for his efforts in the local community.

A stunning promotion

After the heartbreak of relegation a year prior, Wanderers bounced back in style under new boss Ian Evatt.

The Whites sat 20th in the table in February and seemed destined for their lowest finish in the club’s history.

But the Whites went on a remarkable run in the second half of the season to defy the odds and clinch automatic promotion after finishing third.

While he didn’t feature against Crawley on the final day, Brockbank was regularly involved throughout the campaign.

Penning a new deal

Brockbank signed a new two-year deal with the Whites last summer after making 19 appearances in the 2020/21 campaign.

“He has Bolton Wanderers in his veins and it is great for us to have homegrown talent in our squad,” said Ian Evatt.

“He was very consistent when called upon last season and is developing into a leader in the dressing room,” he added.

The defender made seven first-team appearances this season, most recently as a second-half substitute in the 2-1 defeat at Rotherham.

An untimely injury

Brockbank had to wait patiently for an opportunity in the first-team this season but his chance came after Gethin Jones was sidelined by a fractured fibula.

The defender featured in three successive League One games in October and looked set for an extended run in the side.

However, he suffered a partially torn Achilles and was forced to watch on from the sidelines for a couple of months.

Lloyd Isgrove filled in at right-back in Brockbank’s absence before Jones’ return from injury and Marlon Fossey’s arrival on loan from Fulham.


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