Up they went in all their glory,

But the Premier League is a different story.

First Rioch went things looking glum,

But wait the worst was yet to come.

Hard games came thick and fast,

Then Blackburn felt the Bolton blast.

Great to watch on Match of the Day,

The Bolton captain had his say. Words spoken at his cost,

Blackburn and Arsenal both said get lost.

Jason's off to play for the Pool

It's obvious now he is no fool.

Two managers we had who is the boss?

McFarland went that was no loss.

Christmas came and New Year went,

Not a decent penny spent.

It's enough to make you blow a fuse,

Why did they not go for Mark Hughes.

Get quality players one fan rages,

Another shouts they will not pay the wages. Hot and cold the Wanderers blew,

But we all know it will not do.

United came, let's play with pride,

The Premier gulf can't be that wide.

Giggs and Eric up to their tricks,

It should really have been more than six.

Two games left there still is hope,

But the Whites could just not cope.

A gloomy picture the season paints,

The final nail knocked in by the saints.

The Premier dream has been and gone

So it's back to life in Division One. M H Williams, Haynes Street, Bolton

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.