A guide to Bolton Wanderers' opponents in League Two this season

Ian Evatt’s side are now the bookmakers’ favourite to go straight up this season and will kick off their attempt with a home clash against Forest Green Rovers, another club with designs on League One football.

Their first away game will be against Colchester United – the first competitive meeting between the two sides since 1988, and the first at their new home of the Jobserve Community Stadium.

Fans will not be allowed to watch games until the government relax their rules on large gatherings at professional sports stadia, with a review expected in October.

There are no guarantees either that the initial phase of re-opening will include away supporters, so to minimise cross-country travel during the pandemic.

But nevertheless, Wanderers fans have bought up season tickets in droves, more than 4,000 now sold. And an announcement is expected very soon from the EFL on how fans will be able to stream both home and away games using the iFollow platform.

Here’s our guide to what fans can expect this season – whether behind a laptop, or in the stands.

BARROW

Play at: Progression Solicitors Stadium

Capacity: 5,045

Miles from Bolton: 87.9

Rivalry rating: Both meetings with the Bluebirds are likely to fizz following Ian Evatt’s decision to leave the club he had taken to National League promotion for a shot at managing Wanderers.

Last meeting: Tony Philliskirk scored the only goal in the FA Cup third round at Burnden Park back in 1991, booking a glamour tie with Manchester United.

Common Thread: Wanderers have Barrow old boy Tom White on loan… And a certain Ian Evatt and his assistant Peter Atherton in the dugout.

BRADFORD CITY

Play at: Utilita Energy Stadium

Capacity: 25,136

Miles from Bolton: 43

Rivalry rating: Maybe not quite as fierce as it last was in League One when Phil Parkinson was in charge but the Bantams will be one of Bolton’s biggest promotion rivals, so don’t expect a welcome mat at Valley Parade.

Last meeting: Last season in the EFL Trophy, where Jermaine Anderson’s unsavoury celebrations in front of Adam Senior – who had missed a spot kick – won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

Common thread: Eoin Doyle’s presence in the Bolton squad should ensure there is still a touch of spice between the trans-Pennine rivals. Oh, and they have Clayton Donaldson.

CAMBRIDGE UNITED

Play at: R Costings Abbey Stadium

Capacity: 8,696

Miles from Bolton: 192.4

Rivalry rating: Like the city, pretty chilled. There were a few ding-dong battles between the two clubs in the lower leagues in the eighties but time has healed those wounds.

Last meeting: Wanderers won 3-1 at Cambridge in the FA Cup fifth round in 2000 with two goals from Bob Taylor and one from Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Common thread: Wanderers defender George Taft knows the Abbey Stadium well, having had a few spells there as a player.

CARLISLE UNITED

Play at: Brunton Park

Capacity: 18,500

Miles from Bolton: 108.2

Rivalry rating: Not a million miles away up the M6 but have spent a long time at different ends of the Football League. The Boxing Day fixture will be one for the brave.

Last meeting: March 1988, where John Thomas and Nicky Brookman scored to secure an important 2-1 win en route to promotion from Division Four.

Common thread: Former Wanderers loanee David Holdsworth – brother of Dean – is the director of football at Brunton Park.

CHELTENHAM TOWN

Play at: Jonny-Rocks Stadium

Capacity: 7,408

Miles from Bolton: 142.4

Rivalry rating: Barely registers on the scale, although Cheltenham are one of the only sides with a 100 per cent winning record against Bolton.

Last meeting: Only the one. Amari Morgan-Smith’s goal was enough to earn the Robins victory against Bolton on a sodden Whaddon Road pitch in November 2016. Arguably the most forgettable evening of that campaign.

Common thread: Not so many links - but Sanmi Odelusi played a handful of games for both clubs. 

COLCHESTER UNITED

Play at: Jobserve Community Stadium

Capacity: 10,000

Miles from Bolton: 246

Rivalry rating: Decidedly more comfortable these days than it would have been at Layer Road.

Last meeting: Way back in May 1988, Wanderers gave themselves an automatic promotion lifeline with a 4-0 win at Colchester’s old HQ. Goals came from John Thomas, Robbie Savage, Mark Came and Jeff Chandler.

Common thread: Wanderers midfielder Brandon Comley returns to the club he served well for the last few years, which should make a tale.

CRAWLEY TOWN

Play at: The People's Pension Stadium

Capacity: 4,996

Miles from Bolton: 249.7

Rivalry rating: Another team with a 100 per cent winning record against Wanderers. Time to change that.

Last meeting: Nicky Ajose’s late winner knocked Wanderers out of the League Cup in 2012 and put the wobbles under Owen Coyle. He never recovered.

Common thread: Filipe Morais is still on the books at Crawley, though he is reported to be eyeing a move back north.

EXETER CITY

Play at: St James Park

Capacity: 9,036

Miles from Bolton: 249.8

Rivalry rating: Possibly too far of a drive to hold any grudge. Lovely when you get there, though.

Last meeting: Bruce Rioch’s side were really flexing their muscles in the old Division Three back in March 1993 as John McGinlay (2), Andy Walker and Tony Kelly scored in a 4-1 win.

Common thread: Dean Moxey was released in the summer, which might leave Chorley-born Exeter boss Matt Taylor as the closest link.

FOREST GREEN ROVERS

Play at: The New Lawn

Capacity: 5,032

Miles from Bolton: 159.2

Rivalry rating: No Ken Do. There is a rare air of cordiality between the two clubs thanks to FGR owner Dale Vince and his ‘views’ on Ken Anderson. Football Ventures have even been down to sample the vegan food.

Last meeting: Never been one, unless you count the fans who travelled down to wear the T-shirts and get a free pint.

Common thread: We’ll always have Christian Doidge, although less said about the circumstances, the better.

GRIMSBY TOWN

Play at: Blundell Park

Capacity: 9,052

Miles from Bolton: 119.3

Rivalry rating: Another long-forgotten foe who are predicted by some to be dark horses in this year’s promotion battle.

Last meeting: Wanderers beat Grimsby 1-0 with a goal from Liam Trotter in the FA Cup first round in 2016. Nope, we didn’t remember the game either.

Common thread: Ian Holloway once called Bolton ‘boring’. You have to doubt he’ll have the same assessment this season.

HARROGATE TOWN

Play at: CNG Stadium

Capacity: 3,800

Miles from Bolton: 62.9

Rivalry rating: It’s a blank canvass, with the Yorkshiremen brand spanking new members of the EFL crew.

Last meeting: Not even so much as a pre-season friendly, which is a shame, as it’s a lovely neck of the woods.

Common thread: Ex-Wanderers winger Tom Walker has just signed for Harrogate. Will be nice to see him.

LEYTON ORIENT

Play at: Breyer Group Stadium

Capacity: 9,271

Miles from Bolton: 215.5

Rivalry rating: Wanderers haven’t ventured down to E10 for a while but fans will probably fancy the trip, given there are few proper London games this season.

Last meeting: League Cup in 1997 – and a bizarre 4-4 draw notable for being the first League Cup game at the Reebok. John McGinlay scored a record 14th goal in the competition for the Whites – his last for the club.

Common thread: Former Wanderers striker Connor Wilkinson plays for the Os, scoring five goals in 28 games last season.

MANSFIELD TOWN

Play at: One Call Stadium

Capacity: 9,186

Miles from Bolton: 88.4

Rivalry rating: Hasn’t been the easiest ground for Wanderers in their most recent visits. Lost there in pre-season a few years ago and a midweek trip over the hills will not be one for the faint-hearted.

Last meeting: Other than the friendly, you have to go back to April, 1993 when Mark Seagraves rescued a point for Bruce Rioch’s men.

Common thread: Ex-Wanderers full-back Joe Riley was recently ruled out with a knee injury but the Stags still have experienced front man Craig Davies on board.

MORECAMBE

Play at: Mazuma Stadium

Capacity: 6,476

Miles from Bolton: 48.9

Rivalry rating: A fairly close game, geographically, but not a derby. A seaside trip to Morecambe Bay at the end of the season would be a lovely place to get promoted.

Last meeting: The last friendly that wasn’t cancelled between the sides was in 2015 as a Stephen Dobbie goal couldn’t stop Neil Lennon’s side from slipping to a 2-1 defeat.

Common thread: Sam Lavelle was unlucky not to play more for Bolton but now features regularly for the Shrimps. Ex-Bolton keeper Jake Turner has also gone there on loan from Newcastle United.

NEWPORT COUNTY

Play at: Rodney Parade

Capacity: 7,850

Miles from Bolton: 192.1

Rivalry rating: Impossible to mention Newport without bringing up the fateful friendly in 2012 in which Chung-Yong Lee broke his leg. The Easter Monday game will be feisty one.

Last meeting: Wanderers’ last competitive game against Newport ended 6-0 in their favour. John Thomas scored a hat-trick, with Mark Winstanley, Trevor Morgan and Steve Thompson on target in April 1988.

Common thread: Nothing recent – but Dean Holdsworth once managed the Exiles and Nathan Blake played out the last few months of his career with the Welshmen.

OLDHAM ATHLETIC

Play at: Boundary Park

Capacity: 10,638

Miles from Bolton: 20.1

Rivalry rating: A local derby, of sorts. There was certainly an edge the last time the two sides met a few years go.

Last meeting: Lee Erwin scored the only goal for the 10-man Latics as Wanderers’ automatic promotion ambitions were suddenly destabilised in April 2017.

Common thread: David Wheater left Bolton to join Oldham last season’s summer of turmoil. He’s bound to get a good reception.

PORT VALE

Play at: Vale Park

Capacity: 22,356

Miles from Bolton: 52.9

Rivalry rating: A hidden gem, perhaps? Bolton and Port Vale have crossed swords at the top of a few different divisions down the years.

Last meeting: Wanderers fans won’t forget the 2-0 win at Vale Park in 2017 – David Wheater’s header, Gary Madine’s return from injury. Very nearly perfect.

Common thread: Frank Sinclair, Port Vale’s head of coaching development, lives in Bolton. That’s as close as we can do, for now.

SALFORD CITY

Play at: Peninsula Stadium

Capacity: 5,108

Miles from Bolton: 10.9

Rivalry rating: It should be fierce but there are no historical roots binding the two clubs. Salford are definitely a promotion contender, so league proximity might make up for it.

Last meeting: Never played Salford in a competitive match, which is hardly surprising given how far the Ammies have come in such a short space of time.

Common thread: Last season's club captain, Jason Lowe, decided to sign a deal with Salford City this summer after his release at Wanderers. One of the good guys.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED

Play at: Sands Venue Stadium

Capacity: 9,088

Miles from Bolton: 92.3

Rivalry rating: There were some cross words between Wanderers and Scunthorpe the last time they shared a division. Will it spill over?

Last meeting: David Mirfin’s goal secured an important win for Scunny back in 2017 which really dented Bolton’s chances of promotion at the time.

Common thread: Scunthorpe are managed by a former Wanderer, and all-round good bloke, Neil Cox, which is nice.

SOUTHEND UNITED

Play at: Roots Hall

Capacity: 12,392

Miles from Bolton: 242.5

Rivalry rating: The two sides battled for the title of worst team in League One last season but both will be hoping better times are ahead. Should be a nice trip in February.

Last meeting: Last December Joe Dodoo, Luke Murphy and Daryl Murphy scored in a 3-2 win that briefly lifted the gloom under Keith Hill.

Common thread: Phil Brown is probably the best shot, having recently managed the Blues.

STEVENAGE BOROUGH

Play at: Lamex Stadium

Capacity: 7,800

Miles from Bolton: 189

Rivalry rating: Zero, nada. Stevenage are one of the brand-new opponents this season, so it should be a friendly day.

Last meeting: Not a one. The closest Wanderers have ever played is Luton.

Common thread: After quite a bit of digging, ex-Bolton full-back Lawrie Wilson is probably the best example of a foot in both clubs.

TRANMERE ROVERS

Play at: Prenton Park

Capacity: 16,587

Miles from Bolton: 40.1

Rivalry rating: Now that’s what I call rivalry. Very little rhyme or reason why Bolton and Tranmere have just never got along – and most of it stems from their John Aldridge years. But after last season’s game at Prenton Park there is a little score to settle.

Last meeting: Dennis Politic and Chris O’Grady scored in a 2-0 win for Wanderers last season at a time when relegation was all-but confirmed.

Common thread: Popular former skipper Jay Spearing made the surprising choice to drop down to League Two with the Wirral men.

WALSALL

Play at: Banks’s Stadium

Capacity: 11,300

Miles from Bolton: 87.7

Rivalry rating: Nothing sinister. Both clubs met quite frequently through the eighties and had a few high-scoring cup games too.

Last meeting: A 5-2 FA Cup win in which Josh Magennis scored a hat-trick and Clayton Donaldson hit the back of the net. One for Ripley’s.

Common thread: A young Walsall squad is marshalled by experienced former Bolton loanee Danny Guthrie, who somehow is now 33 years old.