Ted Moulden dreamed of playing for Wanderers but is now making an impact in a very different role.

Moulden was a defender for the Whites’ Under-18 side before he was forced to call time on his playing career in 2018 due to injury.

But the 21-year-old turned a bad situation into something very positive and now plays a key role behind the scenes as kit manager.

Moulden initially didn’t want to stay involved in football but was given an opportunity by Ian Evatt that he couldn’t turn down.

“It was tough. Ask any kid in the Academy, all you dream about is becoming a professional player.

“You put every bit of your life into it. You go to sleep early, you eat well, you exercise and keep fit - even when you're on holiday - so for it to end like that was difficult, especially as a Bolton lad,” he told the EFL Magazine.

"To be honest, I didn't really want to stay involved with football. My mum had seen a barbering course online so I did an intensive course for 12 weeks and qualified as a barber.

"But I knew the two club kitmen - Paul Huddy and Michael Hawke - and Hawkey needed someone to be his assistant when Huddy left to go to Preston.

"About a month after I'd come back to the club, Hawkey also went to Preston so the gaffer pulled me into his office and asked if I fancied doing it on my own.

"It's given me a routine and a purpose and that's got me through a difficult period in my life.

Moulden is now loving life at Wanderers and reckons the club is heading in the right direction after finishing ninth in League One last season.

He added: "It's been two good seasons on the pitch since I started. Getting promoted from League Two was amazing and then ending up in ninth last season, considering we had a lot of injuries, is a great achievement.

"I've loved being in the environment of professional sport. The whole staff are one big team and you can always have a laugh with the players as well. I wake up on a Monday morning and I don't feel like I'm going to work.

"Every day is different and it's always enjoyable so hopefully Bolton will continue to rise up the leagues and I can be part of the club's journey along the way."

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