How a lucky Bolton fan could get to present the Papa Johns Trophy

The Whites are just one step away from Wembley ahead of next month’s trip to North West neighbours Accrington in the semi-final.

Football Manager have launched a competition offering the winners a “one-of-a-kind VIP experience” for the final.

This includes a meal with a professional manager, an all-access tour of Wembley and even the chance to deliver the trophy to the winning captain in the Royal Box.

To enter, fans need to win the tournament with an existing League One or League Two side in the Football Manager 23 game before 5pm on Friday, March 17. Entrants must be based in the UK and members of FMFC, the game’s exclusive members club.

Other prizes include ticket to the final, FMFC home shirts and even a year’s supply of pizza.

Sports Interactive’s Richard Trafford said: “The opportunity to present the trophy to the winning captain in Wembley’s Royal Box is the definition of a ‘once in a lifetime’ prize and we can’t wait to see how people engage with the challenge.”

Papa Johns’ marketing director Rebecca Rose added: “We’re hugely passionate about using our sponsorship of one of the UK’s biggest football trophies to give back to fans.

“That’s why we’re giving Football Manager players the chance to quite literally ‘get their hands on’ the Papa Johns Trophy, handing it over to the winning captain at Wembley in April.”

Evatt’s men overcame Portsmouth in the quarter-final, with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson getting the decisive goal that night.

Wanderers also beat Barrow and Manchester United Under-21s in the knockout rounds after finishing top of Group B.

Meanwhile, Accrington beat Lincoln on penalties in the quarter-final following a 2-2 draw at Sincil Bank. Former Bolton loanee Lukas Jensen denied Danny Mandroiu and Max Sanders from the spot.

The Whites won the competition in 1989 following a memorable 4-1 win against Torquay. Under-18s manager Julian Darby was on target against the Gulls that day.