Bolton Wanderers fans away guide to 2023/24 in League One

After Sheffield Wednesday beat Barnsley in the play-off semi-final, we now know that to make a round trip from the stadium to every one of the 23 away games, supporters will have to clock 6569.6 miles – or roughly the distance to New York City and back again.

Stevenage will be a new ground to most supporters, with the club’s only previous visit coming in lockdown, and there will be the return of some local favourites like Blackpool and Wigan, who were relegated from the Championship.

The total distance to visit every away game – from the stadium, at least – is actually slightly less than it was last season.

We have put together a ground-by-ground guide, and what you might plan on your itinerary if you make a weekend of it.

BARNSLEY – Beaten in the play-offs after squeezing past Wanderers in the semi-finals, the South Yorkshiremen will be desperate to go one step further next season.

The trip: 67.9 miles.

Past form: Nobody needs a reminder of the 1-0 defeat in the play-off semi-final, courtesy of Liam Kitching’s header. Let’s all focus on the 3-0 win in January instead.

Sightseeing: The UK’s largest bakery – ASOS – which owns Mr Kipling, or for those culture vultures, the smart Barnsley Town Hall and museum.

BLACKPOOL – Slumped to relegation after two seasons in the Championship but did show some encouraging signs under ex-Wanderers man Stephen Dobbie.

The trip: 34.8 miles.

Past form: Wanderers haven’t won at Bloomfield Road since December 1977 when Frank Worthington and Neil Whatmore grabbed the goals. Since then, no wins in 15 visits.

Sightseeing: Well, there’s the Golden Mile and the Tower, of course, the famous old piers and the Pleasure Beach. Not a bad day out.

BRSTOL ROVERS – Joey Barton’s side dropped down the table to 17th in the end but enjoyed a solid return to League One level, with Aaron Collins scoring plenty of goals.

The trip: 179 miles.

Past form: Goals from Shola Shoretire, Dan Nlundulu and Aaron Morley earned a 3-2 win on the final day of the season. Wanderers haven’t lost at the Memorial Stadium in their last four visits.

Sightseeing: Brunel, boats, bridges and beautiful countryside.

BURTON ALBION – The Brewers finished last season as one of the division’s form teams, climbing well clear of the relegation zone.

The trip: 92.2 miles.

Past form: Wanderers have never won a game at the Pirelli Stadium. Sure, there have only been four visits but it has been a remarkably awkward place.

Sightseeing: As one of the historical centres of beer production in the UK, there are plenty of places to drink. Sadly, the National Brewery Museum was recently closed.

CAMBRIDGE UNITED – Clinched safety with a 2-0 win against Forest Green on the final day of the season and have lost a few big players on their retained list. In for a ‘summer of change’ according to their highly-rated young manager, Mark Bonner.

The trip: 196 miles.

Past form: The two sides slugged out a goalless draw in December meaning Wanderers have not won at the Abbey Stadium in three visits, stretching back to January 2000.

Sightseeing: A punt down the river? A tour around the magnificent university and cathedral architecture? Very gentile.

CARLISLE UNITED – Won the League Two play-off final on penalties against Stockport County to return to League One level for the first time since 2014.

The trip: 103 miles.

Past form: The last visit to Brunton Park on Boxing Day 2020 was a rare day out in front of fans during the pandemic. They got their money’s worth, too, with George Thomason, Peter Kioso and Nathan Delfouneso on target in a manic 3-3 draw.

Sightseeing: Hadrian’s Wall, Carlisle Cathedral and a whole host of Roman forts and settlements. A history lover’s paradise.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC – Has not been a happy club for the last few seasons but ex-Wanderer Dean Holden has restored some stability on the pitch. A 10th placed finish was credible in the end.

The trip: 236 miles.

Past form: Wanderers turned it on for the TV cameras at The Valley in January with goals from Dion Charles and Aaron Morley. They haven’t lost at the ground on their last four visits.

Sightseeing: It’s London, isn’t it? Lots to see and do – and the O2 Arena is very close by.

CHELTENHAM TOWN – Few would have expected Wade Elliott’s men to avoid relegation so comfortably. Always an uphill struggle budget-wise, and won’t be any different this season.

The trip: 144 miles.

Past form: Bolton had one of their poorest nights of the season against Cheltenham in October – but it was their only defeat against the Robins in six meetings.

Sightseeing: A pleasant regency town filled with galleries, museums and parks – and the picturesque Cotswolds are not far away, either.

DERBY COUNTY – Missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the season. After administration and huge squad changes, you can expect Paul Warne’s Rams to return much stronger.

The trip: 99.7 miles.

Past form: It is 42 years since Wanderers won a game in Derby, and that was at the old Baseball Ground. Last season’s 2-1 defeat was the latest in a lengthy line.

Sightseeing: A short drive from some delightful sights and sounds in the Peak District.

EXETER CITY – Another side who exceeded expectation, particularly in the first half of the season after losing manager Matt Taylor to Rotherham and appointing ex-Wigan man Gary Caldwell. A 14th placed finish with 17 goals from Sam Nombe in all competitions was a fair return after promotion from League Two.

The trip: 253 miles.

Past form: Undefeated in four visits to St James Park, Wanderers came away with three points last season thanks to a goal from Conor Bradley.

Sightseeing: The Royal Albert Memorial Museum, the Crealy Great Adventure Park or maybe the medieval underground passages that snake across the city.

FLEETWOOD TOWN – Ex-Celtic man Scott Brown fashioned a team that proved tough to beat last season, finishing an expected 13th. Whether off-the-field legal issues with owner Andy Pilley now have a knock on effect at the club remains to be seen.

The trip: 39.1 miles.

Past form: Dapo Afolayan and Conor Bradley supplied a stunning late comeback last season – and in all, Wanderers have won six of the seven league meetings between the clubs.

Sightseeing: Shoppers can flock to Freeport, you can have a stroll down the promenade, or for the younger fans, maybe a trip out to Farmer Parr’s Animal World?

LEYTON ORIENT - Ex-Wanderers skipper Darren Pratley helped the London club to an impressive title win and their first season back in League One since 2015.

The trip: 230 miles.

Past form: A forgettable last trip to Leyton in October 2020 ended in a 4-0 defeat but before that, Bolton’s record has been pretty sound.

Sightseeing: That part of London has plenty to offer – from the Coronation Gardens to the nearby Olympic Park and the massive Westfield Shopping Centre.

LINCOLN CITY – A tendency to draw too many games left Lincoln unable to challenge in the top half of the table last season, so Mark Kennedy will be looking for more consistency this time around.

The trip: 117 miles.

Past form: Recent trips to Lincoln have been a mixed bag – a heavy defeat in January 2020, a late win in August 2021 and Eoin Toal’s goal securing a point in the final game of 2022.

Sightseeing: Lincoln Cathedral is a wonderful sight, especially when lit up at night, the castle and the historic city’s many museums are also worth a wander, too.

NORTHAMPTON TOWN – Clinched promotion with a 1-0 win at Tranmere, 12 months on from being pipped to the post by Bristol Rovers on the last day. The goals of Sam Hoskins have been vital for the Cobblers.

The trip: 149 miles.

Past form: Wanderers have won on their last three visits to Northampton, the last being in 2016 when Zach Clough scored the winner for Phil Parkinson’s side.

Sightseeing: The Althorp estate – final resting place of Diana, Princess of Wales – and the house at 78 Derngate, remodelled by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh are the most popular attractions.

OXFORD UNITED – Huge disappointment last season as despite boasting a very decent playing budget, the U’s only secured safety late on. Massive improvement will be expected this time around under Liam Manning.

The trip: 178 miles.

Past form: Dion Charles scored the winner in April, his 20th club goal of the season, and Wanderers have been undefeated on their last five trips to the city, dating back to 1993.

Sightseeing: If architecture is your thing, The City of Dreaming Spires has loads to see. Any Harry Potter fans can take the tours to see some of the famous buildings used in the films and there are some wonderful museums.

PETERBOROUGH UNITED – That Posh threw away a 4-0 lead in the play-off semi-final against Sheffield Wednesday is a statistic likely to haunt them for a while. Going with a younger squad this time around is a bold choice.

The trip: 161 miles.

Past form: Wanderers breezed to a 5-0 win at London Road back in February, which ended a winless run at that ground which stretched back to the mid-1990s.

Sightseeing: The Gothic cathedral in the heart of the city is worth a look and if you have time to kill – the Nene Valley Railway and Ferry Meadows Country Park are great for a day out.

PORTSMOUTH – Expectations were not met at Fratton Park last season and there will be pressure from a big fanbase to make more of a promotion push.

The trip: 257 miles.

Past form: Wanderers were well beaten at Pompey in late February. They haven’t won at Fratton Park since 2009 when Gary Cahill, Tamir Cohen and Fratton Park old boy Matty Taylor were on the scoresheet.

Sightseeing: The Mary Rose Museum, Spinnaker Tower, HMS Victory and Dockyard Museum reflect the maritime history of a unique island city.

PORT VALE – After sacking Darrell Clarke in April Vale handed the reins to former coach, Andy Crosby. Avoiding relegation will again be the top priority.

The trip: 56.5 miles.

Past form: Unbeaten in their last nine games at Vale Park, that run was put to the test in the blazing August sunshine when Ricardo Santos was sent off, leaving 10 men to hold on for a goalless draw.

Sightseeing: Plenty of Pottery-based attractions and for the more adventurous, Alton Towers is only a short car journey away.

READING – Deducted six points because of a breach of EFL regulations, the Royals sacked Paul Ince and are currently looking for their next permanent manager. Whoever takes the role will be expected to lead from the front.

The trip: 213 miles.

Past form: Yanic Wildschut scored the winner for Bolton to put them top of the Championship back in August 2018 on their last visit to Reading. It was all downhill from there.

Sightseeing: The Museum of Rural Life, or the Reading Museum are popular destinations, or how about a walk down the Thames?

SHREWSBURY – For much of last season the Shrews were punching well above their weight in the top third of the table. A 12th placed finish was above what many predicted and will be tough to match again.

The trip: 89 miles.

Past form: Beaten by a late goal in December, Wanderers had won their four previous league games at Shrewsbury going back to the old Gay Meadow stadium.

Sightseeing: The town centre still has much of its medieval layout and is good to explore. And for those with a macabre streak, take a guided tour around Shrewsbury Prison, once home to one of the Great Train Robbers.

STEVENAGE – Transformed from relegation fodder into promotion contenders by Steve Evans, Stevenage return to League One level for the first time since 2014.

The trip: 188 miles.

Past form: Wanderers have played there just once – November 2020, in the midst of lockdown, where Eoin Doyle and Ali Crawford scored the goals in a 2-1 win.

Sightseeing: Fairlands Valley Park is a picturesque place to visit and if music is your thing, then Knebworth House lies just outside the town.

WYCOMBE – Readjusting after losing long-time manager Gareth Ainsworth, Wycombe finished ninth under his successor, Matt Bloomfield. Never easy opposition to beat – and will hope for a promotion push this term.

The trip: 194 miles.

Past form: Three visits to Adams Park, three defeats. The latest was a scrappy 1-0 reverse in February, courtesy of Lewis Wing’s first-half strike.

Sightseeing: Hughenden Manor was once home to Benjamin Disraeli and the Hell Fire Caves, which bury deep into the Chiltern hills, have been used for plenty of spooky TV scenes.

WIGAN ATHLETIC – The Latics will start this season on minus eight points after breaking EFL regulations and were relegated as the Championship’s rock-bottom club. Tough times for all involved at the DW Stadium.

The trip: 7.6 miles.

Past form: It is 11 years since Wanderers won in Wigan – and that when both clubs were competing in the Premier League. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s header earned them a point on their last visit in April 2022.

Sightseeing: Right on the doorstep – so Bolton folk shouldn’t need a reminder that places such as Haigh Hall, the Three Sisters or Wigan Pier are worth a gander.