STEVEN Schumacher can recall every detail of his most cherished FA Cup memory like it was yesterday – and now he’s hoping to create some new ones at Wanderers.
An unashamed Boyhood Blue, a pre-teen Bolton boss stood behind the goal at Leeds United’s Elland Road as Everton beat Tottenham in the 1995 FA Cup semi-final.
Having broken his hand before the game, the pain was taken away by a famous 4-1 win, which set Joe Royle’s side on their way to victory against Manchester United in the final.
Now in the dugout, Schumacher dearly wants to make some more magic with a win at Swindon Town tomorrow afternoon, booking a place in the third round and a potential shot at one of the Premier League elite.
“I remember every single thing about that day – the weather, how we walked through the tunnel, got on the minibus, and 30 years later I’m still thinking about it,” he said.
“Now 30 years later I’m sat here talking to you about it, and that’s why I take this competition seriously, it’s why I love it. We want to be in that next round because you just don’t know what can happen.
“This club has gone on runs where it’s the underdog but it got big results and they are things that you can cherish for forever.”
Ironically, Schumacher can also recall Wanderers’ FA Cup giant-killing act at Goodison in 1994, a year before their run to the final.
Bolton’s historical ties with this competition run deep and they have so often played the role of giant-killers, not least in the White Hot days under Bruce Rioch.
The boot will be on the other foot this weekend as League Two Swindon Town look to upset a Whites side that are unbeaten in eight and have lost just twice over 90 minutes in 23 games in league and cup this season.
Ian Holloway’s side have serious promotion ambitions of their own and Schumacher has seen plenty about his next opponents that make him wary of over-confidence in the camp.
“We're not going there thinking: ‘We’re this, we’re that, they are the underdog,’ he said. “We are going there knowing we are getting a hard game.
“They have beaten some League One teams this season, they play a nice brand of football, they can switch systems within games and we are not just going to go there and have it all our own way.”
Schumacher came desperately close to an FA Cup giant-killing of his own in his first FA Cup run at Plymouth, running then-World Club champions Chelsea mighty close in 2022.
It was only his 10th game in charge of the Pilgrims – but after taking the lead, Thomas Tuchel’s side managed to wrestle control in extra time to win 2-1, and only then after Ryan Hardie missed a penalty at the bitter end.
“That was a good experience as a coach but it whets the appetite to do it again and it’s why I am desperate to win the game at Swindon,” he added.
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