Bolton Wanderers made it a historic visit to Wembley this weekend, not only managing to win their first trip to the national stadium in over a decade, but also managing the largest attendance anywhere in Europe.
Your regular reminder that Greater Manchester is absolutely massive, in every sense of the word.
Putting four fine finishes past Plymouth Argyle to win the EFL Trophy on Sunday, The Trotters made it an emphatic victory 100 years on from becoming the first team to lift the FA Cup at Wembley in the legendary ‘White Horse Final’, where upwards of 200,000 fans are thought to have attended.
The EFL Trophy was their first piece of silverware in 34 years, so it was only fitting that more than 34,000 Wanderers joined Plymouth fans in descending on Wembley to cheer on their team — the highest anywhere on the continent across this round of fixtures. Mint.
The official @PapaJohnsTrophy Final attendance at Wembley is a remarkable 79,389, making this the highest attended game in all of Europe this weekend.
After sending the travelling fans into raptures barely four minutes into the game with Kyle Dempsey’s opener, and then again just a few minutes later through Dion Charles, Bolton’s supremacy was cemented right from the off.
ADVERTISEMENT
Elias Kachunga’s calmy-slotted effort just as early into the second half made it 3-0 and effectively killed off the game there and then. Thankfully, once again, the away support who had journeyed more than 200 miles were treated to a fourth and final goal barely three minutes later. Wonderland.
Manager Ian Evatt said after the game, “I’m extremely proud of the way the players performed on the big stage and I’m extremely proud of this football club”.
ADVERTISEMENT
It was a good day to be a Bolton fan, as you can see:
Hinting at Bolton’s precarious situation just a few years ago — when they nearly went bust entirely — Evatt went on to acknowledge: “We’ve had a hell of a journey. We almost lost it. Sharon and the ownership group have saved the football club and rebuilt it from top to bottom.”
“We’ve built a connection with the fan base, with the town, with the community”, he added, declaring the team as the “heartbeat” of the town and that “you could feel that connection with the 34,000+ fans that travelled.”
ADVERTISEMENT
He concluded by stating that the club “owed them a good day like this and that “this is hopefully the first of many.” Congratulations to the Bolton boys and well done to the fans for turning up in their droves
You can watch highlights of Bolton Wanderers vs Plymouth Argyle in the Papa John’s Trophy final down below:
Tommy Fury announces huge fight against former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall
Daisy Jackson
Tommy Fury has announced his next major boxing match – against a rather unlikely opponent.
The Manc boxer and former Love Island star will face Eddie Hall, who once reigned as the World’s Strongest Man and was the first person on the planet to deadlift 500kg.
The match, billed as Beauty vs The Beast (we’ll let you decide who’s who…), will take place at the AO Arena this summer.
Tommy Fury and Eddie Hall will be facing off in Manchester as part of the Misfits Boxing series, a sports promotion company founded by YouTube sensation KSI.
26-year-old Fury – younger brother of heavyweight legend Tyson Fury – remains unbeaten, seeing off all-comers in the crossover boxing world.
As for 38-year-old Eddie Hall (nicknamed The Beast), he retired as a strongman competitor, where he’s previously been crowned the World’s Strongest Man, and has now pivoted into combat sports.
The pair have collaborated recently on several videos online, taking on challenges like a One Punch Knockout and a breakfast eating competition.
But this will be the first time they’ve publicly faced off in the ring.
Misfirst Boxing has once more delivered the biggest match-ups possible in the crossover boxing space, with Fury vs. Hall promising to be a titanic tussle that will captivate fans around the world.
Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall, Beauty vs The Beast, will take place on Saturday 13 June at the AO Arena in Manchester – you can get tickets HERE.
Corey Blackett-Taylor ruled out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers winger Corey Blackett-Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season following injury.
With not that long left in this year’s campaign and the playoff scrap set to ramp up even further in the coming weeks, it’s an unfortunate twist of fate for the Trotters.
Despite still being only a relatively recent signing, having just joined Bolton in the most recent January transfer window, it didn’t take long for him to make a good impression.
Scoring on debut in a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 term, letting supporters know the news on Friday, 27 March.
Blackett-Taylor was forced off in the game against Rotherham United after pulling up in the wake of taking a shot, ultimately being subbed in the first half.
It was quickly confirmed to be a thigh injury, and while the specific nature and severity of the damage haven’t been fully detailed, he has now informed fans that his season is over.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Instantly from arriving at the club, I felt the passion and support from the fans, club, staff and players.
“I have no doubts [about] the club achieving their targets of promotion – I want to say a huge thank you for making me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is concluded due to my injury, but I’ll be here supporting the team to the very end.”
He isn’t the only impactful League One player at a side eyeing up the Championship to have been hampered by setbacks on the physio bench, with rivals Stockport County also confirming an absence at this crucial point in the campaign.
Not ideal for either of the Greater Manchester hopefuls.
Once again, while the recovery period for both of these players has already begun, the exact timelines for their return remain to be seen.
That being said, chances are we’ll see the Derby County loanee back in action before Hills, though we’ll have to wait to find out whether it will be at the Toughsheet Stadium or back with his parent club.
Who do you think is going to clinch that third promotion place at Wembley come this May?
Danny Jones -
3rd April 2023 
