The 1995–1996 season was the 117th season in Bolton Wanderers F.C.'s existence, and their first ever season in the FA Premier League following promotion from the Football League First Division.

This article covers the period from 1 July 1995 to 30 June 1996.

Season summary Bolton Wanderers returned to the top flight after a 15-year absence, only eight years after playing in the old Fourth Division, but with a new manager in Roy McFarland following Bruce Rioch's move to Arsenal. Bolton made a poor start to the campaign and McFarland made several moves in the transfer market, but this was not enough to turn things around and he was sacked on New Year's Day with Bolton bottom of the table and just two wins to their name. His assistant Colin Todd took over, and Bolton's form improved, but they could not avoid relegation. In spite of this, their form under Todd was so improved that, had the results from under Todd's management been shown all season, Bolton would have stayed up in 14th place.

Squad Squad at end of season

Left club during season

Results FA Premier League

DateOpponentsH / AResult F – AScorersAttendance19 August 1995WimbledonA2 – 3Thompson 27' (pen), de Freitas 39' 9,31722 August 1995Newcastle UnitedH1 – 3Bergsson 20,24326 August 1995Blackburn RoversH2 – 1de Freitas 21', Stubbs 80'20,25330 August 1995Aston VillaA0 – 131,7709 September 1995MiddlesbroughH1 – 1McGinlay 21'18,37616 September 1995Manchester UnitedA0 – 332,81223 September 1995LiverpoolA2 – 5Todd 77', Patterson 81' (pen)40,10430 September 1995Queens Park RangersH0 – 117,36214 October 1995EvertonH1 – 1Paatelainen 1'20,42721 October 1995Nottingham ForestA2 – 3Sneekes 22', de Freitas 78'25,42630 October 1995ArsenalH1 – 0McGinlay 35'18,6824 November 1995Manchester CityA0 – 128,39718 November 1995West Ham UnitedH0 – 319,04722 November 1995ChelseaA2 – 3Ćurčić 10, Green 68'17,49525 November 1995SouthamptonA0 – 114,4042 December 1995Nottingham ForestH1 – 1de Freitas 67'17,3429 December 1995LiverpoolH0 – 121,04216 December 1995Queens Park RangersA1 – 2Sellars 43' 11,45623 December 1995Tottenham HotspurA2 – 2Green 77', Bergsson 79'30,70227 December 1995Leeds UnitedH0 – 218,41430 December 1995Coventry CityH1 – 2McGinlay 16'16,6781 January 1996Sheffield WednesdayA2 – 4Ćurčić 51', Taggart 77'24,87213 January 1996WimbledonH1 – 0McGinlay 44' (pen)16,21620 January 1996Newcastle UnitedA1 – 2Bergsson 19'36,5433 February 1996Blackburn RoversA1 – 3Green 29'30,41910 February 1996Aston VillaH0 – 218,09917 February 1996MiddlesbroughA4 – 1Blake 12', Coleman 45', de Freitas 62', Lee 73'29,35425 February 1996Manchester UnitedH0 – 621,3812 March 1996Leeds UnitedA1 – 0Bergsson30,10616 March 1996Coventry CityA2 – 0Stubbs (2) 60', 70'17,22620 March 1996Tottenham HotspurH2 – 3Stubbs 74', Sellars 84'17,82923 March 1996Sheffield WednesdayH2 – 1Sellars 52', Ćurčić 52'18,36830 March 1996Manchester CityH1 – 1McGinlay 74'21,0506 April 1996EvertonA0 – 337,9748 April 1996ChelseaH2 – 1McGinlay 40', Ćurčić 44'18,02113 April 1996West Ham UnitedA0 – 123,08627 April 1996SouthamptonH0 – 118,7955 May 1996ArsenalA1 – 2Todd 76'38,104

FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult F – AScorersAttendance6 January 1996Round 3Bradford CityA3 – 0Ćurčić (2), McGinlay10,26514 February 1996Round 4Leeds UnitedH0 – 116,694

Coca-Cola Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult F – AScorersAttendance19 September 1995Round 2 First LegBrentfordH1 – 0Sneekes5,2433 October 1995Round 2 Second LegBrentfordA3 – 24 – 2 (agg)McGinlay, Patterson, Thompson 4,86124 October 1995Round 3Leicester CityH0 – 09,1668 November 1995Round 3 replayLeicester CityA3 – 2Ćurčić, McGinlay, Sneekes14,88429 November 1995Round 4Norwich CityA0 – 013,82020 December 1995Round 4 replayNorwich CityH0 – 0 (aet) 2 – 3 (pens)8,736

Top scorers

PPlayerPositionPLFACLCTotal1 John McGinlayStriker62192 Saša ĆurčićMidfielder41273 Fabian de FreitasStriker50054= Guðni BergssonDefender40044= Alan StubbsDefender4004

References