The 2021–22 season is Bolton Wanderers's 133rd season in their history. It covers the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. It was the club's first season back in League One following their immediate promotion from League Two the previous season.
Squad First team
Out on loan
Youth players with first team appearances
Youth players with first team squad numbers
Pre-season friendlies Bolton Wanderers confirmed they would play friendly matches against Longridge Town, Atherton Collieries, FC United of Manchester, Preston North End, Bamber Bridge Barrow, Chorley Blackburn Rovers and Chester as part of their pre-season schedule. Bolton's friendly against Longridge Town was a clause included as part of the transfer agreement for George Thomason though presumably was delayed a year to allow fans to attend. Longridge also decided to use the match to celebrate their 25th anniversary. The match against Chorley is for the Harold Taylor Memorial Trophy, the first time it has been used since 2017.Chorley FC: "The Harold Taylor Memorial Trophy is back on the agenda this PRE-SEASON after a four-year hiatus... On 23 June Bolton announced they would have two XI sides play against Norwich City's Norwich City U-23 and Norwich City U-18 teams on 31 July before their match against Blackburn Rovers. Only the match against Norwich U-18 appears to have actually happened, however.
Bolton were meant to have a pre-season training camp in Scotland in early July 2021, however Scotland's government banned travel from Bolton to Scotland due to rising cases in COVID-19 in Bolton. "Essential travel" was permitted, with Bolton's training camp being considered "essential" due to them being elite sportsman – however Bolton decided to cancel the trip as non essential staff weren't allowed to travel in addition to not wanting to become a political tool between Scotland and England over the travel ban.
Mid-season friendlies On 23 September, Bolton announced the first team would play a friendly against a team consisting of legendary Bolton players on 13 November to help raise money for Gethin Jones's Mother's recovery, as she had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. A quarter of the money raised would also go to former Bolton player Stephen Darby's charity Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, as he had also suffered from Motor Neurone Disease which had forced him to retire.
Competitions EFL League One
League table
Results summary
Results by matchday
Matches The fixtures for the 2021–22 EFL League One season were released on 24 June and saw Bolton opening their campaign at home to Milton Keynes Dons on 7 August. The regular season will conclude on 30 April at home to Fleetwood Town.
FA Cup
Bolton enter the FA Cup at the first round stage, along with all other League One and League Two clubs and were drawn at home to Stockport County.
EFL Cup
Bolton entered the EFL Cup at the first round stage, along with all other League One and League Two club and the majority of Championship clubs. The draw was made on 24 June and saw Bolton face Barnsley in the first round. The tie took place on 10 August and after a goalless draw Bolton won on penalties. This marked the first time in four seasons that Bolton have made it past the first round. They were then drawn away to Wigan Athletic in the second round.
EFL Trophy
On 23 June Bolton were drawn into Group D in the Northern section alongside Rochdale and Port Vale. The day after Liverpool U-21's completed the group."OfficialBWFC: Liverpool U21s will join Wanderers, Rochdale and Port Vale in Group D of the @PapaJohnsTrophy Northern Section." In the knock-out stages, Bolton were drawn away to Hartlepool United.
Statistics
! colspan="14" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Goalkeepers
! colspan="14" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Defenders
! colspan="14" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Midfielders
! colspan="14" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Forwards
! colspan="14" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Player(s) who left the club
! colspan="14" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Player(s) out on loan
Goals record
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League One FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total117LWOladapo Afolayan 1200214211CFAmadou Bakayoko 1010213310CFDion Charles 80008 -CFEoin Doyle 5102849 CFJón Daði Böðvarsson 70007520CMKieran Lee 5001663 LBDeclan John 4001578 CMJosh Sheehan 4000422LWKieran Sadlier 4000424CFElias Kachunga 220048 -CMAntoni Sarcevic 3000396 CBGeorge Johnston 200027 CFNathan Delfouneso 00022104 CMMJ Williams 1000113RBMarlon Fossey 1000114RWXavier Amaechi 1000115CBWill Aimson 1000116CMAaron Morley 1000125CMGeorge Thomason 1000127CBAlex Baptiste 10001Own Goals 11013Total 74501190
Disciplinary record
Rank No. Nat. Po. Name League One FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy Total 15 CBRicardo Santos 802100000200110224 CMMJ Williams 1100000000000110017LWOladapo Afolayan 1000000100000110032 RBGethin Jones 70000010000080046 CBGeorge Johnston 50000000000050011CFAmadou Bakayoko 50000000000050024CFElias Kachunga 200200100000500525CMGeorge Thomason 30000000010040068 CMJosh Sheehan 20010000000030023RWLloyd Isgrove 10020000000030073 LBDeclan John 20000000000020010CFDion Charles 20000000000020014RWXavier Amaechi 10010000000020020CMKieran Lee 10000010000020087 CFNathan Delfouneso 00000000000010012GKJoel Dixon 10000000000010015CBWill Aimson 10000000000010016CMAaron Morley 10000000000010021RBHarry Brockbank 00000000010010027CBAlex Baptiste 00000000010010029LBLiam Gordon 10000000000010032CMKyle Dempsey 100000000000100 -CFEoin Doyle 100000000000100 -CMAntoni Sarcevic 100000000000100Total 67027004006008402
Transfers Transfers in Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref. 27 May 2021 LW Oladapo Afolayan West Ham United Free transfer 11 June 2021 LB Declan John Swansea City Free transfer 1 July 2021 CB Will Aimson Plymouth Argyle Free transfer 1 July 2021 CF Amadou Bakayoko Coventry City Free transfer 1 July 2021 GK Joel Dixon Barrow Free transfer 1 July 2021 CB George Johnston Feyenoord Free transfer 1 July 2021 CM Josh Sheehan Newport County Free transfer 6 August 2021 CF Elias Kachunga Sheffield Wednesday Free transfer 1 January 2022 CF Dion Charles Accrington Stanley Undisclosed 11 January 2022 CM Aaron Morley Rochdale Undisclosed 20 January 2022 CF Jón Daði Böðvarsson Millwall Free transfer 28 January 2022 AM Kieran Sadlier Rotherham United Undisclosed 31 January 2022 CM Kyle Dempsey Gillingham Undisclosed
Loans in Date from Position Nationality Name From Date until Ref. 28 June 2021 RW Xavier Amaechi Hamburger SV End of season 3 January 2022 RB Marlon Fossey Fulham 18 March 2022 BWFC: "Season Over For Fossey: Marlon Fossey will miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury that will require surgery and curtail his current loan stay with Wanderers. The wing-back suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee in last Saturday’s loss to Plymouth and will return to Fulham for treatment." 13 January 2022 GK James Trafford Manchester City End of season
Loans out Date from Position Nationality Name To Date until Ref. 21 July 2021 CB Reiss Greenidge Barnet End of season 4 August 2021 GK Luke Hutchinson Atherton Collieries 9 January 2022 7 August 2021 GK Matthew Alexander Lancaster City 23 November 2021 Lancaster City: "LOANS: We can confirm that Matty Alexander and Brandon Lonsdale have returned to their parent clubs Bolton and Blackburn Rovers. We thank them both for their efforts for the Dolly Blues and wish them good luck with their professional career" 16 August 2021 RW Dennis Politic Port Vale 17 January 2022 27 August 2021 CM Ronan Darcy Sogndal 31 December 2021 31 August 2021 CM Ali Crawford St Johnstone 3 January 2022 3 September 2021 LW Jay Fitzmartin Stalybridge Celtic 30 December 2021 1 October 2021 RB Adam Senior Ashton United 12 December 2021 16 October 2021 CB Ryan Colvin Prescot Cables 3 December 2021 New Singing Ryan Colvin – Ryan is a young defender who has joined us on a season long loan deal from Bolton Wanders where he has been involved in the first team squad this season. Ryan made his Cables debut against Bootle at the weekend."Prescot Cables: "SQUAD UPDATE: One in and one out ahead of tomorrows Derby with CoL. Ryan Colvin has been recalled from his loan by parent club Bolton Wanderers. We thank Ryan for all his efforts during his time at Cables." 12 November 2021 RB Adam Senior York City 9 December 2021 12 November 2021 CB Liam Edwards Southport End of season 25 January 2022 RB Adam Senior Chorley 3 March 2022 31 January 2022 CF Nathan Delfouneso Bradford City End of season 1 February 2022 CM Ronan Darcy Queen's Park End of season 4 February 2022 GK Matthew Alexander Runcorn Linnets End of season Runcorn Linnets: "ALEXANDER IS THE LATEST LINNET! We are happy to announce the loan signing of Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Matthew Alexander. Matthew will go straight into the squad for tomorrow's game against Trafford FC." 21 February 2022 RW Jay Fitzmartin Stalybridge Celtic 21 March 2022
Transfers out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref. 30 June 2021 MF Markus Assarsson Released 30 June 2021 CB Ryan Delaney Morecambe Released 30 June 2021 CF Muhammadu Faal Enfield Town Released 30 June 2021 LW Arthur Gnahoua Morecambe Released 30 June 2021 DM Sonny Graham Trimpell & Bare Rangers Released Trimpell FC: "Shevington 2-2 Trimpell 1sts Scorers- Sonny Graham ⚽ Jamie Ulyatt ⚽" 30 June 2021 RB Jak Hickman St Patrick's Athletic Released 30 June 2021 RM Callum King-Harmes Hednesford Town Released 30 June 2021 LB Jamie Mascoll Wealdstone Released 30 June 2021 CF Shaun Miller Nantwich Town Released 30 June 2021 RB Nathan Whalley Ashton Athletic Released Nathan Whalley" 20 September 2021 MF Kian Le Fondre Burnley Undisclosed 22 October 2021 CM Antoni Sarcevic Stockport County Free transfer 3 November 2021 CM Brandon Comley Dagenham & Redbridge Released 10 December 2021 CB Ryan Colvin Prescot Cables Free Transfer Prescot Cables: Ryan Returns 3 January 2022 CM Ali Crawford St Johnstone Undisclosed 7 January 2022 CF Eoin Doyle St Patrick's Athletic Undisclosed 10 January 2022 GK Matt Gilks Retired 19 January 2022 RB Harry Brockbank El Paso Locomotive Released 21 January 2022 RM Dennis Politic Cremonese Undisclosed January 2022 CF Bright Amoateng Released Bolton Wanderers First Team Squad (8 January 2022)Bolton Wanderers First Team Squad (26 January 2022)
Notes
References