Back to Football
Bolton Wanderers crest

Bolton Wanderers

Heartbreak#7317.3

Bolton, Manchester · England · Championship

Major cups
4
last 1958
Top-4 finishes
8

Power-ranking history

Hover a season for its rank and score
Rank (1 = best)1561Score (per-season normalised)0.00.51.059/6064/6569/7074/7579/8084/8589/9094/9599/0004/0509/10

Against expectation

Every English top-flight match this club has played, scored against the odds an Elo rating gave it before kick-off. Over 73 seasons from 1888-89 to 2011-12 it has fallen short of them by −4.3 match points.

Bolton Wanderers: surplus against expectation, 1888-89 to 2011-121888-89: +1.1 league points vs expected (22 on 20.9, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.6 match points1889-90: −2.3 league points vs expected (19 on 21.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.2 match points1890-91: +4.1 league points vs expected (25 on 20.9, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.1 match points1891-92: +7.1 league points vs expected (36 on 28.9, 2 for a win) · bar height +3.6 match points1892-93: −1.5 league points vs expected (32 on 33.5, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.7 match points1893-94: −6.3 league points vs expected (24 on 30.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −3.1 match points1894-95: −1.3 league points vs expected (25 on 26.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.7 match points1895-96: +7.2 league points vs expected (37 on 29.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +3.6 match points1896-97: −2.2 league points vs expected (30 on 32.2, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.1 match points1897-98: −3.0 league points vs expected (26 on 29.0, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.5 match points1898-99: −4.2 league points vs expected (25 on 29.2, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.1 match points1900-01: +3.9 league points vs expected (33 on 29.1, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.0 match points1901-02: +0.9 league points vs expected (32 on 31.1, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.5 match points1902-03: −8.0 league points vs expected (19 on 27.0, 2 for a win) · bar height −4.0 match points1905-06: +6.3 league points vs expected (41 on 34.7, 2 for a win) · bar height +3.1 match points1906-07: +5.7 league points vs expected (44 on 38.3, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.9 match points1907-08: −5.7 league points vs expected (33 on 38.7, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.8 match points1909-10: −9.0 league points vs expected (24 on 33.0, 2 for a win) · bar height −4.5 match points1911-12: +8.4 league points vs expected (43 on 34.6, 2 for a win) · bar height +4.2 match points1912-13: +2.5 league points vs expected (42 on 39.5, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.3 match points1913-14: +2.3 league points vs expected (42 on 39.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.1 match points1914-15: −6.7 league points vs expected (30 on 36.7, 2 for a win) · bar height −3.4 match points1919-20: +5.8 league points vs expected (47 on 41.2, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.9 match points1920-21: +6.4 league points vs expected (52 on 45.6, 2 for a win) · bar height +3.2 match points1921-22: −0.1 league points vs expected (47 on 47.1, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.1 match points1922-23: −4.0 league points vs expected (40 on 44.0, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.0 match points1923-24: +4.6 league points vs expected (50 on 45.4, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.3 match points1924-25: +6.6 league points vs expected (55 on 48.4, 2 for a win) · bar height +3.3 match points1925-26: −4.5 league points vs expected (44 on 48.5, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.2 match points1926-27: +1.0 league points vs expected (48 on 47.0, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.5 match points1927-28: −3.8 league points vs expected (43 on 46.8, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.9 match points1928-29: −3.8 league points vs expected (40 on 43.8, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.9 match points1929-30: −3.2 league points vs expected (39 on 42.2, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.6 match points1930-31: +0.2 league points vs expected (39 on 38.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.1 match points1931-32: −1.3 league points vs expected (38 on 39.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.7 match points1932-33: −5.0 league points vs expected (33 on 38.0, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.5 match points1935-36: +3.0 league points vs expected (41 on 38.0, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.5 match points1936-37: −3.1 league points vs expected (34 on 37.1, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.6 match points1937-38: +6.0 league points vs expected (45 on 39.0, 2 for a win) · bar height +3.0 match points1938-39: +3.2 league points vs expected (45 on 41.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.6 match points1946-47: −7.0 league points vs expected (34 on 41.0, 2 for a win) · bar height −3.5 match points1947-48: +1.4 league points vs expected (37 on 35.5, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.7 match points1948-49: −0.3 league points vs expected (38 on 38.3, 2 for a win) · bar height −0.2 match points1949-50: −3.5 league points vs expected (34 on 37.5, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.8 match points1950-51: +6.3 league points vs expected (45 on 38.7, 2 for a win) · bar height +3.1 match points1951-52: +5.5 league points vs expected (48 on 42.5, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.7 match points1952-53: −2.4 league points vs expected (39 on 41.4, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.2 match points1953-54: +5.2 league points vs expected (48 on 42.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.6 match points1954-55: −4.6 league points vs expected (39 on 43.6, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.3 match points1955-56: +1.2 league points vs expected (43 on 41.8, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.6 match points1956-57: +0.9 league points vs expected (44 on 43.0, 2 for a win) · bar height +0.5 match points1957-58: −3.6 league points vs expected (38 on 41.6, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.8 match points1958-59: +9.1 league points vs expected (50 on 40.9, 2 for a win) · bar height +4.6 match points1959-60: +4.8 league points vs expected (48 on 43.2, 2 for a win) · bar height +2.4 match points1960-61: −6.9 league points vs expected (35 on 41.9, 2 for a win) · bar height −3.5 match points1961-62: +2.6 league points vs expected (42 on 39.4, 2 for a win) · bar height +1.3 match points1962-63: −4.0 league points vs expected (35 on 39.0, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.0 match points1963-64: −4.6 league points vs expected (28 on 32.6, 2 for a win) · bar height −2.3 match points1978-79: −2.6 league points vs expected (35 on 37.6, 2 for a win) · bar height −1.3 match points1979-80: −7.8 league points vs expected (25 on 32.8, 2 for a win) · bar height −3.9 match points1995-96: −10.8 league points vs expected (29 on 39.8, 3 for a win) · bar height −4.6 match points1997-98: +0.3 league points vs expected (40 on 39.7, 3 for a win) · bar height +0.5 match points2001-02: −3.0 league points vs expected (40 on 43.0, 3 for a win) · bar height −0.5 match points2002-03: +4.3 league points vs expected (44 on 39.7, 3 for a win) · bar height +2.1 match points2003-04: +8.5 league points vs expected (53 on 44.5, 3 for a win) · bar height +3.0 match points2004-05: +8.3 league points vs expected (58 on 49.7, 3 for a win) · bar height +2.8 match points2005-06: +1.1 league points vs expected (56 on 54.9, 3 for a win) · bar height +0.5 match points2006-07: +1.4 league points vs expected (56 on 54.5, 3 for a win) · bar height +0.2 match points2007-08: −10.2 league points vs expected (37 on 47.2, 3 for a win) · bar height −3.3 match points2008-09: −4.1 league points vs expected (41 on 45.1, 3 for a win) · bar height −1.7 match points2009-10: −2.2 league points vs expected (39 on 41.2, 3 for a win) · bar height −0.8 match points2010-11: +1.8 league points vs expected (46 on 44.2, 3 for a win) · bar height +0.7 match points2011-12: −3.9 league points vs expected (36 on 39.9, 3 for a win) · bar height −1.9 match points
1888-89one bar per season · height in match points · hover for that season2011-12
Best season against expectation
1958-59 +9.1 league pts
50 points on 40.9 expected as Bolton Wanderers
Worst season against expectation
1995-96 −10.8 league pts
29 points on 39.8 expected as Bolton Wanderers

Season points use that season’s own scoring, two for a win before 1981-82 and three after; the bars use match points so the whole series is comparable.The rating only starts telling you much after about 1960. Before that, knowing the era’s home-and-away split is almost as good as knowing the teams.

Manchester against expectation →How this is measured →

Greatest games

Bolton Wanderers's top matches by the club Game Score: closeness, stakes, quality and upset over one unified rating of league and European play.All-time board.

#DateStageResultScore
11953-05-02FA Cup · FinalNL 3-4 v Blackpoolgame score 77.0
21926-04-24FA Cup · FinalNW 1-0 v Manchester Citygame score 72.0
31935-03-02FA Cup · QuarterfinalsAW 2-1 v Evertongame score 71.8
41923-03-24FA Cup · SemifinalsNW 1-0 v Sheffield Unitedgame score 71.5
51904-04-23FA Cup · FinalNL 0-1 v Manchester Citygame score 70.4
61915-03-27FA Cup · SemifinalsNL 1-2 v Sheffield Unitedgame score 69.5
71894-03-10FA Cup · SemifinalsNW 2-1 v Sheffield Wednesdaygame score 68.8
81890-02-15FA Cup · Round 3AW 3-2 v Preston North Endgame score 68.6
91929-02-16FA Cup · Round 5AW 2-1 v Leicester Citygame score 68.3
101899-04-29First DivisionAW 1-0 v Preston North Endgame score 68.0

Footprint

Tiers played
L1, L2, L3, L4
Top-flight (L1) seasons
73
Lower-tier league seasons
54
First season
1889
Most recent season
2026

The Heartbreak Index17.3 · #73

The Damned · Major trophy, 1958

17.3
Heartbreak
#73
of 1,139 clubs
#30
in Football
14.8
agony · 2.5 despair
The clocks
  • Major trophy since 19589.1
  • Major final appearance since 20043.0
Priced pangs
  • The Administration · 2019 · 0.70 pangs
    Hours from expulsion from the Football League; near-death of a founder member
Heaviest wounds

relegated from the top flight, 2012 · relegated from the top flight, 1998 · relegated from the top flight, 1996 · relegated from the top flight, 1980

One formula, every club the site covers. See the whole board →

Season-by-season

Most recent season first. Covers Levels 1 through 5 of the English pyramid. Rows tagged "national playoff" are pre-modern formats where the workbook records only playoff participants, not round-robin standings.

2027
Championship (2) · P20● live
7 P · 2-1-4 · 7:12 · -5
7
pts
2026
League One (3) · P5↑
46 P · 19-18-9 · 70:52 · +18
75
pts
2025
League One (3) · P8
46 P · 20-8-18 · 67:70 · -3
68
pts
2024
League One (3) · P3PO
46 P · 25-12-9 · 86:51 · +35
87
pts
2023
League One (3) · P5
46 P · 23-12-11 · 62:36 · +26
81
pts
2022
League One (3) · P9
46 P · 21-10-15 · 74:57 · +17
73
pts
2021
League Two (4) · P3↑
46 P · 23-10-13 · 59:50 · +9
79
pts
2020
League One (3) · P23↓
34 P · 5-11-18 · 27:66 · -39
26
pts
2019
Championship (2) · P23↓
45 P · 8-8-29 · 29:77 · -48
32
pts
2018
Championship (2) · P21
46 P · 10-13-23 · 39:74 · -35
43
pts
2017
League One (3) · P2↑
46 P · 25-11-10 · 68:36 · +32
86
pts
2016
Championship (2) · P24↓
46 P · 5-15-26 · 41:81 · -40
30
pts
Show all 128 seasons
2015
Championship (2) · P18
46 P · 13-12-21 · 54:67 · -13
51
pts
2014
Championship (2) · P14
46 P · 14-17-15 · 59:60 · -1
59
pts
2013
Championship (2) · P7
46 P · 18-14-14 · 69:61 · +8
68
pts
2012
Premier League (1) · P18↓
38 P · 10-6-22 · 46:77 · -31
36
pts
2011
Premier League (1) · P14
38 P · 12-10-16 · 52:56 · -4
46
pts
FA SF
2010
Premier League (1) · P14
38 P · 10-9-19 · 42:67 · -25
39
pts
2009
Premier League (1) · P13
38 P · 11-8-19 · 41:53 · -12
41
pts
2008
Premier League (1) · P16
38 P · 9-10-19 · 36:54 · -18
37
pts
UC
2007
Premier League (1) · P7
38 P · 16-8-14 · 47:52 · -5
56
pts
UC
2006
Premier League (1) · P8
38 P · 15-11-12 · 49:41 · +8
56
pts
UC
2005
Premier League (1) · P6
38 P · 16-10-12 · 49:44 · +5
58
pts
UC
2004
Premier League (1) · P8
38 P · 14-11-13 · 48:56 · -8
53
pts
Lg Cup
2003
Premier League (1) · P17
38 P · 10-14-14 · 41:51 · -10
44
pts
2002
Premier League (1) · P16
38 P · 9-13-16 · 44:62 · -18
40
pts
2001
First Division (2) · P3↑
46 P · 24-15-7 · 76:45 · +31
87
pts
2000
First Division (2) · P6PO
46 P · 21-13-12 · 69:50 · +19
76
pts
Lg Cup SFFA SF
1999
First Division (2) · P6PO
46 P · 20-16-10 · 78:59 · +19
76
pts
1998
Premier League (1) · P18↓
38 P · 9-13-16 · 41:61 · -20
40
pts
1997
First Division (2) · P1↑
46 P · 28-14-4 · 100:53 · +47
98
pts
1996
Premier League (1) · P20↓
38 P · 8-5-25 · 39:71 · -32
29
pts
1995
First Division (2) · P3↑
46 P · 21-14-11 · 67:45 · +22
77
pts
Lg Cup
1994
First Division (2) · P14
46 P · 15-14-17 · 63:64 · -1
59
pts
1993
Second Division (3) · P2↑
46 P · 27-9-10 · 80:41 · +39
90
pts
1992
Third Division (3) · P13
46 P · 14-17-15 · 57:56 · +1
59
pts
1991
Third Division (3) · P4PO
46 P · 24-11-11 · 64:50 · +14
83
pts
1990
Third Division (3) · P6PO
46 P · 18-15-13 · 59:48 · +11
69
pts
1989
Fourth Division (3) · P10
46 P · 16-16-14 · 58:54 · +4
64
pts
1988
Fourth Division (4) · P3↑
46 P · 22-12-12 · 66:42 · +24
78
pts
1987
Third Division (3) · P21↓
46 P · 10-15-21 · 46:58 · -12
45
pts
1986
Third Division (3) · P18
46 P · 15-8-23 · 54:68 · -14
53
pts
1985
Third Division (3) · P17
46 P · 16-6-24 · 69:75 · -6
54
pts
1984
Third Division (3) · P10
46 P · 18-10-18 · 56:60 · -4
64
pts
1983
Second Division (2) · P22↓
42 P · 11-11-20 · 42:61 · -19
44
pts
1982
Second Division (2) · P19
42 P · 13-7-22 · 39:61 · -22
46
pts
1981
Second Division (2) · P18
42 P · 14-10-18 · 61:66 · -5
38
pts
1980
First Division (1) · P22↓
42 P · 5-15-22 · 38:73 · -35
25
pts
1979
First Division (1) · P17
42 P · 12-11-19 · 54:75 · -21
35
pts
1978
Second Division (2) · P1↑
42 P · 24-10-8 · 63:33 · +30
58
pts
1977
Second Division (2) · P4
42 P · 20-11-11 · 75:54 · +21
51
pts
Lg Cup SF
1976
Second Division (2) · P4
42 P · 20-12-10 · 64:38 · +26
52
pts
1975
Second Division (2) · P10
42 P · 15-12-15 · 45:41 · +4
42
pts
1974
Second Division (2) · P11
42 P · 15-12-15 · 44:40 · +4
42
pts
1973
Third Division (3) · P1↑
46 P · 25-11-10 · 73:39 · +34
61
pts
1972
Third Division (3) · P7
46 P · 17-16-13 · 51:41 · +10
50
pts
1971
Second Division (2) · P22↓
42 P · 7-10-25 · 35:74 · -39
24
pts
1970
Second Division (2) · P16
42 P · 12-12-18 · 54:61 · -7
36
pts
1969
Second Division (2) · P17
42 P · 12-14-16 · 55:67 · -12
38
pts
1968
Second Division (2) · P12
42 P · 13-13-16 · 60:63 · -3
39
pts
1967
Second Division (2) · P9
42 P · 14-14-14 · 64:58 · +6
42
pts
1966
Second Division (2) · P9
42 P · 16-9-17 · 62:59 · +3
41
pts
1965
Second Division (2) · P3
42 P · 20-10-12 · 80:58 · +22
50
pts
1964
First Division (1) · P21↓
42 P · 10-8-24 · 48:80 · -32
28
pts
1963
First Division (1) · P18
42 P · 15-5-22 · 55:75 · -20
35
pts
1962
First Division (1) · P11
42 P · 16-10-16 · 62:66 · -4
42
pts
1961
First Division (1) · P18
42 P · 12-11-19 · 58:73 · -15
35
pts
1960
First Division (1) · P6
42 P · 20-8-14 · 59:51 · +8
48
pts
1959
First Division (1) · P4
42 P · 20-10-12 · 79:66 · +13
50
pts
1958
First Division (1) · P15
42 P · 14-10-18 · 65:87 · -22
38
pts
FA
1957
First Division (1) · P9
42 P · 16-12-14 · 65:65 · 0
44
pts
1956
First Division (1) · P8
42 P · 18-7-17 · 71:58 · +13
43
pts
1955
First Division (1) · P18
42 P · 13-13-16 · 62:69 · -7
39
pts
1954
First Division (1) · P5
42 P · 18-12-12 · 75:60 · +15
48
pts
1953
First Division (1) · P14
42 P · 15-9-18 · 61:69 · -8
39
pts
FA
1952
First Division (1) · P5
42 P · 19-10-13 · 65:61 · +4
48
pts
1951
First Division (1) · P8
42 P · 19-7-16 · 64:61 · +3
45
pts
1950
First Division (1) · P16
42 P · 10-14-18 · 45:59 · -14
34
pts
1949
First Division (1) · P14
42 P · 14-10-18 · 59:68 · -9
38
pts
1948
First Division (1) · P17
42 P · 16-5-21 · 46:58 · -12
37
pts
1947
First Division (1) · P18
42 P · 13-8-21 · 57:69 · -12
34
pts
1939
First Division (1) · P8
42 P · 15-15-12 · 67:58 · +9
45
pts
1938
First Division (1) · P7
42 P · 15-15-12 · 64:60 · +4
45
pts
1937
First Division (1) · P20
42 P · 10-14-18 · 43:66 · -23
34
pts
1936
First Division (1) · P13
42 P · 14-13-15 · 67:76 · -9
41
pts
1935
Second Division (2) · P2↑
42 P · 26-4-12 · 96:48 · +48
56
pts
FA SF
1934
Second Division (2) · P3
42 P · 21-9-12 · 79:55 · +24
51
pts
1933
First Division (1) · P21↓
42 P · 12-9-21 · 78:92 · -14
33
pts
1932
First Division (1) · P17
42 P · 17-4-21 · 72:80 · -8
38
pts
1931
First Division (1) · P14
42 P · 15-9-18 · 68:81 · -13
39
pts
1930
First Division (1) · P15
42 P · 15-9-18 · 74:74 · 0
39
pts
1929
First Division (1) · P14
42 P · 14-12-16 · 73:80 · -7
40
pts
FA
1928
First Division (1) · P7
42 P · 16-11-15 · 81:66 · +15
43
pts
1927
First Division (1) · P4
42 P · 19-10-13 · 84:62 · +22
48
pts
1926
First Division (1) · P8
42 P · 17-10-15 · 75:76 · -1
44
pts
FA
1925
First Division (1) · P3
42 P · 22-11-9 · 76:34 · +42
55
pts
1924
First Division (1) · P4
42 P · 18-14-10 · 68:34 · +34
50
pts
1923
First Division (1) · P13
42 P · 14-12-16 · 50:58 · -8
40
pts
FA
1922
First Division (1) · P6
42 P · 20-7-15 · 68:59 · +9
47
pts
1921
First Division (1) · P3
42 P · 19-14-9 · 77:53 · +24
52
pts
1920
First Division (1) · P6
42 P · 19-9-14 · 72:65 · +7
47
pts
1915
First Division (1) · P17
38 P · 11-8-19 · 68:84 · -16
30
pts
FA SF
1914
First Division (1) · P6
38 P · 16-10-12 · 65:52 · +13
42
pts
1913
First Division (1) · P8
38 P · 16-10-12 · 62:63 · -1
42
pts
1912
First Division (1) · P4
38 P · 20-3-15 · 54:43 · +11
43
pts
1911
Second Division (2) · P2↑
38 P · 21-9-8 · 69:40 · +29
51
pts
1910
First Division (1) · P20↓
38 P · 9-6-23 · 44:71 · -27
24
pts
1909
Second Division (2) · P1↑
38 P · 24-4-10 · 59:28 · +31
52
pts
1908
First Division (1) · P19↓
38 P · 14-5-19 · 52:58 · -6
33
pts
1907
First Division (1) · P6
38 P · 18-8-12 · 59:47 · +12
44
pts
1906
First Division (1) · P6
38 P · 17-7-14 · 81:67 · +14
41
pts
1905
Second Division (2) · P2↑
34 P · 27-2-5 · 87:32 · +55
56
pts
1904
Second Division (2) · P7
34 P · 12-10-12 · 59:41 · +18
34
pts
FA
1903
First Division (1) · P18↓
34 P · 8-3-23 · 37:73 · -36
19
pts
1902
First Division (1) · P12
34 P · 12-8-14 · 51:56 · -5
32
pts
1901
First Division (1) · P10
34 P · 13-7-14 · 39:55 · -16
33
pts
1900
Second Division (2) · P2↑
34 P · 22-8-4 · 79:25 · +54
52
pts
1899
First Division (1) · P17↓
34 P · 9-7-18 · 37:51 · -14
25
pts
1898
First Division (1) · P11
30 P · 11-4-15 · 28:41 · -13
26
pts
1897
First Division (1) · P8
30 P · 12-6-12 · 40:43 · -3
30
pts
1896
First Division (1) · P4
30 P · 16-5-9 · 49:37 · +12
37
pts
FA SF
1895
First Division (1) · P10
30 P · 9-7-14 · 61:62 · -1
25
pts
1894
First Division (1) · P13
30 P · 10-4-16 · 38:52 · -14
24
pts
FA
1893
First Division (1) · P5
30 P · 13-6-11 · 56:55 · +1
32
pts
1892
First Division (1) · P3
26 P · 17-2-7 · 51:37 · +14
36
pts
1891
First Division (1) · P5
22 P · 12-1-9 · 47:34 · +13
25
pts
1890
First Division (1) · P9
22 P · 9-1-12 · 54:65 · -11
19
pts
FA SF
1889
First Division (1) · P5
22 P · 10-2-10 · 63:59 · +4
22
pts
Domestic Cup Finals

Most recent first. Every domestic cup final the club has played, including losses. Scheduled finals (date not yet passed) are flagged.

2004
League Cup
Runner-up
1995
League Cup
Runner-up
1958
FA Cup
Won
1958
Community Shield
Won
1953
FA Cup
Runner-up
1929
FA Cup
Won
1926
FA Cup
Won
1923
FA Cup
Won
1904
FA Cup
Runner-up
1894
FA Cup
Runner-up
European competition appearances

Most recent first. One row per entry showing the deepest round reached. A Cup Winner badge marks tournaments the club won: gold for the European Cup / Champions League, silver for every other UEFA or Intercontinental trophy.

2007-08
UEFA Cup(UC)
Round of 16
2005-06
UEFA Cup(UC)
Group stage