| Season: | 1888–89 |
| League Result: | 5th (28 Points) |
| Cup1 Result: | Third Qualifying Round |
| League Topscorer: | James Brogan (13) |
| Pattern B1: | _collar_buttons_2 |
| Shorts1: | 000066 |
| Socks1: | 000066 |
| Nextseason: | 1889–90 |
The 1888–89 season was Bolton Wanderers's first season in the Football League which had just been founded. Because of this they became one of the founder members of the Football League. They finished in 5th position with 22 points.
Bolton's score comes first
| Win | Draw | Loss |
See main article: 1888–89 Football League.
| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 September 1888 | Derby County | H | 3 – 6 | 3,000 | Davenport (2), Brogan | |
| 2 | 15 September 1888 | Burnley | H | 3 – 4 | 4,000 | Davenport, Brogan, Coupar | |
| 3 | 22 September 1888 | Preston North End | A | 1 – 3 | 5,000 | Weir | |
| 4 | 29 September 1888 | Everton | H | 6 – 2 | 5,000 | Davenport (2), Tyrer (2), Milne (2) | |
| 5 | 6 October 1888 | Burnley | A | 1 – 4 | 4,000 | Roberts | |
| 6 | 13 October 1888 | Stoke | H | 2 – 1 | 5,000 | Milne, Underwood (o.g.) | |
| 7 | 20 October 1888 | Aston Villa | H | 2 – 3 | 8,000 | Weir, Barbour | |
| 8 | 3 November 1888 | Everton | A | 1 – 2 | 8,000 | Barbour | |
| 9 | 5 November 1888 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 5 – 1 | 8,000 | Barbour (2), Milne, Brogan, Weir | |
| 10 | 10 November 1888 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 2 – 3 | 2,000 | Brogan, McGuinness | |
| 11 | 17 November 1888 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1 – 2 | 3,500 | Bullough | |
| 12 | 24 November 1888 | Preston North End | H | 2 – 5 | 3,500 | Brogan, Weir | |
| 13 | 8 December 1888 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 4 – 4 | 4,000 | Brogan (2), Milne, Scowcroft | |
| 14 | 22 December 1888 | Accrington | H | 4 – 1 | 5,000 | Weir (3), Owen | |
| 15 | 26 December 1888 | Derby County | A | 3 – 2 | 3,500 | Brogan, Davenport, Milne | |
| 16 | 29 December 1888 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 2 – 1 | 5,500 | Weir, Own goal | |
| 17 | 12 January 1889 | Aston Villa | A | 2 – 6 | 2,000 | Barbour | |
| 18 | 19 January 1889 | Stoke | A | 2 – 2 | 6,000 | Owen, Brogan | |
| 19 | 26 January 1889 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 3 – 2 | 6,000 | Owen, Weir | |
| 20 | 5 March 1889 | Notts County | A | 4 – 0 | 3,000 | Brogan (2), Barbour, Davenport | |
| 21 | 9 March 1889 | Notts County | H | 7 – 3 | 3,000 | Turner, Brogan, Barbour (2), Davenport (3) | |
| 22 | 23 March 1889 | Accrington | A | 3 – 2 | 3,000 | Brogan, Roberts, Davenport |
See main article: 1888–89 FA Cup.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1QR | 6 October 1888 | Hurst | A | 0 – 0 | ||
| 1QR Replay | Hurst withdrew from replay | |||||
| 2QR | 31 October 1888 | West Manchester | H | 9 – 0 | Turner (3), Simmers (2), Knowles (2), Whittle, Own goal | |
| 3QR | 17 November 1888 | Linfield Athletic | A | 0 – 4 | ||
| Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| FW | Alexander Barbour | 14 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 9 |
| FW | James Brogan | 22 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 13 |
| HB | Peter Bullough | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| FW | Thomas Coupar | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| FW | Kenny Davenport | 22 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 11 |
| FW | Frank Dyer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FB | W. Flitcroft | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| GK | Sam Gillam | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| GK | Charlie Harrison | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| FB | Di Jones | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| FW | H. McGuinness | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| FB | D. Mercer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | John Milne | 22 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 6 |
| FB | John Mitchell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | G. Owen | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 |
| FB | Jim Parkinson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| HB | Bob Roberts | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
| FB | Bethel Robinson | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| HB | J. Scowcroft | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| FB | E. Siddons | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FB | W. Simmers | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FW | Jimmy Turner | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| FW | Harry Tyrer | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 |
| FW | David Weir | 22 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 10 |