2022–23 Bolton Wanderers F.C. season explained

Club:	Bolton Wanderers
Season:	2022–23
Owner:	Football Ventures Ltd (92%) British Business Bank (8%)
Chairman:	Sharon Brittan
Manager:	Ian Evatt
Stadium:	University of Bolton Stadium
League:	League One
League Result:	5th
Cup1:	Play-offs
Cup1 Result:	Semi-finals
Cup2:	FA Cup
Cup2 Result:	First round
Cup3:	EFL Cup
Cup3 Result:	Second round
Cup4:	EFL Trophy
Cup4 Result:	Winners
League Topscorer:	Dion Charles (16)
Season Topscorer:	Dion Charles (21)
Highest Attendance:	25,428 (vs. Derby County, 27 December)
Lowest Attendance:	2,115 (vs. Crewe Alexandra, 30 August)
Average Attendance:	18,813
Largest Win:	5–0 vs Peterborough United, 11 February vs Milton Keynes Dons 14 February
Largest Loss:	1–4 vs Aston Villa, 23 August
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Prevseason:	2021–22
Nextseason:	2023–24

The 2022–23 season is the 134th season in the existence of Bolton Wanderers Football Club, the club's second consecutive season in EFL League One and the first time in five seasons that they have started consecutive seasons in the same division. It will cover the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. In addition to the league, they will also compete in the 2022–23 FA Cup, the 2022–23 EFL Cup and the 2022–23 EFL Trophy.

Squad

Out on loan

Pre-season and friendlies

On 11 May 2022, the club announced that they would be travelling to Portugal for a training camp once the squad reported for pre season training on 17 June.^[1] Five days later, Bolton announced their opening batch of pre-season fixtures with trips to Longridge Town, Chorley, Oldham Athletic and Southport.^[2] A further fixture away to Carlisle United was confirmed on 20 May.^[3] On 23 May, the game at Oldham Athletic was cancelled after the reaction of some supporters to the fixture. The same day, two more fixtures against Atherton Collieries and Bamber Bridge were announced.^[4] On 8 June, Bolton announced their first home fixture of pre-season, against Championship side Huddersfield Town to be played on 23 July, a week before the start of the season.^[5] Another friendly against Stockport County was confirmed the same day, to be played on 5 July behind closed doors due to both teams pitches being re-laid.^[6] On 24 June, the final fixture of pre-season was announced against Championship side Watford to be played on 12 July behind closed doors at Watford Training Ground.^[7] It also served as a replacement fixture for the cancelled Oldham Athletic friendly. On 9 July, Bolton played an unannounced friendly against their near neighbours Wigan Athletic.^[8]

Competitions

League One

See main article: 2022–23 EFL League One.

Matches

The fixtures for the 2022–23 EFL League One season were released on 23 June and sees Bolton opening their campaign away at Ipswich Town on 30 July. The regular season will conclude on 7 May away at Bristol Rovers.^{[9] [10]}

Play-offs

See main article: 2023 English Football League play-offs.

Bolton Wanderers finished 5th in the regular 2022–23 EFL League One season, so were drawn against 4th placed Barnsley in the Play-off Semi Final. The first leg took place at the University of Bolton Stadium and the second leg took place at Oakwell.

FA Cup

See main article: 2022–23 FA Cup.

Bolton were drawn at home to Barnsley in the first round.^[11] For the match, Bolton wore a remade version of the shirt they wore 100 years prior to celebrate the centenary anniversary of them winning the 1923 FA Cup Final.^[12]

EFL Cup

See main article: 2022–23 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 23 June and saw Bolton drawn at home to Salford City.^[13] In the next round, Bolton were handed another home tie against Aston Villa.^[14]

EFL Trophy

See main article: 2022–23 EFL Trophy.

On 20 June, the initial Group stage draw was made, grouping Bolton Wanderers with Crewe Alexandra and Tranmere Rovers.^[15] On 23 June, Leeds United U21 joined them.^[16] Bolton were then drawn at home to Barrow in the second round,^[17] Manchester United U21 in the third round^[18] and to Portsmouth in the quarter-finals.^[19] The Whites were drawn away to Accrington Stanley in the semi-finals.^[20]

Statistics

|-! colspan="16" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Goalkeepers|-! colspan="16" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Defenders|-! colspan="16" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Midfielders|-! colspan="16" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Forwards|-! colspan="16" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Player(s) who left the club|- ! colspan="16" style="background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center"| Player(s) out on loan|}

Goals record

Rank	No.	Nat.	Po.	Name						Total
1	10		CF	Dion Charles	16	0	1	3	1	21
2	9		CF	Jón Daði Böðvarsson	3	1	1	3	0	8
3	21		RB	Conor Bradley	5	0	1	1	0	7
4	16		CM	Aaron Morley	4	0	0	2	0	6
	22		CM	Kyle Dempsey	5	0	0	1	0	6
	-		LW	Dapo Afolayan	3	0	1	2	0	6
7	7		RW	Kieran Sadlier	1	0	1	3	0	5
8	24		CF	Elias Kachunga	0	0	1	3	0	4
	-		CF	Amadou Bakayoko	1	0	0	3	0	4
10	2		RB		2	0	0	1	0	3
	5		CB		3	0	0	0	0	3
	18		CB	Eoin Toal	3	0	0	0	0	3
	20		CM	Kieran Lee	3	0	0	0	0	3
	29		CF	Victor Adeboyejo	3	0	0	0	0	3
15	8		CM	Josh Sheehan	2	0	0	0	0	2
16	3		LB	Declan John	1	0	0	0	0	1
	6		CB		1	0	0	0	0	1
	11		CF	Dan Nlundulu	1	0	0	0	0	1
	17		AM	Shola Shoretire	1	0	0	0	0	1
	27		LB	Randell Williams	1	0	0	0	0	1
	28		CB	Luke Mbete	1	0	0	0	0	1
	39		CF	Conor Carty	0	0	0	1	0	1
Own Goals					2	0	0	0	0	2
Total					62	1	6	23	1	93

Disciplinary record

Rank	No.	Nat.	Po.	Name	League One			FA Cup			EFL Cup			EFL Trophy			Play-Offs			Total
1	21		RB	Conor Bradley	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	0	0
2	5		CB		5	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	6	1	0
	25		CM	George Thomason	5	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	1
4	4		CM	MJ Williams	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	0
	6		CB		6	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	0
6	16		CM	Aaron Morley	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0
	22		CM	Kyle Dempsey	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	1	0
8	2		RB	Gethin Jones	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
	8		CM	Josh Sheehan	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
	10		CF	Dion Charles	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1
	19		GK	James Trafford	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0
12	14		LB	Jack Iredale	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
	20		CM	Kieran Lee	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
	24		CF	Elias Kachunga	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
15	7		RW	Kieran Sadlier	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	9		CF	Jón Daði Böðvarsson	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	11		CF	Dan Nlundulu	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	17		AM	Shola Shoretire	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	18		CB	Eoin Toal	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	28		CB	Luke Mbete	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	-		LW	Dapo Afolayan	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
	-		CB	Will Aimson	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0
23	3		LB	Declan John	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	12		GK	Joel Dixon	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
	27		LB	Randell Williams	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0
Total					75	2	1	1	0	0	3	0	1	6	0	0	2	0	0	87	2	2

Transfers

In

Date	Pos.	Player	Transferred from	Fee	Ref
1 July 2022				Free transfer	^[21]
1 July 2022		Matty Grivosti		Free transfer
1 July 2022				Free transfer	^[22]
1 July 2022				Free transfer	^[23]
1 July 2022				Free transfer
1 July 2022				Free transfer	^[24]
1 July 2022				Free transfer
15 July 2022		Eric Yoro		Undisclosed	^[25]
20 July 2022				Undisclosed	^[26]
12 October 2022		Mackenzie Chapman		Free transfer	^[27]
5 January 2023				Undisclosed	^[28]
27 January 2023				Free transfer	^[29]
27 January 2023				Undisclosed	^[30]

Out

Date	Pos.	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Source
30 June 2022			Unattached	Released
30 June 2022				Released	^[31] ^[32]
30 June 2022				Released	^[33]
30 June 2022				Free	^[34]
30 June 2022				Released	^[35]
30 June 2022				Free	^[36]
30 June 2022				Released	^[37]
30 June 2022				Released	^[38] ^[39]
30 June 2022			Promoted to B Team Player-coach		^[40]
30 June 2022		Max Wilcox		Released	^[41]
13 July 2022				Undisclosed	^[42]
12 January 2023				Undisclosed	^[43]
19 January 2023				Undisclosed	^[44]
27 January 2023				Undisclosed	^[45]

Loans in

Date	Pos.	Player	Loaned from	On loan until	Source
15 June 2022				End of season	^[46]
21 June 2022				End of season	^[47]
31 August 2022				26 January 2023	^[48] ^[49]
9 January 2023				End of season	^[50]
19 January 2023				End of season	^[51]
31 January 2023				End of season	^[52]

Loans out

Date	Pos.	Player	Loaned to	On loan until	Source
5 August 2022		Matty Grivosti		2 September 2022	^[53] ^[54]
26 August 2022				14 October 2022	^[55]
26 August 2022				End of Season	^[56] ^[57] ^[58] ^[59]
18 October 2022				18 November 2022	^[60]
21 October 2022				18 November 2022	^[61]
8 November 2022				2 January 2022	^[62] ^[63]
18 November 2022		Connor Stanley		18 December 2022	^[64]
18 November 2022		Conor Carty		3 January 2023	^[65]
25 November 2022				End of season	^[66]
25 November 2022				3 January 2023	^[67]
30 November 2022		Matty Grivosti		End of season	^[68]
26 December 2022				26 January 2023	^[69]
6 January 2023		Luke Hutchinson		6 March 2023	^[70]
18 January 2023		Adam Senior		End of season	^[71] ^[72] ^[73]
27 January 2023				End of season	^[74]
4 February 2023		Connor Stanley		End of season	^[75]
4 February 2023		Conor Carty		30 November 2023	^[76]
7 February 2023				End of season
18 February 2023		Mackenzie Chapman		End of season	^[77]
22 March 2023		Luke Hutchinson		End of season

Notes and References

1. News: Portugal Prep! . 12 May 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 12 May 2022.
2. News: Pre-Season: Part I . 16 May 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 16 May 2022.
3. News: Carlisle Trip For Whites . 20 May 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 20 May 2022.
4. News: Wanderers Go To Non-League Neighbours . 23 May 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 23 May 2022.
5. News: Wanderers Face Town Test . 8 June 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 8 June 2022.
6. News: County to take on Bolton in pre-season . 8 June 2022 . Stockport County FC . 8 June 2022.
7. News: Whites Set Up Watford Work-Out . 24 June 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 24 June 2022.
8. https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2022/july/friendly-wanderers-0-wigan-athletic-1/ BWFC: "FRIENDLY: Wanderers 0 Wigan Athletic 1"
9. News: Wanderers Start Out At Ipswich . 23 June 2022 . bwfc.co.uk . 23 June 2022.
10. News: New Date For Final Fixtures . 19 January 2023 . bwfc.co.uk . 19 January 2023.
11. News: Whites To Host Barnsley In FA Cup . 19 October 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 17 October 2022.
12. Web site: BWFC: "Wanderers Unveil Centenary FA Cup Final Shirt" . 25 October 2022 . 25 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025021327/https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2022/october/wanderers-unveil-centenary-fa-cup-final-shirt/ . dead .
13. Web site: Carabao Cup first round draw as all EFL 2022-23 schedules are confirmed . Daily Mirror . 23 June 2022.
14. News: Carabao Cup Round Two draw confirmed . 11 August 2022 . English Football League . 10 August 2022.
15. News: Wanderers To Face Crewe And Tranmere . 20 June 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 20 June 2022.
16. News: Wanderers To Face Leeds' U21s In EFL Trophy . 23 June 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 23 June 2022.
17. News: Wanderers To Face Barrow In Papa Johns Trophy . 14 November 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 11 November 2022.
18. News: Wanderers To Face United Youngsters . 25 November 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 24 November 2022.
19. News: Wanderers Host Pompey In Trophy Tie . 18 December 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 15 December 2022.
20. News: Whites Head To Accrington For Semi-Final Tie . 16 January 2023 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 14 January 203.
21. Web site: Attacking Trio Added To 'B' Squad . Bolton Wanderers FC . 17 June 2022.
22. Web site: Iredale Is First Summer Signing . Bolton Wanderers FC . 9 May 2022.
23. Web site: 'B' Team Duo Check In . Bolton Wanderers FC . 16 June 2022.
24. Web site: Whites Add To B Team Striking Strength . Bolton Wanderers FC . 24 June 2022.
25. Web site: 'B' Team Bolsters At The Back . Bolton Wanderers FC . 15 July 2022.
26. Web site: Wanderers Take Toal . Bolton Wanderers FC . 20 July 2022.
27. Web site: Bolton Wanderers B sign ex-Oldham Athletic and Oxford United goalkeeper Mackenzie Chapman . . 12 October 2022.
28. Web site: Williams Is A Wanderer! . Bolton Wanderers FC . 5 January 2023.
29. Web site: Jerome Joins Whites . Bolton Wanderers FC . 27 January 2023.
30. Web site: Adeboyejo Seals Wanderers' Switch . Bolton Wanderers FC . 27 January 2023.
31. News: Wanderers Confirm Departures . 3 May 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 3 May 2022.
32. News: Waterford FC sign experienced defender Alex Baptiste . 31 August 2022 . Waterford FC . 31 August 2022.
33. News: SIGNING: Nathan's a Red . 20 September 2022 . Accrington Stanley . 20 September 2022.
34. News: 9 June 2022 . Chester FC to sign Liam Edwards! . Chester City F.C. . 9 June 2022.
35. News: New Signing: Jay Fitzmartin . 28 July 2022 . Atherton Collieries FC . 28 July 2022.
36. Web site: Liam Gordon becomes first signing of the summer . Walsall FC . 25 May 2022.
37. News: Stones go for Greenidge . 2 November 2022 . Maidstone United FC . 21 October 2022.
38. Web site: Mitchell Henry says he has not been offered professional terms at Bolton Wanderers . Bolton News . 29 April 2022.
39. https://twitter.com/IrlamFC/status/1545778309933531137 Irlam FC: "73: GOAL... No7 Mitch with a neat finish to make it 5-2"
40. News: 14 June 2022 . Tutte Signs Up For New 'B' Role . Bolton Wanderers . 14 June 2022.
41. News: Max Wilcox Signs For Brentford B . 29 June 2022 . Brentford FC . 29 June 2022.
42. News: Darcy Ends Wanderers' Stay . 13 July 2022 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 13 July 2022.
43. News: Baka Seals Forest Green Switch . 12 January 2023 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 12 January 2023.
44. https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2023/january/thank-you-dapo/ BWFC: "Thank You Dapo"
45. News: Aimson Secures Exeter Move . 27 January 2023 . Bolton Wanderers FC . 27 January 2023.
46. Web site: Trafford Back For More . Bolton Wanderers . 15 June 2022.
47. Web site: Wanderers Complete Conor Coup . Bolton Wanderers . 21 June 2022.
48. Web site: LATEST: Wanderers Beck For More . Bolton Wanderers . 31 August 2022.
49. Web site: Beck Ends Loan Spell . Bolton Wanderers . 26 January 2023.
50. Web site: Dan's The Man For Wanderers . Bolton Wanderers . 9 January 2023.
51. Web site: Wanderers Secure Shola Signing . Bolton Wanderers . 19 January 2023.
52. Web site: Whites Land Luke . Bolton Wanderers . 31 January 2023.
53. Web site: Grivosti Seals Yeovil Loan Move . Bolton Wanderers . 5 August 2022.
54. Web site: Grivosti returns to Bolton . Yeovil Town . 2 September 2022.
55. https://twitter.com/BWFCBandAcademy/status/1580966673175130124 Bolton Wanderers B Team and Academy (@BWFCBandAcademy): " B Team forward Finlay Lockett has been recalled from his loan spell at Atherton Collieries."
56. Web site: B Team duo join Atherton Collieries on loan . Bolton Wanderers . 26 August 2022.
57. https://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/2022/november/senior-lands-loan-move-to-the-bucks/ BWFC: "Senior is the latest member of the B team squad to get the chance of competitive first-team football out on loan, with Conor Carty currently at Oldham Athletic, Connor Stanley at Bamber Bridge and Arran Pettifer with Atherton Collieries in a deal recently extended until January.
58. Web site: Loan Extensions For B Team Youngsters . Bolton Wanderers . 4 January 2023.
59. Web site: B Team Loan Latest . Bolton Wanderers . 7 February 2023.
60. Web site: Stanley Secures Brig Loan Move . Bolton Wanderers . 18 October 2022.
61. Web site: Conor Carty Joins On Loan From Bolton . Oldham Athletic . 21 October 2022.
62. Web site: ADAM SENIOR . Telford United. 9 November 2022.
63. https://twitter.com/BWFCBandAcademy/status/1602680668173090820 Adam Senior's loan at @telfordutd has been extended until January 2nd. All the best, @Asenior02!
64. Web site: Stanley Secures FC United Loan . Bolton Wanderers . 19 November 2022.
65. Web site: Carty 'Heeds North In Loan Move . Bolton Wanderers . 19 November 2022.
66. Web site: Conway Joins Cup Hopefuls . Bolton Wanderers . 25 November 2022.
67. Web site: Dolly Blues Borrow Toure . Bolton Wanderers . 25 November 2022.
68. Web site: Grivosti Adds To B Team Loans . Bolton Wanderers . 30 November 2022.
69. https://twitter.com/BamberBridgeFC/status/1607377079108276228 Midfielder Matty Tweedley makes the bench having signed on loan from Bolton Wanderers.
70. Web site: Loan Move For Hutchinson . Bolton Wanderers . 6 January 2023.
71. Web site: Halifax Loan Deal For Senior . Bolton Wanderers . 18 January 2023.
72. Web site: SENIOR EXTENDS LOAN DEAL . FC Halifax Town . 20 February 2023.
73. Web site: Loan Latest As Senior Extends Town Stay . Bolton Wanderers . 22 March 2023.
74. Web site: Sadlier In Leyton Orient Loan Switch . Bolton Wanderers . 27 January 2023.
75. Web site: B Team Duo Extend Loan Stays . Bolton Wanderers . 10 March 2023.
76. Web site: Bolton Wanderers' Conor Carty joins St Patrick's Athletic on loan . The Bolton News . 4 February 2023.
77. https://twitter.com/ACFC1916/status/1626956786384207872 Atherton Collieries (@ACFC1916): " We would like to wish a warm welcome to Mackenzie Chapman, who has joined the Collieries on loan from @OfficialBWFC"