Didn't we once try to sign him?

[mrkint]

Boutros Boutros Ghali

[thebish]

Boutros Boutros Ghali

ftw!

[jaffka]

You could just post any old sh*te really, so here we go

Tom Finney
Stanley Matthews
Bobby Charlton

Do you think you're Allardyce?

[BL3]

Interesting article about Bolton's attempts to sign Duncan Edwards. Him and Nat in the same team would have been interesting.


During his three seasons as an England Schoolboy International, he had accumulated nine caps, which was a record for an England Schoolboy. He was also the first Dudley schoolboy to win International recognition in more than forty years. Naturally, he was under the spotlight of all the leading clubs, and of course he did live on the doorstep of such famous named clubs as Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Two other clubs, both Lancashire rivals, were also alerted this youngster who potentially was going to be even better than John Charles. They were Bolton Wanderers and Manchester United.

Perhaps the local Midland clubs felt that Duncan was bound to choose one of them, but the Lancashire sides took nothing for granted and made strenuous efforts to sign him. Bolton Wanderers were in fact the first to be alerted to him. The year before they had signed Duncan's schoolboy International Captain, Ray Parry.

Another reason for Bolton's confidence at this time in their pursuit of Duncan Edwards, was the fact they had Duncan's Second Cousin, and former Dudley Schoolboys team mate, Dennis Stevens in their line-up. Looking back, Dennis recalls 'From what I gathered, Bolton were very, very confident about signing Duncan, and naturally, being part of the family, and knowing what a player he was going to develop into, I was quite looking forward to him joining me at Bolton. At least he would have had someone he knew at the Club.'

The account of Frank Pickford, Bolton's Chief Scout for so many years, of how Duncan ended up at Old Trafford and not Burnden Park, is still vivid in his mind, even today. He well remembers Bolton's attempts to bring Duncan to Burnden Park.

'Duncan Edwards was the boy who had the lot,' began Frank. 'From the first sighting, George Taylor (who was Bolton's Chief Coach at that time) and myself both realised what a grand player he was going to become. We saw him in a trial match at Dudley Port, but missed him after the game, so off we went to the local police station to find out the lad's address. 'Thirty Four, Elm Road, Priory Estate, Dudley' we were told, and I'll never ever forget it.'

Frank's voice trailed away at the memory of the finest talent that he had ever come across. A talent he was so sure was destined for Burnden Park, Bolton. But, after a short pause, Frank continued 'I didn't honestly believe for a minute that any other Club would get him. I got on well with his Father and Mother, and in fact his dad and I often enjoyed a couple of pints together in the Royal Oak pub opposite their house.'

'Duncan even came up to Bolton on one occasion to have a look around, but while we waited, Manchester United must have got the nod about the lad. When Matt Busby went for him, he must have sold himself well. At the end, I couldn't get down to Dudley on this particular Sunday, as I was over in Belfast looking at another young player, so Matt and Jimmy Murphy got that illusive signature of Duncan's.'

Having lost out to Manchester United, Frank Pickford and Duncan Edwards next met up at a Lancashire F.A. Youth trial at Leyland Motors ground a couple of months later. 'I was crossing the car park, and Duncan came over to me and said, 'sorry Frank, it just wasn't to be'. I wished him well, but have regretted losing his signature ever since.'

Aware of the continued interest of Bolton Wanderers, even though Duncan had told Matt Busby that he only wanted to join Manchester United, a careful eye was kept on the situation, with Chief Scout Joe Armstrong, Coach Bert Whalley, Jimmy Murphy, and Reg Priest, all watching Duncan at every opportunity.

One afternoon, however, things began to hot up, and it looked as if Bolton were going to make one final attempt to snatch Duncan from under the eyes of their Lancashire neighbours and rivals. Hearing of this move, Reg Priest got on the telephone to Old Trafford right away, and told them to get somebody down to Dudley right away.

[TKIZ!]

Olivier Bierhoff
Patrick Kluivert

[Gail Platz]

Ferrie Bodde

Was sick of seeing that bastard name in every transfer window under Megson.

[ChrisC]

Rivald..............oh

[Riviman]

Pele - as manager !!!

[Harry Genshaw]

Bernie Slaven was the 2nd bloke to turn us down for the 'bigger club' Port Vale. Ron Futcher did the same a few years earlier.

Peter Zelem
Alan Ainscow
& that centre half Laursen (I forget his 1st name). Refused to join us as we were a lower Premier team and then opted for Villa instead

Martin Pike didn't join us due to Phil neal refusing to break the wage structure at the club.

[bobo the clown]

Neville Southall

[Bruce Rioja]

That Moldovan that couldn't get a work permit but ended up at West Brom.

Zoltan Gera? He's Macedonian, I believe. Unless we're talking about different people ofc

Wilfred Zaha (imaginative, yes)

No, Chief - norrim. He scored against England when we played them. Baldy head. (ah, yes, he may be Macedonian rather than Moldovan)

Artim Sakiri

Yoooooooou Beeeeaaaautyyyyyyyy.

Cheers, LGM.

[bobo the clown]

Who was the Turkish guy we took on pre-season trial, were v impressed but we couldn't strike a deal with his club ?

[Athers]

Remember Allardyce being very keen on Sylvain Distin, who was a crock for a couple of years after joining Newcastle, but eventually turned into a good top half CB.

Thiago Alcantera was depressingly close apparently!

[thebish]

go on then - I'll do it...

Adolf Hitler.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Remember Allardyce being very keen on Sylvain Distin, who was a crock for a couple of years after joining Newcastle, but eventually turned into a good top half CB.

As reported by our old friend... and yes, in a later interview he named Distin as the player he most regretted missing out on.

[boltonboris]

Remember Allardyce being very keen on Sylvain Distin, who was a crock for a couple of years after joining Newcastle, but eventually turned into a good top half CB.

As reported by our old friend... and yes, in a later interview he named Distin as the player he most regretted missing out on.

So his Eto'o story was bullshit then, if he's more gutted about Distin.

He's a feckin liar though, so what else would we expect.

[a1]

just for shitstirs , allardyce once attempted to sign jermaine pennant for bolton

:/

[Bruce Rioja]

Johan Cruyff Oh JORDI Cruyff?! Sorry

[Salford Trotter]

Wasn't Drogba another of Allardyce's so called attempted signings, before he signed for Marseille? Heard rumours that Gartside stopped the deal as he had concerns about Drogba's ability and suitablilty to the Premier league!!!!!!!

Pegguy Luyindala was another one.

My word, some people do invent some fanciful ideas.....

Didnt invent it myself, although it did come from a former work colleague who was mates with Allardyce's son, so pinch of salt and all that.

In fact it was true, I'm sure PG had a fax in his pocket before it was picked in Tesco Middlebrook

[bobo the clown]

Paul Mariner.

Having been brought up in Horwich, being a Bolton fan and writing unsuccessfully for a trial at Bolton he joined Chorley, went from Chorley to Plymouth & then Bolton decided to put in a bid just as Ipswich signed him.