Supa John - makes you proud to be a Wanderer

[TKIZ!]

When Bruce joined Bolton, I'd hoped he'd come in for me. Due to Bolton's finances nothing happened, Bruce told me to sit tight at Millwall and see what came up. I started the 1991-92 in the first team but by the end of September Bolton had come up with £125,000 and I was re-united with Bruce. I took two minutes to sign. Money's never been my driving force, I was just glad to join Bolton. I actually took a pay cut, lost around 1/3 of my salary and also my club car. But Bruce told me to trust him, he was going to turn Bolton around and when he did so, he'd see me alright. It wasn't a gamble, I trusted him and was now about to start the best period of my life with a club that I will always love and a town that has made my family and I so welcome… I remember speaking to Gordon Sharrock's of the Bolton Evening News, I told him that the move 'felt right' for me. It was time to sell the caravan, I'd had enough of the gypsy lifestyle and Bolton was where I'd now call home. My first game at Burden went well, a 2-0 home win against Hull. 'Didsy' (David Lee) was with us on-loan from Southampton and we formed a good understanding. We had a great run in the F.A. Cup holding Liverpool at Burnden and then beating them at Anfield where I scored in a 2-0 win. We won promotion and consolidated our league position but repeated the cup run, this time with notable wins over Everton, Arsenal, and Villa. The following year, '94-'95, we were going well in the league, and again did fantastically in the cup, losing the Coca Cola Cup final 2-0 to Liverpool. Apart from the two goals, there was very little between the sides. I also think that playing at Wembley helped us prepare for the play-off final against Reading - one of the most incredible games I've played in! Prior to the game, we had a week in Portugal to get some sun and provide focus. We lost David Lee with a broken foot and as a result Bruce asked me to play wide right with Mixu up front. Reading started off fantastically and we just couldn't get the ball off them, it was like playing Brazil! By the 26th minute we were 2-0 down and then the ref awarded a penalty against us. Keith Branagan saved it, which not only kept us in the game, but it also gave us a psychological boost. Bruce always insisted that when the half time whistle went, the team should get straight to the changing rooms. We trotted of the pitch and sat in the changing rooms with not a great deal being said. It seemed an eternity before Bruce appeared and we were all expecting a real going over from him. In actual fact he was very calm and reassured us that if we continued to play as we'd done in the latter period of the first half, we could find ourselves in the Premiership. The atmosphere changed and when the second half got under way we tore them apart. We got the two goals to take it to extra-time, Mixu scoring a cracker. We then went 4-2 up before big Jimmy Quinn got one back for Reading in the final moments. It was an incredible feeling for me. With getting into the game so late, I'd only dreamed about playing Premiership football and now it was reality. I had about forty friends and family down from Scotland so it was just perfect. You can only feel sorry for the Reading boys, so near but so far. At least Shaka Hislop, who had had a tremendous season, got a move to Newcastle and also made it to the top flight. The only thing that tarnished the day was the continued speculation that Arsenal were in for Bruce. As the promotion elation subsided, these rumours were becoming unsettling. If we were to survive in the Premiership then we'd need strengthening and the and the loss of our manager would be a great blow. Gordon Hargreaves, the Chairman took me to one side. As club captain Gordon was telling me that Bruce was staying at the club and I was to reassure the players that they'd be OK. However by June it became apparent that Bruce was indeed off to Arsenal, a move to a massive club that professionally he simply couldn't turn down. A new management team took over, Colin Todd and Roy McFarland. It never worked as no one really knew who was doing what. If you went to Colin with a problem you felt you were going behind Roy's back - and vice versa. We were struggling in the league and I felt that Roy was then made a scapegoat. By January he had gone. I was playing wide right with Nathan (Blake) up front on his own. This was happening for both home and away games, a very negative tactic that simply wasn't working. We couldn't keep a hold of the ball and Sasa (Curcic) was beating players then losing possession. The whole team used to get caught out of position because he hadn't laid off the ball. The inevitable happened and we were back in the first division. During the pre-season of '96-'97 we signed two great boys; Per Frandsen and Michael Johansen.

http://www.myspace.com/johnmcginlay" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Check out the rest on here

[William the White]

Bet Thommo is a bit pissed off with him, though...

[P.O.S.]

My eyes!!

Good read though, great to see he still loves the club and remembers his time with us as fondly as the fans do

[TKIZ!]

Aye I noticed that too, that was a great goal!

Plus I thought he was back in the States but according to that he's been in Bolton for 6 years?

[TKIZ!]

My eyes!!

Good read though, great to see he still loves the club and remembers his time with us as fondly as the fans do

Sorry POS, just found it while trawling the interwebsuperhighway so did a cut and paste job

[P.O.S.]

My eyes!!

Good read though, great to see he still loves the club and remembers his time with us as fondly as the fans do

Sorry POS, just found it while trawling the interwebsuperhighway so did a cut and paste job

No worries, was worth it cheers for unearthing!

[TKIZ!]

Nay worries fella, it's a great read and knew he loved Bolton but never that much.

[jaffka]

That was a very good read.

Supa John what a legend.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Might be easier to read like this. You're welcome

When Bruce joined Bolton, I'd hoped he'd come in for me. Due to Bolton's finances nothing happened, Bruce told me to sit tight at Millwall and see what came up. I started the 1991-92 in the first team but by the end of September Bolton had come up with £125,000 and I was re-united with Bruce.

I took two minutes to sign. Money's never been my driving force, I was just glad to join Bolton. I actually took a pay cut, lost around 1/3 of my salary and also my club car. But Bruce told me to trust him, he was going to turn Bolton around and when he did so, he'd see me alright. It wasn't a gamble, I trusted him and was now about to start the best period of my life with a club that I will always love and a town that has made my family and I so welcome…

I remember speaking to Gordon Sharrock's of the Bolton Evening News, I told him that the move 'felt right' for me. It was time to sell the caravan, I'd had enough of the gypsy lifestyle and Bolton was where I'd now call home. My first game at Burden went well, a 2-0 home win against Hull. 'Didsy' (David Lee) was with us on-loan from Southampton and we formed a good understanding.

We had a great run in the F.A. Cup holding Liverpool at Burnden and then beating them at Anfield where I scored in a 2-0 win. We won promotion and consolidated our league position but repeated the cup run, this time with notable wins over Everton, Arsenal, and Villa. The following year, '94-'95, we were going well in the league, and again did fantastically in the cup, losing the Coca Cola Cup final 2-0 to Liverpool. Apart from the two goals, there was very little between the sides.

I also think that playing at Wembley helped us prepare for the play-off final against Reading - one of the most incredible games I've played in! Prior to the game, we had a week in Portugal to get some sun and provide focus. We lost David Lee with a broken foot and as a result Bruce asked me to play wide right with Mixu up front. Reading started off fantastically and we just couldn't get the ball off them, it was like playing Brazil!

By the 26th minute we were 2-0 down and then the ref awarded a penalty against us. Keith Branagan saved it, which not only kept us in the game, but it also gave us a psychological boost. Bruce always insisted that when the half time whistle went, the team should get straight to the changing rooms. We trotted of the pitch and sat in the changing rooms with not a great deal being said.

It seemed an eternity before Bruce appeared and we were all expecting a real going over from him. In actual fact he was very calm and reassured us that if we continued to play as we'd done in the latter period of the first half, we could find ourselves in the Premiership. The atmosphere changed and when the second half got under way we tore them apart. We got the two goals to take it to extra-time, Mixu scoring a cracker. We then went 4-2 up before big Jimmy Quinn got one back for Reading in the final moments.

It was an incredible feeling for me. With getting into the game so late, I'd only dreamed about playing Premiership football and now it was reality. I had about forty friends and family down from Scotland so it was just perfect. You can only feel sorry for the Reading boys, so near but so far. At least Shaka Hislop, who had had a tremendous season, got a move to Newcastle and also made it to the top flight.

The only thing that tarnished the day was the continued speculation that Arsenal were in for Bruce. As the promotion elation subsided, these rumours were becoming unsettling. If we were to survive in the Premiership then we'd need strengthening and the and the loss of our manager would be a great blow. Gordon Hargreaves, the Chairman took me to one side. As club captain Gordon was telling me that Bruce was staying at the club and I was to reassure the players that they'd be OK.

However by June it became apparent that Bruce was indeed off to Arsenal, a move to a massive club that professionally he simply couldn't turn down. A new management team took over, Colin Todd and Roy McFarland. It never worked as no one really knew who was doing what. If you went to Colin with a problem you felt you were going behind Roy's back - and vice versa. We were struggling in the league and I felt that Roy was then made a scapegoat. By January he had gone.

I was playing wide right with Nathan (Blake) up front on his own. This was happening for both home and away games, a very negative tactic that simply wasn't working. We couldn't keep a hold of the ball and Sasa (Curcic) was beating players then losing possession. The whole team used to get caught out of position because he hadn't laid off the ball. The inevitable happened and we were back in the first division. During the pre-season of '96-'97 we signed two great boys; Per Frandsen and Michael Johansen.

http://www.myspace.com/johnmcginlay" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Check out the rest on here

[TKIZ!]

Cheers DSB

[scotty]

This is still my favourite Super John story...

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... afe_hands/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

About half way down the article.

3 days before the most important match of your career (up to that point) and you go on a 2 day bender, get sent home from training by the manager but he still starts you and you score the winning goal to seal promotion.... one word.... legend!!

[H. Pedersen]

Aye I noticed that too, that was a great goal!

Plus I thought he was back in the States but according to that he's been in Bolton for 6 years?

I thought he was too . . . he was at the Charlotte friendly at least. Really nice guy.

[TANGODANCER]

[TKIZ!]

Hahahaha. Take that you golden shirted c-nut

[TANGODANCER]

Never could understand how a push/shove/slap that wouldn't knock your granny over can suddenly turn into death blows on football field. Rugby, Ice-hockey, you name it, all take real hits and carry on, only footballers are such jessies and cheats.

[boltonboris]

With that trickle of blood down his shoulder, he could be mistaken for wearing the current Wanderers kit!

[Bruce Rioja]

Point of order!!!

losing the Coca Cola Cup final 2-0 to Liverpool.

I said at the time the no-one'll ever remember Thommo's absolute peach of a turn-and-smack into Calamity's top corner, but I wasn't including his team-mates in that!

[William the White]

Point of order!!!

losing the Coca Cola Cup final 2-0 to Liverpool.

I said at the time the no-one'll ever remember Thommo's absolute peach of a turn-and-smack into Calamity's top corner, but I wasn't including his team-mates in that!

I did... See above...

[Bruce Rioja]

Point of order!!!

losing the Coca Cola Cup final 2-0 to Liverpool.

I said at the time the no-one'll ever remember Thommo's absolute peach of a turn-and-smack into Calamity's top corner, but I wasn't including his team-mates in that!

I did... See above...

Ah sorry, Chap. I just quoted straight from the article without having got to the replies. As you were.

[TKIZ!]

Interesting article in the B(E)N from Supa John today.