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English Premier League
England
The Barclays English Premier League (EPL), considered as the best in the world.
Burnley FC vs Bolton Wanderers
Official name Burnley FC
City Burnley
Founded 1882
Club colors Claret shirt - Sky Blue trim / White
vs.
0 - 0
Bolton Wanderers
Official name Bolton Wanderers FC
City Bolton
Founded 1874
Club colors White / White / White
Match scheduled:
Date: 26-12-2009
Time: 14:00 until 16:00
Week 19 / Round 19 :: Barclays Premier League 2009/2010
Owen Coyle took over as Burnley manager on 5 November 2007. His first game in charge was a goalless draw, in which Burnley wore their 125th anniversary kit, against fellow Football League founder members Stoke City, on 24 November. Burnley achieved a total of 62 points, their largest total since the 75 points gained in 2001–02.
In advance of the 2008-09 season Coyle brought in several new players. The season started with a 4-1 defeat away to Sheffield Wednesday and a 3-0 defeat at home to Ipswich Town, a match in which a Red Devil parachutist got caught in the stadium roof of the David Fishwick Stand during a pre-kick off display [9]. After two draws, a 2-1 victory at Nottingham Forest was the first league win. Their form improved thereafter through to the end of the 2008 and saw them end the calendar year in fifth position. They finished the season in the same position, their highest final league placing since 1976, and qualified for the play-offs. They beat Reading 3–0 on aggregate in the two-legged play-off semi-final before beating Sheffield United 1–0 and gaining promotion to the Premier League, a return to the top flight after 33 years.[10]
On 19 August 2009 after losing their first match of the 2009-10 season 2-0 against Stoke City, Burnley defeated the defending Premier League champions Manchester United 1-0 at Turf Moor in their first home top-flight match in 33 years Recently they beat Hull City 2-0 at Turf Moor with 2 goals from Graham Alexander on his 900th career appearance. Since then Burnley have only lost once at Turf Moor and recently earned their first away point by drawing with Manchester City.
| The Reebok | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Burnden Way Horwich Bolton England |
| Broke ground | 1995 |
| Opened | 1997 |
| Owner | Burnden Leisure |
| Operator | Burnden Leisure |
| Construction cost | £25,000,000 (1995) |
| Architect | Lobb Sports (1995) |
| Capacity | 28,723 seated |
| Tenants | |
| Bolton Wanderers (Premier League) (1997–present) | |
When the club was first founded, Christ Church had a nomadic existence, playing at a number of locations in the area. This "wandering" becoming part of the clubs new name. The club started playing regularly at Pike's Lane in 1881. Spending £150 on pitch improvements, season tickets cost a guinea. They played here for fourteen years until the tenancy expired and they moved to Burnden Park.[18]
Situated in the Burnden area of Bolton, approximately one mile from the centre of the town, the ground served as the home of the town's football team for 102 years. In its heyday, Burnden Park could hold up to 60,000 supporters but this figure was dramatically reduced during the final 20 years of its life, mainly because of new legislation which saw virtually all English stadiums reduce their capacities for safety reasons. A section of The Embankment was sold off in 1986 to make way for a new Normid superstore. At this time, Bolton were in a dire position financially and were struggling in the Football League Third Division, so there was a low demand for tickets and the loss of part of the ground gave the Bolton directors good value for money.
By 1992 the clubs director's had decided that it would be difficult to convert Burnden Park into an all-seater stadium for a club of Bolton's ambition. They were members of the then-new Division Two (the third tier of English football) but the club had ambitions to reach the top flight. A decision was made to build an out of town stadium in nearby Horwich. The stadium opened in 1997.
It is a modern, all-seater stadium with a capacity of 28,723. In recognition of the clubs former ground the stadium stands on "Burnden Way". It has four stands: The sponsored "The Debt Matters Stand" at the north end, the similarly sponsored "Woodford Group" Stand opposite, the West Stand at one side of the pitch and the "Nat Lofthouse" Stand at the other side. The Reebok Stadium is named for long-time team sponsor, Reebok. This was initially unpopular with many fans, as it was considered impersonal, and that too much emphasis was being placed on financial considerations. This opposition has considerably lessened since the stadium was built, however, as fans have grown accustomed to the name and since Reebok started off as a local company.
