Bolton Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson hopes to bring the magic of the FA Cup to Bolton as they shape up for their second-round tie against Sheffield United.
Bolton, who have won the competition four times in their history, made it to the second round after a 1-0 win over League 2 Grimsby Town.
The Trotters’ boss has orchestrated famous wins of his own in the cup over the past few seasons, including a memorable win with Bradford away at Chelsea.
The Bantams are still the only team, at any level, to have ever overcome a 2-0 deficit at Stamford Bridge and win during the reign of Jose Mourinho.
And Parkinson revealed how he wants to achieve similar feats with Bolton.
“Everywhere I go there is a Bradford fan somewhere and they will all tell me about their experience at the Chelsea game when we won 4-2,” he said.
“They are the games which I remember myself as a kid supporting teams.
“When the FA Cup games come along, they are the ones you remember, and we would like to give the Bolton fans some memories to take with them.”
Alongside second-placed Wanderers, Sheffield have enjoyed strong form in the league so far this season to sit one place below.
Parkinson, who has managed Bolton to three wins on the bounce, says his side’s recent form in League 1 shows everyone they mean business this season.
However, if they are going to be in the pot for the FA Cup third round draw this time around Parkinson knows they have a significant challenge to overcome on Sunday.
Speaking to MM, he said: “I think the way the lads have worked so far this season we deserve to be involved in the third round.
“But we are going to have to earn it at the weekend because Sheffield United, as their recent run of results would suggest, are a very good team.”
News of administration issues surrounding the club were played down by the Trotters’ boss but he still has one eye on the potential for financial rewards if an elusive third round place is attained.
“The money always helps, whatever club you are at, so if you get a good draw everybody knows it can bring in revenue.
“It’s much needed for every club. It will obviously be a bonus if we get through.”
When asked if there were any clubs he would like to come up against in the third round, Parkinson jovially remained the consummate professional.
“I would like to get there first, then I will predict or give you who we would like. If we are going to get there it is going to be tough, but we will be ready for it.”
The players at Bolton are also getting excited for the oldest cup competition in the world, Lawrie Wilson revealed.
Wilson told MM: “It just happens to bring people together, it can be anything, you can get any team and it just has that little buzz about it, it’s fantastic.
“Growing up it’s always been one of the best cups in the whole of football.”
Special goal from @Lawrie_Wilson today! Follow ‘officialbwfc’ on @Snapchat and @instagram for more shots like this! #BWFC #BOLvPVL pic.twitter.com/Nzc2ieEkzU
— Bolton Wanderers FC (@OfficialBWFC) October 29, 2016
Wilson has many of his own FA Cup stories to tell having reached the quarter-finals with Charlton Athletic and beating Newcastle with Stevenage.
The midfielder also had the honour of sharing a wing with the now second most expensive player in the world when he battled out a draw against Tottenham Hotspur.
“I do actually have a picture of Gareth Bale by my side, because I was actually playing on the right wing at the time. We managed to swap shirts at the end of the 1-1 draw which was very nice.”
Image courtesy of Bolton Wanderers via YouTube, with thanks.
