Bolton Wanderers have established themselves as a respected Premier League club since rejoining the top flight in 2001. The Trotters made their Premier League bow in 1995 but were relegated after just one season when they finished bottom. They returned to football's elite a year later after winning the Division One title, but went down again - this time on goal difference. Sam Allardyce guided Bolton back up in 2001 and the club has gone from strength to strength.

Bolton qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history in 2005 after finishing sixth. After an eighth-place finish the year after, they came seventh in the 2006/07 season to make the UEFA Cup again. But Allardyce left the club for Newcastle United at the end of that season and was replaced by his assistant Sammy Lee. A poor start to the 2007/08 season saw Lee relieved of his duties and Gary Megson took over. Megson narrowly steered his side clear of relegation then consolidated their top flight position in 2008/09.

Club Heritage

The club was founded as Christ Church FC in 1874, but changed its name to Bolton Wanderers three years later. They were one of 12 founder members of the Football League which was formed in 1888. Bolton finished FA Cup runners-up in 1894 and were losing finalists again 10 years later, before making it third time lucky with victory over West Ham United in the 1923 final. More FA Cup success arrived in 1926 when they beat Manchester City and again in 1929 with a triumph over Portsmouth.

There was another FA Cup Final appearance in 1953, but Bolton suffered a 4-3 defeat at the hands of a Stanley Matthews-inspired Blackpool. Five years later, they made up for the disappointment by winning the FA Cup for the fourth time with victory over Manchester United.

Bolton had a 29-year spell from 1935 in the top flight and eventually slipped into the league's lowest tier in 1987. They eventually clawed their way back to the top flight in 1995. And as a Division One team, made an heroic run to the League Cup Final but lost out to Liverpool. They suffered the same fate again - losing to Middlesbrough in the 2004 League Cup Final - although a club-best finish of eighth in the Barclaycard Premierhip softened the blow.


Fulham have maintained their Premier League status ever since elevation to the top flight under Frenchman Jean Tigana in 2001. This represented a third promotion in just five seasons for the Cottagers and they have not looked back, establishing themselves in the Premier League.

Tigana left the club in April 2003 and former Fulham star Chris Coleman took over to become the Premier League's youngest manager. He led them to ninth in his first season and kept the Whites clear of relegation during his tenure. Coleman was sacked as the 2006/07 season neared its end, with Lawrie Sanchez taking over the lowly outfit on a temporary basis. The former Northern Ireland manager steered the Cottagers to safety and was subsequently rewarded with the full-time job.

But after the team struggled in the opening months of the 2007/08 season, Sanchez was also fired. Ray Lewington briefly took over as caretaker manager before Roy Hodgson was appointed and guided the club to safety with a dramatic last day win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park. In 2008/09, Hodgson steered Fulham to seventh and a place in the Europa League.

The Cottagers enjoyed one of their finest seasons in 2009/10 after knocking out some of the leading clubs in Europe to reach the Europa League Final. They lost out to Atletico Madrid in extra-time, but did the nation proud as the only Barclays Premier League side to get to a European final that year. Domestically, Hodgson's men finished in a credible 12th.


Club Heritage

The club was formed in 1879 as Fulham St Andrew's Church Sunday School. Fulham were founded by worshippers of the C of E church in Star Road, West Kensington. The church is still in existence today, with a plaque commemorating the team's foundation. The club's name was shortened to its present form in 1888.

Fulham started playing at Craven Cottage in 1896 and gained professional status on 12th December 1898. The club's first recorded all-white kit was worn in 1903 and since then they have played in a white shirt with black shorts. Fulham's Premier League consolidation is quite an achievement in view of the lowest ebb of the 1990s. The club was relegated to the Third Division in 1994 and two years later finished 17th out of 24 teams.

But the appointment of Micky Adams as manager saw the Cottagers quickly promoted again, and two more subsequent promotions under Kevin Keegan and then Tigana earned Fulham a swift return to the top flight. With just 1,000 season ticket holders and seven full-time staff during the darkest days of the mid-nineties, Fulham's transformation is no mean feat.

Their training ground and Youth Academy can be found near to Motspur Park and was where Chariots of Fire was filmed. Fulham are the oldest professional team in London.