The final installment in the review of the club's community exploits throughout the 2014/15 season
With Wanderers taking to the field for the final time during the 2014/15 campaign against Birmingham City on Saturday 2 May, the start of the month also saw Darren Pratley named as the club’s Community Player of the Year.
Over the season, Darren has made a number of appearances within the community including working with the Community Trust on the Hearts and Goals programme and going to place defibrillators in local schools.
The midfielder has also been on visits to local fans including Jon Anderson, a 13 year old fan who suffered a serious leg injury on his way to Bolton town centre to watch the Christmas lights switch on.
Darren was awarded the Player in the Community award ahead of the Whites’ clash with the Blues at Macron Stadium for his efforts.
Following the game itself, the club hosted a special After Party event where supporters were invited to the Premier Suite inside Macron Stadium with a range of entertainment provided, including live music from The Jade Assembly, Gavin Ellis and Black Jack Casino.
Food and drink was also available, with the manager and first team squad making a special appearance on stage before taking time out to pose for photographs and sign autographs.
Since the conclusion of the season, the club’s work in the community has still been going strong, notably with staff members of the Bolton Wanderers Community Trust recently completing the Manchester 10K in support of Prostate Cancer UK.
The group, led by Head of the Community Trust and Club Chaplain Phil Mason, took part in the annual event to raise funds for the organisation with over £1,000 donated so far.
This act of support continues on from the club’s actions during the course of the season as a whole, with Wanderers having previously named their league clash against Norwich City in April as Prostate Cancer UK’s designated matchday.
Bucket collections were held on the day of the game, while support was also shown in the club’s matchday programme.
Alongside ensuring that much needed funds are raised for the organisation however, the Trust’s staff members also dedicated their run to former employee of the club Dave Melling who sadly lost his own battle with the disease back in September 2014.
The club’s final action of support for the charity will take place next month when Gareth Lester, a former member of the ground staff team at the Whites’ Lostock academy base, will take part in a bike ride from London to Amsterdam with the Men United Team.
Gareth, alongside many others, will be cycling 145 miles over two days between June 12 and 14 to raise money to help beat prostate cancer.
To show your support and sponsor Gareth, please visit his JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/Gareth-Lester or alternatively, please text BWFC 68 plus the donation amount to 70070.
Donations meanwhile are still welcome in support of the Community Trust’s efforts in the Manchester 10K, with people able to show their support at www.justgiving.com/TeamBWCT or by texting BWCT 99 plus their donation amount to 70070.
For more information on the club's support for Prostate Cancer UK, please email Phil Mason at pmason@bwfc.co.uk.
Having made the move to Macron Stadium late last year, Emile Heskey took time out of his schedule to pay a visit to students of the Bolton Wanderers Free School based at Macron Stadium.
Whilst there, the striker answered numerous questions from those present and also posed for photos with the pupils.
CLICK HERE to watch back the key moments of Emile's visit.
Finally, the end of the month saw hundreds of Bolton Wanderers supporters attended the club’s Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving held at Macron Stadium.
The annual event, hosted by club chaplain Phil Mason, saw those present firstly take their places on the stadium’s west stand before Community Ambassador and former player Tony Kelly laid a wreath as Mason addressed the crowd.
Following this, spectators then retreated to the stadium’s Platinum Suite where the service continued with lessons being read out by the club’s Vice Chairman Brett Warburton and Captain Craig Roxby of the Royal Artillery.
Names of loved ones that has been inscribed in the Memorial Book or engraved on a memorial stone during the past twelve month were also read out, while all the names of family and friends to be remembered from previous years were displayed on the big screen.
Heavily focused on remembering ‘Wanderers at War’ and the retelling of the story of Bolton captain Harry Goslin who was sadly killed in action after leading the team to fight in the war, this year marks the 300th anniversary of his Bolton Artillery Regiment who are planning to follow back in his footsteps this summer.
Click on the video player below to watch back footage from the club's After Party held in early May.