Countdown to 2016/17 - 25 days to go

bwfc.co.uk continues its series of countdown articles profiling former players who have worn a specific shirt number for the club

In today's edition of this special countdown series, bwfc.co.uk takes a look at three players who have worn the number 25 shirt for Wanderers.


Scott Taylor
March 1996 – October 1998

Spending two-and-a-half years with Wanderers in the mid-to-late nineties, Taylor unfortunately never really made his mark on the Whites.

Having started his career with Staines and Millwall, he linked up with Bolton in March 1996 and proceeded to score in his second home game for the club in a 6-1 demolition of Grimsby Town at Burnden Park.

Notching a further two strikes that season against Tottenham and Chesterfield, the striker was sadly limited mostly to substitute appearances for the club with only three starts to his name out of 17 appearances.

After departing the then-Reebok Stadium in late 1998 following loan stints with Rotherham and Blackpool, Taylor went on to join Tranmere before enjoying stints with Stockport, the Seasiders once again, Plymouth and MK Dons.

Eventually winding his career down with spells at Brentford, Rochdale, Grays, Lewes and then finally coming full circle back to Staines, he turned to part time football before hanging up his boots.

Where is he now?

Still playing football albeit on a lower scale, he is figuring for Manor Athletic FC’s Over-40s.



Abdoulaye Faye
July 2005 – August 2007

A man who became a true stalwart in the heart of the Bolton defence during the mid-noughties, Faye’s arrival in England brought something of an unknown quantity.

Born in Senegal, the towering centre-half had spent the first six years of his career in his homeland and then France with Jeanne d’Arc and Lens before Wanderers spotted his talents in 2005.

Moving to the Reebok shortly after, he settled into life in English football with ease and following the departure of Bruno N’Gotty and Radhi Jaidi, he formed a formidable partnership with Abdoulaye Meite at the back as Wanderers secured European football for a second time.

Also notching a handful of goals, twice against Arsenal and one against Portsmouth, he moved to Newcastle in August 2007 where he spent a solitary campaign before signing for Stoke City and later playing for both West Ham United and Hull City.

Where is he now?

Having recently returned to Macron Stadium for May’s Legends Match, the now-38-year-old is still playing professionally in Malaysia with Sabah FA.



Dedryck Boyata
August 2011 - May 2012

Belgian-born Boyata unfortunately never really lived up to potential during a season-long loan stint at BL6, with the towering defender finding his opportunities limited as the club suffered relegation from the Premier League.

On the books of Manchester City from the age of 16, he made his debut for the Etihad Stadium outfit in an FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough in January 2010 but struggled to hold down a regular starting berth for the Blues, being mostly limited to cup appearances.

Linking up with Bolton for the duration of the 2011/12 campaign, he was part of a defence who shipped five at home to Manchester United, although he did score his one and only goal for the club just a month later when netting a consolation against Chelsea.

Turning out for the Whites for the final time on the last day of the season against Stoke, he returned to City and was loaned to FC Twente for the first part of the following campaign. 

Where is he now?

Departing Manchester City last summer, Boyata moved to Celtic and has impressed in the Scottish top flight so far, playing in 46 games and scoring six goals.



Other Bolton No.25s include: Simon Charlton, Javi Moreno, Tamir Cohen, Stuart Holden, Marcos Alonso and Josh Vela

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