Countdown to 2016/17 - 28 days to go

Wanderers' official website embarks on a special series of countdown articles profiling former players who have worn a specific shirt number for the club

With the start of the new season just four weeks – or 28 days – away, today marks the start of a special countdown on bwfc.co.uk – one which will see former players of yesteryear who have worn a specific shirt number for the Whites profiled – some instantly recognisable, others perhaps not so much.

In the first edition, we cast an eye over three names who left varied impressions on the Bolton faithful during their stints for the club wearing the number 28.



Franz Carr
October 1997 - January 1998

Despite his somewhat continental sounding first name, frontman Carr was actually born in Preston and spent the majority of his career plying his trade on English soil.

Best known for his seven years on the books of Nottingham Forest from 1984 to 1991, the former England Under-21 international sadly never matched his efforts whilst at the City Ground during the remainder of his time in the professional game.

Spending permanent stints with the likes of Newcastle United, Sheffield United, Leicester City, Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion, Carr also spent time on loan with Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham United and latterly Wanderers in the 1997/98 campaign.

Making only a handful of appearances for the Whites during their second term in the Premiership – all of which came from the substitutes’ bench - he returned to parent club Reggiana in Italy in early 1998 and wound down his career with a spell at Pittsburgh Riverhounds over in the States.

Where is he now?

Retiring at the turn of the millennium, now 49-year-old Carr lives in Derbyshire and works in sports management.



Lubomir Michalik
January 2007 - January 2008

Arriving in England almost a decade ago, 6ft 5in defender Michalik unfortunately never made a lasting impression with Wanderers.

Joining the Whites from Senec in his homeland, the towering centre-half actually made his debut in English football for Leeds after joining them on a short-term loan deal in March 2007, with him going on to make seven appearances for the Elland Road outfit.

Making his bow for Bolton in April against Reading, he scored on his away debut against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, that was unfortunately as good as it got for Michalik and, after making a total of 17 appearances in all competitions, he joined Leeds in a permanent deal the following January.

Spending three years with the Yorkshire outfit, the Slovakia international spent time with Carlisle and Portsmouth thereafter before retreating back overseas.

Where is he now?

Michalik is currently back in his native Slovakia where he plays for FC DAC 1904 Dunajska Streda who merged with his old club Senec in 2008.



Craig Davies
January 2013 - June 2015

A man who has figured for no less than 14 different clubs throughout his professional career to date, Davies’ efforts for Wanderers are still appreciated amongst the Bolton faithful despite his spell with the club being blighted by injury.

Starting his career with Manchester City, the frontman enjoyed permanent stints with Oxford, Verona, Oldham, Brighton, Barnsley and Chesterfield alongside loan spells with the likes of Wolves, Stockport, Yeovil and Port Vale inside the opening years of his career.

Impressing for the Tykes from July 2011 onwards, his efforts at Oakwell ultimately caught the eye of Wanderers and he made the switch to BL6 in early 2013.

A string of injury problems however meant that the striker’s two-and-a-half year stay with the Trotters was very much stop-start, with the 30-year-old being sent out to Preston on loan two years ago to secure some much needed game time.

Returning to Bolton ahead of the 2014/15 campaign, the Welsh international scored seven goals in 30 appearances in 2014/15 – including two against Cardiff on what proved to be his final appearance for the club – before being released by Wanderers last summer.

Where is he now?

Moving onto pastures new not so far from here in the form of Wigan Athletic, Davies scored twice last season for the Latics in 30 games as they won promotion back to the Championship.



Other Bolton No.28s include: Hasney Aljofree, Jermaine Johnson, Ricardo Vaz Te, Joey O’Brien, Gael Kakuta and Andy Kellett

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