Bolton Wanderers take on Middlesbrough this evening in the Sky Bet Championship at the Riverside Stadium. With that in mind, bwfc.co.uk take a look back at some of the notable names to have played for both sides.
Gary O’Neil
Current Wanderers midfielder O’Neil spent four seasons with Boro, from 2007 until 2011, after joining from Portsmouth for a fee in the region of £5 million.
He managed over 100 appearances for the Teesside club, before joining West Ham United in January 2011.
The former under-21 international joined the Whites in August 2018 on a short-term contract.
O’Neil made his debut against West Bromwich Albion the day after signing and has made seven appearances since arriving in BL6.
Sammy Ameobi
The Geordie winger joined Middlesbrough on loan in 2013 on a short term loan from parent club Newcastle United.
He played nine times during his tenure, scoring once against Cardiff City on his debut in a 2-1 victory.
In summer 2016, Ameobi joined Wanderers on a six-month loan from the Magpies and set Sky Bet League One alight.
Manager Phil Parkinson described him as a “game-changer” in his initial short stint at the club.
After heading back to Newcastle for the remainder of that year, Sammy’s time at the University of Bolton Stadium wasn’t done.
He permanently joined the Trotters in July 2017 on an initial one-year deal, before signing a two-year extension in June 2018 following on from Wanderers epic last day of the 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship season.
Andrew Taylor
Starting his career at Boro, full back Taylor was in the same youth team as current Wanderers skipper David Wheater that won the 2003/04 FA Youth Cup.
He made his first team debut in 2005, as they reached the FA Cup semi-final and the UEFA Cup Final, where they lost to Sevilla in the latter.
With over 100 appearances at Boro under his belt, Taylor left for Cardiff City in July 2011.
Moving forward to August 2016, now playing at Wigan Athletic, the defender joined Wanderers on loan, making his debut against AFC Wimbledon three days later.
He was a pivotal part of the 2017/18 Sky Bet League One promotion season for the Whites, playing 40 times for the club that year.
David Wheater
The 31-year-old central defender started in the Boro youth academy, joining the setup in 1997 before making his Premier League debut in 2005/06.
After more than 150 appearances for the Teessiders, Wheater made the move to Bolton in January 2011 on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
In his seven-and-a-half stay at the University of Bolton Stadium, Wheater has made 208 appearances for the Trotters and is the longest serving current player.
Along with this, the towering centre-back has won promotion to the Sky Bet Championship in 2016/17 with Wanderers, earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year alongside defensive partner Mark Beevers.
This season, Wheater has taken the captaincy for the Whites, playing in all seven league games so far.
Jonathan Grounds
The 30-year-old full back joined Middlesbrough as a youth player at the age of eight.
Making his debut against Liverpool in January 2008, Grounds had a five-year stay at Riverside Stadium, which saw him out on loans to teams such as Norwich City, Hibernian and Chesterfield.
Grounds joined the Whites in August 2018 and made his debut for the club against Leeds United in the Carabao Cup first round.
Jimmy Phillips
Bolton born Phillips played for Bolton schoolboys at Under-14 and Under-15 level before joining Wanderers and having his first taste of league football in April 1984.
This came against Gillingham Town as a substitute at Burnden Park.
In 1995, Phillips played the full 90 minutes in the 1995 League Cup Final against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
With 411 appearances for the club in his two stints at the Trotters, the defender was also a member of the 1996/97 First Division title winning campaign, where Colin Todd’s men scored 100 goals and took 98 points.
In between these spells at the Whites, Phillips had a three-year stopover in Teesside with over 160 appearances to his name.