Foot in Both Camps: Bolton Wanderers v Reading

Bolton Wanderers take on Reading at the University of Bolton Stadium on Tuesday evening in the Sky Bet Championship.

With that in mind, bwfc.co.uk take a look at a selection of players who have turned out for both sides.

Benik Afobe

On March 22, 2012, Benik Afobe joined Reading on a season-long loan from boyhood club Arsenal.

He featured three times in the team that won the Championship title, sending the Royals back to the Premier League.

On August 3 of the same year, Afobe signed with Bolton Wanderers on loan for the 2012/13 season and made his debut the very next day in a 3-0 friendly loss to Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

In Bolton’s final pre-season game, the forward scored a hat-trick against Tranmere Rovers, but his loan deal was cut short on January 31, 2013 and the DR Congo international returned to Arsenal having scored twice in 20 league appearances for Bolton.

Ali Al-Habsi

In January 2016, Ali Al-Habsi left Lin Oslo for Bolton, but faced a year-long wait for first team football.

He was given his debut in a 2-1 FA Cup win against Fulham in September 2007 and went on to earn an additional 15 appearances that season - form which saw him rewarded with a contract extension with a view to keep him at the club until 2013.

However, club legend Jussi Jaaskelainen replaced him once he returned from injury.

Al-Habsi was offered a trial at Reading in 2015 after earning a contract at the Madejski Stadium, he was included in the 2016/17 Championship Team of the Season for his heroic displays, most notably against play-off rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

The shot-stopper also earned Reading's Player of the Year accolade, although his time at the club came to an end as he left for Al-Hilal in the summer of 2017.

Brian Bromley

Bromley started his career at Bolton in 1963 and made his debut in March of that year against Sheffield United. He went on to score 26 goals in 184 appearances over a spell of five years.

He moved to Reading in 1974, and was there for one year, scoring two goals in 14 league appearances for the Royals.

Dean Crombie

Crombie joined Reading on a short loan from Grimsby Town in 1987, making four league appearances.

Later that same year, he signed for Bolton and enjoyed a much more successful spell as in 91 league appearances, he scored once, but his most memorable moment was scoring at Wembley in Bolton’s 4-1 Sherpa Van Trophy Final victory in 1989.

Crombie carried on in numerous roles at Bolton after he retired from playing, and after two small stints as an agent and coach elsewhere, he returned to Bolton and stayed at the club until 2014.

Les Ferdinand

Premier League legend Ferdinand spent time at Bolton and Reading towards the very end of his footballing career.

He joined the Whites in 2004 and famously scored a last-minute goal that looked certain to secure a victory against rivals Manchester United, however it was cancelled out by an even later David Bellion goal.

The goal would be his last in the Premier League - his 149th - coming three months before his 38th birthday.

He joined Reading in 2005, scoring one goal in 12 appearances, before leaving for Watford, who he never ended up playing for before retiring.

Robert Fleck

Fleck joined Bolton on a short loan from Chelsea for the 1993/94 season, scoring once in seven games.

He signed for Reading in 1998, scoring once in nine league games, unable to settle as he did during his two spells at Norwich City.

Danny Guthrie

Liverpool’s Danny Guthrie was signed on loan by Bolton manager Sammy Lee, a former Reds player himself, in 2007 and played 25 league games for the club, scoring on his debut in a League Cup game against Fulham.

The midfielder joined Reading on a three-year deal in June 2012, arriving from Newcastle.

He scored a free-kick against Chelsea in his second game and went on to score five goals in 62 league appearances for the Royals before being released in 2015.

James Henry

Born and bred in Reading, James Henry signed his first professional deal for his boyhood club in 2006 after rising through their academy.

He missed most of his first season after suffering a cruciate knee injury, but eventually made his debut in 2007 in a 4-2 defeat to Liverpool. The midfielder was also loaned out to four clubs during his time at the Madejski.

He spent two loan spells at Millwall before joining them in 2010. After moving to Wolves, he was loaned out to Bolton for the 2016/17 season in what was initially a short-term loan, but his performances made Bolton extend his stay until the end of the season.

He played in 30 league games, scoring once against Scunthorpe United.

John Hulme

Hulme joined Bolton in 1962 and stayed there for ten years, making 188 league appearances for the club and scoring seven goals from defence.

He joined Reading after a brief stint at Notts County meanwhile, tallying up 87 appearances for the club.

Jem Karacan

Karacan was signed by Reading after impressing during a trial for Manchester United, in which he was playing against the Royals.

He signed a two-year deal in 2007 and scored on his debut against Luton Town, but had numerous loan spells elsewhere before leaving in 2017 for Bolton.

He initially signed a one-month contract, but his performances helped Bolton towards promotion to the Championship, with him consequently signing for another year.

He left for Millwall in 2018 however, and recently joined Australian outfit Central Coast Mariners.

Harry Kinsell

After having to put his football career on hold for World War II, Harry Kinsell eventually signed for Bolton in 1949, in a then club-record fee of £12,000.

In 1950, he moved to Reading, making 12 appearances. He only scored twice in his career though, and neither came for Bolton nor Reading.

Zat Knight

Zat Knight signed for Bolton in 2009 and acted as vice-captain for Kevin Davies before he was given the honour of being skipper himself in the 2013/14 season. He was released from the club that summer.

He then signed for the Colorado Rapids, and after being released, took part in trials for numerous clubs, including Watford, before signing for Reading. He spent two months at the Madejski Stadium and hasn't had a club since.

Adam Le Fondre

Le Fondre spent three years at Reading, signing for the Royals in 2011 and scoring in a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace towards the end of his first season - the point securing Reading’s promotion to the Premier League and the Championship title.

In total, the forward scored 42 goals in 110 appearances in all competitions for Reading.

Le Fondre signed for Bolton meanwhile on loan in January 2015 from Cardiff City and started well, scoring five goals in his first 10 games.

During his half-season at Bolton, he finished as their top scorer with eight goals. 

After numerous moves - including another loan stint at the University of Bolton Stadium - he re-signed with Bolton in 2017, signing a two-year deal with the option to extend.

In August of last year however, he signed for Sydney FC and made the move to Australia.

Glen Little

Glen Little was loaned to both Reading and Bolton during his time at Burnley, playing seven times for the Royals and four times for the Whites before he eventually left Burnley on a Bosman transfer to the Madejski Stadium.

Little’s contribution to their 2004/05 Championship winning season was huge, and many see his efforts as one of the main reasons for their success that year.

He made 96 appearances, scoring five goals before returning to Reading on loan from Portsmouth in 2009, making eight league appearances.

Matt Mills

Mills signed for Reading on a three-year deal in 2009, playing under Brendan Rodgers, and scored the goal to beat Everton 1-0 in the FA Cup to take Reading to the quarter-finals.

After a season at Leicester City, Mills joined Bolton Wanderers in 2012. He suffered injury struggles in his opening season and was linked with a return to his old manager, Brian McDermott, at Leeds United, but decided to stay.

He was made captain of the Trotters in 2014/15, but left the club in 2015 after making 87 league appearances, scoring six goals from defence.

Grzegorz Rasiak

Rasiak was signed on loan from Southampton in 2008 by Gary Megson in order to fill the void that Nicolas Anelka had left since departing for Chelsea.

The striker only managed seven appearances for Bolton however, and Megson decided not to extend the striker's stay at BL6.

He signed for Reading in 2009 and scored nine goals in 30 appearances, but failed to nail down a regular spot in Brian McDermott’s team.

John Salako

Coventry City sent John Salako on loan to Bolton Wanderers in 1998, with him making seven appearances.

He eventually joined Reading in 2001 meanwhile and played in 111 league games, scoring 13 goals.

Dave Sutton

Sutton started his career at Plymouth Argyle, but was loaned out to Reading in 1977, making nine league appearances for the Royals.

In 1985, he joined Bolton Wanderers and during his four year stay, he experienced relegation and promotion, making 98 appearances and scoring four times.

Andrew Taylor

Wigan Athletic loaned Andrew Taylor to Reading for the 2015/16 season and he featured 19 times for the club in the Sky Bet Championship.

Instead of returning to Wigan that summer however, he headed straight to Bolton on loan, who he signed for permanently the following summer, and has made almost 80 appearances to date for the club.

Billy Wrigglesworth

Wrigglesworth left Manchester United for their rivals Bolton Wanderers in 1947, where the outside forward made 13 appearances, scoring just once.

He then moved to Southampton for a short spell before joining Reading in 1948. He only managed five appearances for the Royals though and never scored a league goal for them.

Tommy Wright

Finally, Tommy Wright finished his career in Bolton in 2001, after previously spending a year on loan at Reading in 1996.

He managed 17 appearances for the Royals, but his career was winding down, he only played four league games for the Trotters.

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