Foot in Both Camps: Coventry City

With our Sky Bet League One fixture against Coventry City less than 24 hours away, we’ve profiled six players who have played for both Bolton Wanderers and this weekend’s opponents.

Julian Darby        

Currently on the Bolton Wanderers playing staff as First Team Coach, Darby came through the youth ranks at Burnden Park in 1985 going onto make 346 appearances (52 goals) for the club before a move to Coventry City in October 1993.

Spending a couple of years with the Sky Blues, the Bolton-born midfielder made 62 appearances (6 goals) before a November 1996 switch to West Bromwich Albion. Also going onto spend time with Preston North End, Rotherham United and Carlisle United, he hung his boots up in 2001.

 

Sam Allardyce

The 65 year-old former Wanderers boss who enjoyed eight successful years in charge at the University of Bolton Stadium, began his career with Wanderers after coming through the youth system and became a professional in 1971.

Leaving the club in 1980 for Sunderland, he spent time with Millwall and Tampa Bay Rowdies before signing for Coventry City in 1983. After leaving his next club, Huddersfield Town he returned to Wanderers for a brief stint (1985-86) before finishing his playing career with spells at Preston North End, West Bromwich Albion and Limerick.

As a manager, he has most recently been in charge of Everton, Crystal Palace and the England national team.

 

Lukas Jutkiewicz

Plying his trade in the Sky Bet Championship with Coventry’s co-habitants Birmingham City, the 30 year-old striker signed for the Sky Blues in July 2010 after leaving Everton and in 18 months at the Ricoh Arena he made 69 appearances (18 goals).

The Southampton-born frontman had begun his career with Swindon Town before his July 2007 move to Everton and after he left Coventry in January 2012 he signed for Middlesbrough. Loaned to Wanderers from the North East club during the second half of the 2013/14 season, he scored seven times in 20 appearances. In the summer of 2014, he signed for Burnley for £1.5 Million.

 

Sam Ricketts

Currently managing at Shrewsbury Town, 38 year-old Ricketts hung his boots up in June 2017 after spending the final two years of his career with Coventry City. He made 56 appearances (1 goal) for the Sky Blues following his move from Wolves in July 2015.

Signing for Wanderers from Hull City in July 2009, the Wales international spent four years at the University of Bolton Stadium and made 114 appearances (1 goal) before his move to Molineux in the summer of 2013.

Prior to his three years at Hull City, Ricketts had spent time with Oxford United, Nuneaton, Telford and Swansea City before his move to Humberside.

 

Marvin Sordell

Recently retired from professional football at the age of just 28, Sordell came through the youth ranks at Watford and burst onto the scene at Vicarage Road before joining Wanderers in January 2012.

Two and-a-half years were spent at the University of Bolton Stadium and he made 29 appearances (8 goals) before signing for Burnley in July 2014 after a loan spell at Charlton Athletic.

Arriving at Coventry City in July 2016 on a free transfer from Colchester United, the forward who represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics spent six months with the Sky Blues and made 26 appearances (7 goals).

 

Stephen Warnock

Settling in well into his role in the media world, the Liverpool trainee spent the 2003/04 season on loan with Coventry City as a promising young defender looking to make his name known in the game.

Making 49 appearances (3 goals) for the Sky Blues, the Ormskirk born full-back had permanent spells with Blackburn Rovers and Aston Villa after leaving Liverpool in January 2007. Arriving in BL6 on loan from Villa in September 2012, he made 15 appearances before a return to Villa Park and a subsequent permanent switch to Leeds United.

Before retiring in 2018, Warnock had spells with Derby County, Wigan Athletic, Burton Albion and Bradford City.

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