Bolton play host to Kenny Jackett’s Portsmouth tomorrow afternoon in the Sky Bet League One, we look back at players who have represented both Wanderers and Pompey over the years.
Matty Taylor
First on the list is Matty Taylor. Taylor joined the Whites in the summer of 2008 from Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee.
Taylor made 178 appearances and scored 23 goals for Pompey from 2002-2008. During his time at Wanderers, Taylor also scored 23 goals in 123 appearances from 2008-2011. His first goals for the club came in a 3-2 home defeat at home to Arsenal.
Gary O’Neil
Gary O’Neil made 29 appearances and scored three goals for the Wanderers in his one season for the club in the 2018-2019 season in which his efforts were recognised by the club’s supporters as he was awarded the Player of the Year award.
O’Neil football career started at Portsmouth in 2000. He spent seven seasons at the club in which he made 174 appearances scoring 16 goals.
Tal Ben Haim
Israel international Tal Ben Haim played for Bolton from 2004-2007 making 88 appearances scoring the one goal.
After a two-week trial with Bolton, he joined the club from Maccabi Tel Aviv.
His first and only goal for Wanderers came in a 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur during the 04-05 season.
Following spells at Manchester City and Chelsea, Ben Haim also played for Portsmouth. In the three years at Fratton Park he made 55 appearances for the club.
Andy O’Brien
Andy O’Brien is another one to have played for both the Whites and Pompey. O’Brien spent two seasons at Portsmouth making 32 appearances before his move to Bolton. In his four years at the Wanderers O’Brien made 74 appearances scoring the once against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
O’Brien was voted Bolton News Player of the Season in 2008, the supporters recognising his efforts during the 07-08 season.
Other notable mentions
Marc Wilson played for Portsmouth and Bolton. Wilson started his football career at Pompey making 35 appearances. He was at Fratton Park for four seasons with a number of loans spells. The centre-back joined Bolton in July 2018 making his debut against Leeds United in the EFL cup. He made 16 appearances in his one season at the club
Sean Davis making only the three appearances for the Whites between 2009 and 2012. His time at club was overshadowed by two major injuries. Before playing for Bolton, Davis was at Fratton Park in which he made 102 apps for Pompey scoring twice.
David Thompson made 12 appearances for Portsmouth during the 07-08 season, he then joined the Wanderers on deadline day in January 2007 on a short term deal. Thompson made 8 appearances for the Whites; he was forced to retire from football in November 2007.