Wanderers' special series of countdown articles prior to the commencement of the new season continues
In the latest instalment of bwfc.co.uk’s countdown series, we profile three former Bolton players who have worn the number 19 for the club.
Bryan Small
March 1996 – May 1998
A product of Aston Villa’s youth academy, it was with the Villans that Midlands-born Small made his professional bow before being loaned to local rivals Birmingham briefly in 1994.
Linking up with Wanderers on a permanent deal in March 1996, the defender struggled to make his mark whilst at Burnden Park and although he helped the club win promotion to the Premiership in May 1997, he was ultimately limited to just 21 appearances over his two year stay at the club.
Enjoying loan spells with Luton, Bradford City and Bury whilst with the Whites, he moved to Stoke City in 1998 where he remained for three seasons before bringing the curtain down on his career with spells at Walsall, Forest Green Rovers, Kettering Town and Hednesford Town.
Where is he now?
Since retiring, Small has moved into coaching with a spell in charge of Stourport Swifts, while he has also represented Wanderers in the popular Masters Tournament.
Gavin McCann
June 2007 – May 2010
One-time England international McCann played for only four teams throughout a 16-year long professional career, with the Blackpool-born midfielder certainly leaving his mark on Wanderers.
A youth graduate at Goodison Park with Everton, he failed to hold down a regular starting berth with the Toffees and as a result, moved onto pastures new in 1998 with Sunderland his next port of call.
He impressed whilst sporting the red and white stripes of the Black Cats, enough to catch the eye of Aston Villa in the early noughties with him going on to spend four relatively successful seasons on the books of the Villa Park outfit.
Swapping the Midlands for his native North West in 2007 as he joined Bolton, McCann helped the club stay in the Premier League during his first season at BL6 – scoring a crucial goal against Middlesbrough in April 2008 – and remaining with the Whites until 2011 when he hung up his boots.
Where is he now?
Handed the title of Head of Academy Coaching at Blackpool last year, he has also previously worked in Wanderers’ academy.
Marvin Sordell
January 2012 – July 2014
Having impressed for Watford after turning professional with the Hornets back in 2009, expectation was high when Sordell made the move to Macron Stadium in January 2012 with his place in the Great Britain Olympic football team setting tongues wagging.
Unfortunately for the striker however, he struggled to make his mark with Wanderers during his inaugural season at BL6 and despite scoring eight times for the Trotters, he spent the 2013/14 campaign on loan with Charlton before signing permanently for Burnley in the summer of 2014.
Again unable to find his feet however, the frontman and former England Under-21 international joined Colchester United last summer where he scored six goals in 25 appearances.
Where is he now?
Departing the U’s earlier this month, Sordell is now on the books of Coventry City.
Other Bolton No.19s include: Stuart Whittaker, David Norris, Delroy Facey, Rodrigo Moreno and Nigel Reo-Coker