Bolton Wanderers take on Walsall in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday at the University of Bolton Stadium. With that said, bwfc.co.uk highlight five key pp
1. Squad Update
During Friday’s press conference, first team manager Phil Parkinson gave the following details on his squad for the upcoming Walsall clash in the FA Cup Third Round.
Parkinson said: “Jack Hobbs and Marc Wilson are major doubts for this weekend's game.”
"Will Buckley has suffered from an illness and although he did train today, it is highly unlikely he will feature tomorrow.
"Gary O'Neil is unavailable and along with other doubts in the squad, changes to the team will definitely be made."
2. The Boss - Dean Keates
Keates came through the ranks at the Banks’s Stadium, before making his professional debut for the club in October 1996 against Plymouth Argyle.
During his two stints with the Saddlers, Keates won three promotions with the club (1999, 2001, 2007), making over 150 appearances for the club.
He earned three further promotions (2004 with Hull City and in 2008 and 2009 with Peterborough United), in a playing career that lasted 21 years.
Following on from retiring, Keates was appointed manager of Wrexham in October 2016.
In March 2018, Keates re-joined his hometown club Walsall as first team manager.
3. New faces at the Banks’s Stadium
At the beginning of the 2018/19 season, the Saddlers have brought in a whole host of new names to the Banks’s Stadium.
One such name is Morgan Ferrier, who signed from Boreham Wood in August 2018.
The former England C international is a former Arsenal youth team player and whilst at Boreham Wood, made it to the National League play-off final against Tranmere Rovers.
Norwich duo of Russell Martin and Matt Jarvis have been brought in, with Martin on a permanent basis and Jarvis on loan until the end of the season.
Martin made over 250 appearances for Norwich City prior to joining the Saddlers, the Scottish international won promotion on three different occasions with the Canaries.
On a personal level, the centre back was named in the 2014/15 PFA Championship Team of the Year.
Looking towards Jarvis and the former England international had a highly successful time whilst at Wolverhampton Wanderers, winning promotion to the Premier League 2008/09 along with winning both Players’ Player and Player of the Year in 2010/11.
Coming in from Bury is Albanian born midfielder Zeli Ismail.
A product of the Wolverhampton Wanderers academy, he made his senior debut in September 2012 as a substitute in a 6-0 defeat in the League Cup against Chelsea.
As well as this, Ismail is a former England youth international, as he represented his country at U17 level in 2009.
Andy Cook joined the Saddlers in May 2018, signing a two-year deal from Tranmere Rovers.
Another fellow England C international like Ferrier, Cook scored the opening goal in the National League play-off final for Tranmere, as Rovers went on to win 2-1 and gain promotion to League Two for this season.
4. Game to Remember
We take you back to the second round of the League Cup in September 2003, where Sam Allardyce’s side welcomed the Saddlers to the University of Bolton Stadium.
The Trotters took the lead early on through Mario Jardel, before Kevin Nolan doubled the lead with 20 minutes to go in the tie.
Paul Merson pulled one back for then manager Colin Lee’s team, before Jardel doubled his tally for the day and extended Wanderers lead.
To watch the highlights of that game, click the link below!
5. Pay on the Day
Kicking off at 3pm at the University of Bolton Stadium, admission on the day of the game can be found at the following turnstiles:
Please note that only the lower tiers of the University of Bolton Stadium will be open for this fixture to Wanderers supporters.
• Nat Lofthouse (East) Stand Lower - Blocks K and J (for I and L)
• Carrs Pasties North Stand Lower - Block M
Supporters wishing to sit in the Bolton Kia West Stand Lower can purchase their tickets directly from the Ticket Office at Bolton Central.
Visiting Walsall supporters will also be able to pay on the turnstiles at Block G of the Franking Sense South Stand.
Tickets will be available on a cash-only basis from 2pm onwards, while prices for the match are as follows:
Adults - £15
Over 65’s - £5
Under 18’s - £5