20 Years; 20 Players: No.12 Bob Bolder
I am picking 20 Places and 20 Players from the ‘Valiant 988’ ranks to commemorate me writing this Blog for 20 years.
No ranking, no order and we are on Players currently, and next up at number 12 is Bob Bolder.
Bob spent 10 years as Sheffield Wednesday’s no. 1 and then moved to the league champions Liverpool to be Bruce Grobbelaar’s understudy, where despite never starting a game he famously won a European Cup winners medal.
After a short spell at Sunderland the Kent boy returned home in the summer of 1986 when Lennie Lawrence signed him to form part of his newly promoted squad.
Nicky Johns began the season but got injured and Bolder took over making his debut at Maine Road and never looked back winning the POTY in his first season which included that incredible play-off victory over Leeds.
Bob then missed just three league games over the next three seasons as we somehow hung in with the big boys despite being homeless. There were countless games I remember when Bolder would single-handedly keep us in them and he won us so many valuable points.
Looking back our defensive record was superior each season of our stay in Division 1 than many of the other teams that finished above us, even the season we got relegated.
Bolder stayed until the club got back to The Valley, playing in the Back to The Valley game before retiring in 1993.
Bolder had a real connection with supporters when he played, which has continued keeping fans amused as regular match day and event host at The Valley. A couple of years back Bob’s work with CACT and the club was recognized by the PFA.
Appearances 249, Goals 0 (1986 – 1993)
In 1986 I was nine years old, and this was when I began going to CAFC games regularly, trudging over to Selhurst Park, I’m sure we used to catch the football special from Woolwich Arsenal?
Anyways! Bob Bolder, John Humphrey, Colin Walsh… These were my formative heroes, and players that my mind drifts back to fondly! You make a good point about how well organised we were defensively, and even at a young age, I wondered why Bolder & Humphrey didn’t get near the national team, as they more than held their own in the top tier? They were reliable and solid professionals, and I don’t think I can recall either of them having a bad game! These are the kind of players who would be worth a fortune in today’s market…
I know. And they all missed out on earning fortunes. If only they were 10 years younger.
Yeah but never scored!
Mustn’t forget Mark Reid, our penalty taker and great player. Colin Pates and Joe Mcglaughlin.
Lennie assembled a great team.
The more I’ve thought about my top 20 players, the more I’ve come to realize how many great ones we had during Lennie’s reign. He could sure pick a player.
Mind you after that debut I wouldn’t have minded if he had never played another match. We lost 2-0 and both goals were down to keeper errors. In the away end we got drenched, all in all it was a real why did I bother going sort of day.
Nicky Johns swiftly regained his position but got sent off a couple of weeks later and this time Bob Bolder got back in and never lost his place. I don’t recall Nicky Johns ever starting for us again.
We were lucky to get him – but sitting in the stands at Anfield and waiting for Bruce Grobelaar to get injured was presumably the driving factor in his going to a club where he stood a chance of getting some game time. Those were the days before goalkeepers got a seat on the subs bench so he likely moved before his career fizzled out.