Bolton Wanderers Football Club

• Nickname:Wanderers
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Dougie Freedman

• Ground:Reebok Stadium
• Capacity:28000

Allardyce calls for support

19 Jan 2007 - 09:17:09

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Bolton Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce has called on Trotters fans to back his side by turning up in greater numbers at the Reebok Stadium.

Allardyce was unhappy that just 22,334 watched last weekend's goalless draw with Manchester City.

Bolton's average Premiership attendance is around 5,500 below the capacity of the Reebok, and the Wanderers boss has called on supporters to back the club's bid to secure Champions League football.

"It's great to have the support when we go away from home but there is one underlying factor if you want to get into Europe, and that is that the fans play a massive part with the atmosphere they create at the Reebok Stadium," he said.

"Without that atmosphere - as we experienced against Manchester City last week - the players find it difficult to reach the top end of their game.

"We played 55 games last year. That was a more expensive demand on our fans than this year is going to be - we are only going to play 40-odd matches this time around - so we need them not to be complacent.

"We need them to turn up at home. They are great away from home as the hardcore will always look to travel away and give their support to the team and we have repaid them with some fantastic away performances.

"For me it is about filling the Reebok and not filling the opposition's ground with our fans."