We welcome Bolton Wanderers under the lights at Griffin Park this evening for our latest Sky Bet Championship fixture. While 220 miles of the M40 and M6 separates the two clubs that hasn’t stopped 19 players featuring for both sides in the Football League. Ahead of tonight’s match we look at five players who have made an impression in both the red and white of Brentford and the white of Bolton.
Dean Holdsworth, Brentford 145 appearances (76 goals); Bolton Wanderers 188 appearances (52 goals)
With more than 300 appearances and 125 goals for tonight’s two club’s Dean Holdsworth is a hero among both sets of fans. Making his name with Brentford, Dean scored 24 goals during the 1989/90 season before netting an incredible 38 goals in the 1991/92 promotion winning season. The striker scored six goals in the final six games of the season as The Bees' perfect finish saw them win the league on the final day at Peterborough United. After a spell with Wimbledon in the top flight Dean joined Bolton and, although he couldn’t prevent them dropping out of the Premier League, was a regular scorer for The Trotters in the First Division. Dean is now the Chief Executive at Bolton Wanderers after leading the takeover of the club last month.
Billy McAdams, Brentford 87 appearances (39 goals); Bolton Wanderers 52 appearances (29 goals)
Northern Irish International Billy (pictured bottom row, second from the right below) joined Bolton in 1960, after six seasons at Manchester City, and quickly established himself as a potent goalscoring threat, finding the net 18 times in 27 appearances during his first season in Greater Manchester. After a spell with Don Revie’s Leeds United the powerful, mobile centre-forward joined Brentford in 1962 and scored 22 goals in his debut season as The Bees won the Fourth Division. The Belfast-born striker added another 14 league goals the following season to cement Brentford’s place back in the Third Division.
Darren Pratley, Brentford 54 appearances (5 goals); Bolton Wanderers 149 appearances (15 goals)
A fine passer of the ball Darren joined The Bees on loan from Fulham towards the end of the 2004/05 season as Martin Allen’s side eventually lost out in the League One Play-Offs. He returned the following September and scored his first Brentford goal in a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest on his second debut. Again, however, The Bees would lose out in the Play-Offs. After five years with Swansea City Darren joined The Trotters in 2011. The 30-year-old midfielder is Wanderers current captain and is in line to make his 150th Bolton appearance tonight.
Isaiah Rankin, Brentford 97 appearances (19 goals); Bolton Wanderers 18 appearances (2 goals)
A former Arsenal youngster, Isaiah arrived at Griffin Park in 2004, aged 26 but with seven clubs, including Bolton, already behind him. Never a prolific scorer, despite his work rate and endeavour, Isaiah netted ten times in his first season under Martin Allen and nine times in his second. He is perhaps best remembered for his solo effort against Southampton in the FA Cup Fifth Round. With Brentford 2-0 down Isaiah waltzed through the home defence to set The Bees on their way to a 2-2 draw, the goal was later nominated for Match of the Day’s Goal of the Month competition.
Jamie Fullarton, Brentford 32 appearances (1 goal); Bolton Wanderers 1 appearance (0 goals)
Jamie joined The Bees from Dundee United in 2002 and scored on his debut against Huddersfield Town. However a succession of back and leg injuries limited him to just 22 league starts in his year-long spell at Griffin Park. After his playing days he joined up with former teammate Dougie Freedman on the Bolton Wanderers coaching staff as the Under-21s Manager before an ill-fated spell as Notts County manager earlier this year.
Tickets for tonight's match between Brentford and Bolton Wanderers are on General Sale now. Buy online right up to kick-off here