Lancaster Whites- BWFC

21/10/2026

Saturday's match report by Alan Houghton. 📝

Steven Schumacher’s Superwhite army hit the roads, rail and airways to get to the cruise capital of England, Southampton, many going down for the weekend, as we clocked up another 500 miles trip. The hotel was full of happy cruisers, bound for the Caribbean or the Mediterranean and happy Wanderers fans looking to extend our good away form after our brilliant win at Molyneux this week. The Doombar deliberations in Wetherspoon’s ‘The Standing Order’ were full of optimism and confidence that we could get something at St Mary’s stadium and that a point against much-fancied Southampton would be most welcome. They were harshly punished after their Inspector Clouseau activities last season. With a 100% home record and 16 goals in five matches, Southampton would be a very stern test.

Steven Schumacher made several changes as he freshened the squad, with Gavin Bazuna getting a mixed reception from the Saints fans, because of his previous association with arch-rivals Portsmouth. We started the match determined to contain Southampton and our offside trap caught them out so many times, especially in the first half. On the few occasions that they did get through, their finishing left a lot to be desired. Although our defence was superbly marshalled, we struggled to retain the ball until late on. Our substitutions made a difference as they settled us down and we nearly snatched it towards the end with a couple of shots deflected agonisingly wide. But we hung on for a well-earned and welcome point. Once again, the Wanderers fans were magnificent, getting behind the lads and letting everyone know that ‘We are the one and only Wanderers’. A real team effort this one, both on and off the field.

4 points from 2 away matches this week and 7 points from 3 away matches at Norwich City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton means that we are giving it a go this season. If the season finished tomorrow with us in 15th place, we would all be happy. This team is still developing. We have one of the lowest budgets in the Championship, but we are competing. Before the season started, any thoughts of getting points away from home were viewed as a bonus. We are growing in confidence and seem to fear no-one. We cruised to a point against the best home team in the Championship. Let’s enjoy it. Every match is like a cup tie.

COYWM!! ⚽🐘

21/10/2026

A draw at St Mary's. 🏟️

The Wanderers have taken another point on the road, this time playing out a goalless draw with Southampton. 🟥

Two mini busses with one staying over the night before made the trip down for this fixture. A brilliant following as always. 👏

Next up. Home to Middlesbrough on Friday. ⚽

COYWM!! ⚽🐘

Pictures provided by William A, Matthew B, Alan H, Gary F, Ian L, Wayne M and C Middleton. 📸

17/10/2026

👏

Lancaster Whites (Bolton fans) enjoying a few pints in Southampton yesterday ahead of today’s Championship clash at St Mary’s! 🍻⚽

The long-standing Lancaster-based BWFC supporters club are down on the south coast for Southampton vs Bolton Wanderers (3pm kick-off). Wanderers come into it on the back of a 3-1 win at Wolves earlier in the week and looking to keep building after promotion.

Have a great day out, lads

16/10/2026

Another brilliant player Q&A. 👍

Big thanks to everyone who attended last week's player Q&A and also another big thanks to our special guests Ben Davies and Xavier Simons. 👏

See pictures and a link to the Bolton News article below. ⬇️

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/26616503.bolton-wanderers-stars-visit-supporters-event-lancaster/?ref=nativeshare

COYWM!! ⚽🐘

16/10/2026

A frustrating home defeat followed by a brilliant away win. 👊

On Saturday Thelonius Bairs late goal would be nothing more than consolation as Bolton were beaten 2-1 by Stoke City, who played 70 minutes with 10 men. 🟥

On Tuesday evening, Atsuki Ito, Sam Dalby and Josh Sheehan were on target as they pulled off a superb 3-1 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux. 🐺

No numbers for travel for the two recent games but transport was run to both fixtures. 🚍

Next up. Away to Southampton tomorrow. 🚌

COYWM!! ⚽🐘

Pictures provided by William A, Wayne M, Alan S and Mark S. 📸

25/09/2026

Sundays match report by Alan Houghton. 📝

Another match day dawning, watching the sunrise from the motorways of England, as we headed for Carrow Road in Norwich, to play our rearranged fixture, thanks to Sky TV and the EFL rules, against the Canaries. It was a long drive, made even longer when the SatNav lost the plot, trying to cope with the new road layouts around Huntingdon and we ended up circling the town three times, before escaping.
The Doombar deliberations were sort of upbeat. It was good to be playing Norwich City again. They seem to score goals for fun and how many goals could we restrict them to? This would be a real test and if we could get anything from the match, it would be a bonus before the International break.
Our worst fears materialised from the start as Norwich came at us, scoring early and having another disallowed for offside. But we dug in and went at them, with Thierry Gale scoring a cracking equaliser. That didn't slow Norwich down and they went back in front, all within the first 19 minutes. We didn't lie down and continued to go at them. We created lots of chances and Gaizka Larrazabal thundered in the equaliser, just before half-time. A great first half got even better when Sam Dalby got the third, just after the restart. They pulled that one back to make it 3-3 and the game was anybody's. But we were the better team and when Atsuki Ito scored with his first touch, it was no more than we deserved. It was not a game for defences and we had out attacked them. We maturely managed the game out.
So, we came away with the three points, which puts us nicely in 15th place. If we can finish around there or higher, it will have been a good season. Let's keep things in perspective. We are a promoted team on a limited budget. It's time to stop moaning about who we didn't sign and get behind the ones that we have signed. We had four different scorers today, two from new signings. The team spirit was there for all to see, with the joyous scenes after the final whistle. Steven Schumacher's Superwhite Army are on the march. It will be a long hard season but on this evidence, we're giving it a go.

COYWM!! ⚽🐘

25/09/2026

Registering back-to-back victories in the Championship for the first time in over eight years. 👊

Thierry Gale, Gaizka Larrazabal, Sam Dalby and Atsuki Ito were all on the scoresheet on Sunday as they pulled off an incredible team effort to beat Norwich City 4-3 at Carrow Road. 🏟️

Two mini busses made the trip with one staying overnight and another making the trip on the day. Great effort. 👏

Next up. Home to Stoke City on October 10th after the international break. 🌎

COYWM!! ⚽🐘

Pictures provided by Gary F, Ian L, Alan H and Shaun G. 📸

17/09/2026

Saturday's match report by Alan Houghton. 📝

We meandered down the Manny Road to the Toughsheet, wondering where our next point was coming from. We were up against our fellow promotion winners from last season, the Bluebirds from Cardiff City. The Doombar deliberations were honest, if a little downbeat. We have been playing well but getting no rewards. Defensive mistakes have cost us dear this season. Steven Schumacher’s attacking strategy has been encouraging and a delight to watch but the results have been disheartening to say the least. Today’s match was viewed as a must win game and to get some points on the board. No pressure there then.

There was one enforced change as Ben Davies came in for the absent Chris Forino. From the kick-off, Cardiff were the better team. They seemed a yard faster than us, crisper with their passing and we were fortunate in not being two or three goals down by half-time. Despite a couple of substitutions at half-time, nothing much changed in the second half as Gavin Bazunu had the game of his life, pulling off a string of magnificent saves to defy Cardiff and keep us in the game. Then just as we were beginning to feel relieved at getting a point, Max Conway made a brilliant interception, fed the Bear, who put over an inch perfect cross and Thierry Gale nodded us in front. Celebrations all round as we had got out of jail, and we had stolen the points. There was no sympathy for the Bluebirds as we have had this done to us a few times over the past weeks. It is a harsh lesson to learn, that no matter how well you play, if you don’t take your chances and make defensive mistakes, you will get punished in this league. Every team has that bit more nous about them and we will have to fight for every point this season.

That being said, I do love happy endings, and this might be the lift that we need to get those points rolling in. It’s no good saying that we have a hard run of matches coming us, as every match in this league will be hard, especially for promoted teams. We still have players to bed in and get up to speed. At times we played like strangers and seemed to lack the energy of previous games. We are going to need a little patience this season.

COYWM!! ⚽🐘

17/09/2026

Gale to the rescue! 👊

Saturday saw Thierry Gale come to the rescue with a 90th-minute header as Bolton beat Cardiff City at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. 🏟️

25 Lancaster Whites traveled on the coach on Saturday. 🚍

Next up. Away to Norwich City on Sunday. 🚌

COYWM!! ⚽🐘

Pictures provided by William A. 📸

12/09/2026

Progress made but still falling short. ⚽

The unforgiving nature of Championship football struck Bolton yet again. After taking the lead from 1-0 down. Ultimately would fall short losing 3-2 on Tuesday night. 🌙

15 Lancaster Whites traveled to the match. 🚍

Next up. 12:30pm start at Home to Cardiff City today. 🏟️

COYWM!! ⚽🐘

Pictures provided by William A. 📸