SAM ALLARDYCE was back managing Bolton this weekend for a charity match in aid of full-back Gethin Jones’ mother, Karen, who has MND. The former Limerick (player-manager) had a team full of Bolton All-Stars XI including legend Jay-Jay Okocha.
Allardyce and Okocha danced together 18 years ago after Bolton beat Middlesbrough.
The game saw the pair recreate the iconic dance that became famous back in 2003, 18 years on from the final day of the season to stay in the Premier League.
Jay-Jay Okocha and Sam Allardyce re-created their dance from their Bolton days at an all-star charity game today! 😂🕺 pic.twitter.com/WmPjHlkNTT
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) November 14, 2021
The 13,000 crowd also got to see former Wanderers heroes including Kevin Davies, John McGinlay, Ivan Campo, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Ricardo Gardner.
Wanderers fans in the ground and on social media were loving the dance after Okocha - who Bolton supporters say is 'so good they named him twice' - hit the game's opening goal.
And the match also brought back fond memories for the legends.
Okocha said: “It’s great to be back. I’ve got some fantastic memories of this place and it’ll always be in my heart.”
Another former captain, Davies - who had been instrumental in organising the legends’ team - added: “It’s like coming home for a lot of us.
“It’s great to see all the players, great to see all the fans, staff.
“We know we’re here to raise money and we think we have done over the weekend with the fantastic support we’ve always had here.”
Full-back Jones added: "It's been quite an emotional weekend. I can't thank everyone enough."
Current boss Ian Evatt netted a hat-trick as the present-day Wanderers beat Big Sam's All-Stars 7-4.
Allardyce, managed Bolton from 1999 to 2007 and led them from the Championship to the Uefa Cup, said:
“It was just a dream, not just for me and the players playing together but also the fans.
“I’ll never forget the atmosphere when the ‘Reebok’ was full.
“It was the best time a lot of them ever had and certainly one of the best I had – apart from being a player myself because nothing really substitutes that.
“Those eight years was fantastic."
Credit: Rex (sun)