What does the term ‘cult hero’ mean to you? Perhaps it invokes memories of an honest tryer with wayward shooting but a loveable face. Or that surly bloke from the continent who only stayed for a season but scored the winner against your local rivals that one time. Or even that ridiculously talented bit-part player whose omission from the side you always resented the manager for. The characteristics that qualify a player as a cult hero are plentiful, diverse and often intangible; and, in recognition of these life-affirming souls, Sport.co.uk picks three Bolton Wanderers players who once graced Burnden Park/the Reebok stadium yet live on in the hearts of Trotters fans, wherever they may be…
(At this juncture, we ought to point out that the otherwise immaculate cult credentials of Stroke-lookalike Ivan Campo were not considered for inclusion on the basis that, in the end, he became a bit too good.)
John McGinlay – He wasn’t quite Nat Lofthouse but, nevertheless, the Scottish striker scored an impressive 87 goals in 192 games in five years with the club (albeit mostly outside of the top flight), including the last goal ever scored at Burnden Park.
A passionate and committed performer with a cheeky grin, the man known as Super John scored famous FA Cup goals against Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal and could regularly be seen attending Bolton matches after he left the club.
Greatest moment: It’s not really commendable, or indeed advisable, but McGinlay’s refusal to follow protocol and throw the ball back to Burnley – a move which led to a Bolton equaliser – was an extremely bold move given how fiery the match already was. Remarkable cajones - but, then, this was a guy who used to celebrate in front of the opposition.
Sasa Curcic – The Serbian was only with the Trotters during their ultimately doomed 1995-1996 Premier League season, yet he still made such an impact that he’s still talked about to this day. Bolton’s answer to Georgi Kinkladze, he was described as “the Serbian George Best” by then Bradford City manager Chris Kamara after he scored twice in a cup match at the Bantams; he ended the season with a total of 7 goals from 33 games.
Bolton’s instant return to what was then known as Division One led to Curcic joining Aston Villa for £4m in the summer. He made little impact at Villa Park other than the fantastic story that he bought a double-decker bus to throw parties on. More recently, he won the Serbian version of Big Brother in 2007, having told a Yugoslav sports magazine in 2000: "I have given up football because of sex. I would rather score in bed than on the pitch."
Greatest moment: This goal against Chelsea, his first in the Premier League…
Mixu Paatelainen – More recently the manager of Hibernian, Paatelainen was the first Finn to play in the English top flight and the subject of many an irony-tinged call for him to be brought on whenever Bolton were winning comfortably.
A mediocre player who had an innate ability of getting caught by defenders even when he has a 30 yard head start on them, Paatelainen remains a prominent cult hero to this day. (You’ve got to have a comedy option, haven’t you?)
Greatest moment: Getting name-checked during a prank phone call on Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights. Perversely, he is perhaps best remembered for this.
And finally, one for the future:
Ricardo Gardner – Hardly a youngster, but Gardner qualifies for future cult stardom on the basis that he’s already a bit of a cult now and is still playing for the club.