Where Are They Now: Henrik Pedersen

I'm sure we all have their favourite players through the highs and lows of watching Bolton Wanderers. From Super Kevin Davies and Jay-Jay Okocha for some of our younger audience, all the way back to the likes of Frank Worthington and Nat Lofthouse for some of our longer suffering supporters - we all have certain players that we loved to see pull on the white shirt.

With that in mind, we're kicking-off a new series taking a look at where of some of our favourite Wanderers are now, what they're doing and, if possible, their memories of playing for Bolton.

To begin this series, we delve back to the last decade to speak to one of the players who typified our most successful team in recent memory.

Bolton Wanderers under Sam Allardyce was a rare breed of a team that combined a wealth of world-class talent, in the form of players like Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff and Fernando Hierro, with true grit and determination that made us the team that no-one wanted to play against.

Danish forward Henrik Pedersen was a vital cog in Sam Allardyce's side through the 2000s, encapsulating the hard work ethic that Big Sam instilled in his consistent overachievers.

Pedersen, who earned four caps for Denmark, joined Bolton from hometown club Silkeborg IF for £650,000 in the summer of 2001. He initially struggled to adjust to English football and returned on loan to Silkeborg to help their relegation fight in 2002. He returned to Bolton reinvigorated and quickly established himself as a true fans' favourite. While not exactly being a prolific goalscorer, you always knew that Henrik would try his heart out for the team and would never stop running.

After scoring 22 goals in 143 appearances over six years for Wanderers, Henrik had a brief spell with Hull City in 2007/8 before returning home for a third spell with Silkeborg, for whom he made more than 225 appearances in total before retiring in 2012.

So what is Henrik up to now? Well, we spoke to the Dane, now 39, last week and he filled us in on how he has really taken the English lifestyle to heart.

Henrik said:

"I'm running my own pub now, called Sportspubben Målet, back in my hometown Silkeborg. It must have been inspired by my time in England.

I have two kids, aged four and six."

We also asked Henrik what he remembered about his time playing for Bolton, if he looks back on the club fondly and whether he still follows Wanderers' fortunes.

Henrik said:

"I have so many memories from my time at Bolton that I don't know where to begin. Personally, the main one has to be that I got married when I lived in Bolton.

But football wise, one of the main memories is definitely my first Premier League goals away against Leeds United, but also being able to be the top goalscorer for Bolton two times. But there are so many, that I could write a whole book about them."

He added:

"Of course I still follow Bolton every week. I always look for the score, even though I don't get to see them much. But I am always in Bolton once a year to watch a game and to visit friends."

Henrik's comments show he clearly enjoyed his time at Bolton, and he looks back fondly on the six years he spent playing for the club under Sam Allardyce. But what of the teammates he played with through the years with the club, does he still keep in touch with them?

Henrik confirmed he did:

"I text sometimes with Nicky Hunt and Davo (Super Kevin Davies),"

"I also talk with the Scandinavian guys Stig (Tofting), Bo Hansen and Per Frandsen sometimes too."

So there we have it!

Henrik Pedersen is still a white and it's great to hear he still cares about the club and is in touch with some of his former teammates.

So next time you're in Silkeborg be sure to pop into Sportspubben Målet for a beer with him!