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Millwall vs Bolton Wanderers: Played For Both Clubs - John McGinlay

A look at the career of a Bolton Wanderers legend, who also happened to play for Millwall.

John McGinlay

Ahead of tonight's game at The Den, here's a look at the career of one of the greatest strikers to play for Bolton Wanderers, Super John McGinlay (Not McGinley, like the guy who was in Office Space and Scrubs).

Super John, born 8th April 1964, grew up in Inverness and began his football career with hometown club Fort William in the Highland Football League. McGinlay made his debut when he was 16 in August 1980, and went on to spend two years with the club. Two spells either side of a short stint in New Zealand with fellow Highland League team Nairn County followed, before McGinlay made the move south of the border to join then non-league side, Yeovil Town, in 1985.

McGinlay would spend three years playing on the sloped pitch at Huish Park, helping the Somerset side gain promotion from the Isthmian League to the Conference in 1988. In total for Yeovil, John McGinlay scored 56 times in 147 games.

After his release from Yeovil, John McGinlay returned to Scotland to sign for Highland League side Elgin City. McGinlay moved back down to England just a year later to sign for Division Three side Shrewsbury Town in 1989.

McGinlay would only spend a year with Shrewsbury, and after a short spell with our noisy neighbours Bury from 1990 to 1991, Super John signed for tonight's opponents Millwall.

In the 1991/1992 season, McGinlay scored eight league goals, all of them coming prior to the departure of manager Bruce Rioch.

McGinlay would only manage two more goals before reuniting with Rioch and goalkeeper Keith Branagan to sign for Bolton Wanderers in September 1992. At Wanderers, Bruce Rioch had the winning formula. With Andy Walker and John McGinlay up front, the Whites were only heading in one direction.

After making his debut against Leyton Orient on the 3rd October 1992, McGinlay finished the season with 22 goals in all competitons, helping Wanderers finish 2nd in Division Two to earn promotion to Division One.

McGinlay, alongisde striker partner Andy Walker, who ended up with 33 goals in all competitions, were the catalyst behind Bolton's FA Cup exploits.

Now dubbed the 'White Hot' years, Bolton reached the fifth round of the cup after famously beating Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield, thanks to goals from McGinlay and Walker.

The Bolton News

Bolton went one step further the season after. Wanderers finished 14th in Division One, but the season will be best remembered for the fantastic cup results.

McGinlay and Wanderers made it to the FA Cup Quarter-Finals, beating Premier League sides Everton, Arsenal and Aston VIlla along the way.

With Andy Walker out through injury, McGinlay took centre stage, finishing the season with 33 goals in all competitions.

The 1994/1995 was also another season to remember for McGinlay and Wanderers. With 22 goals in all competitions, Super John helped Bolton reach the finals of the League Cup and the Play-Offs. Whilst Bolton fell out the final hurdle in the League Cup, losing 2-1 to Liverpool at Wembley, the Whites went on to win the Play-Offs in spectacular fashion.

Despite being 2-0 down against Reading early on in the game, Bolton went on to win 4-3, meaning the Wanderers would be playing top flight football for the first time in fifteen years.

The Whites' first season in the Premier League was one to forget. After the departure of Bruce Rioch to Arsenal, Bolton handed the reigns to Roy McFarland and Colin Todd, an experiment which failed to work.

Bolton finished rock bottom of the league, with just eight wins from thirty-eight games. McGinlay ended the season of top goalscorer for the third season running, with nine goals. One of those was a fantastic chipped effort against Middlesbrough, a moment of pure brilliance in a dismal season.

With Colin Todd solely in charge, the 1996/1997 season proved to be more successful than the last. Bolton won the Division One title, meaning promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Alongside striker partner Nathan Blake, the pair managed 55 goals in all competitions, with McGinlay finishing as top goalscorer for the fourth season running.

The 1996/1997 season was also the last to be played at Burnden Park. With a move to the newly built Reebok Stadium on the horizon, Bolton played their last game at Burnden on the 25th April 1997. Wanderers convincingly beat Charlton Athletic 4-1, with McGinlay scoring the final two goals ever at Burnden.

After the signings of Peter Beardsley and Dean Holdsworth, McGinlay found first team chances limited. John McGinlay played his last game for Bolton in October 1997, coming as a substitute in a 3-0 defeat away at West Ham United.

McGinlay was transferred to Chris Kamara's Bradford City for a club record fee of £625,000.

In total for Bolton, Super John scored 118 goals in 245 games. Despite only playing for Bolton for five years, the Scotsman had his own testimonial in 2000. In 2005, Super John was voted the 3rd greatest Bolton Wanderers player.

It was also during his time at Bolton that Super John made his debut for Scotland. McGinlay went on to score four goals in thirteen games.

Due to injuries, McGinlay only managed to score three time in eighteen games for Bradford. A brief spell with Oldham Athletic followed, before time in America with Cincinnati Riverhawks and Cincinnati Kings. McGinlay retired in 2006 aged 42.

Post playing, McGinlay spent many years coaching in America, before moving back to England to become Owen Coyle's head scout at Wigan Athletic.

In May 2016, Super John took part in a charity game at the Macron, captaining a team against a Tony Kelly XI.