Bristol City vs Bolton: Played For Both Clubs - Nicky Hunt

Ahead of this weekend's game at Ashton Gate, we take a look at the career of former Bolton Wanderers and Bristol City player, Nicky Hunt.

Nicky Hunt, born 3rd September 1983, grew up in Daisy Hill and began his youth career with Manchester United, before moving to hometown club Bolton Wanderers at the age of 15.

In 2001, a then 17 year old Hunt made his Wanderers debut in the final regular game of the season against Sheffield United, coming on as a substitute for Colin Hendry in a 1-1 draw.

Hunt would then have to wait nearly two years for his next game for Bolton, appearing twice in the 2002/2003 season for the Whites against Sunderland in the FA Cup.

Nicky Hunt's big break came in the 2003/2004 season. After making his Premier League debut in the opening game at Old Trafford against Manchester United, Hunt made 38 appearances in all competitions, and also scored his first and only goal for Bolton that season in a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at the Reebok.

Nicky Hunt also started for Bolton in the 2004 League Cup final, where Bolton lost 2-1 to Middlesbrough at the Millennium Stadium (Zenden kicked the penalty twice).

Hunt had now fully established himself as Bolton's first choice right back.

In the 2004/2005 season, Hunt played 34 times as Bolton finished 6th in the Premier League, meaning the club qualified for the UEFA cup for the first time.

Hunt started in Bolton's first ever European game, a 2-1 win against Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Plovdiv at the Reebok. Hunt also set up Bolton's first ever European goal, crossing for El-Hadji Diouf to head the ball home.

Over the course of two European campaigns, Nicky Hunt made 10 appearances for Bolton in the UEFA Cup. These included games against Seville, Braga, Red Star Belgrade, Atletico Madrid and Sporting Lisbon.

Big Sam's departure in 2007 was the beginning of the end for Hunt's time at Bolton. Despite making appearances in the aforementioned UEFA cup games in the 2007/2008, Nicky Hunt had fallen out of favour with Gary Megson.

Nicky Hunt played his last game for Bolton on the 29th March 2008, which was a 3-2 against Arsenal at the Reebok.

In total for Bolton, Hunt scored once in 161 games.

In 2013, Hunt spoke to the Bolton News about his time at Bolton:

''I was a local lad who watched Wanderers as a kid and got my chance to break into the first team from the youth set-up under Big Sam (Allardyce), just like Kevin Nolan before me.

Next thing, I am walking out for my debut at Old Trafford and playing against Cristiano Ronaldo – you don’t get many better places to play your first league game, even if we did get beat in the end.

What a few years it was after that; it was surreal at times.

There was me, a lad from down the road from the Reebok and I’m lining up alongside World Cup and Champions League winners like Youri Djorkaeff, Fernando Hierro and Ivan Campo at places like Sporting Lisbon and Atletico Madrid.

For young lads like me at the time, you were pinching yourself and it was a priceless experience.

Thankfully, Sam was prepared to give youth a chance, and in games like those in Europe.''

In November 2008, Hunt moved to Championship side Birmingham City on loan, playing 11 games. Hunt also had a loan spell with Derby County in 2010, making 23 appearances for the Rams.

After 12 years as a Bolton Wanderers player, Nicky Hunt moved to Championship side and today's opponents Bristol City permanently in the Summer of 2010.

Things didn't work out for Hunt at Bristol City. After playing just 8 games in 18 months, Hunt was released.

As a result, Hunt joined League 1 side Preston North End in February 2012, reuniting with former Wanderers assistant manager Phil Brown. Hunt scored 1 goal in 17 games before being released by Preston at the end of the 2011/2012 season.

Hunt then signed for Rotherham United, before signing for League 2 side Accrington Stanley on loan in January 2013. Hunt made his Accrington move permanent in the Summer of 2013, and played 71 times in total for Accrington before being released in 2015.

Nicky Hunt then moved to Mansfield Town. After playing 21 times for Mansfield, Hunt reunited with former Wanderers captain Kevin Nolan at Leyton Orient in February 2016. So far for Orient, Hunt has played 7 times.