FOOTBALL IS BACK! Match Preview: Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United

We’ve had to wait months. April 30th was our last proper match - Bolton Wanderers thrashed Peterborough United 3-0 and we sealed promotion back to the Championship.

The wait is over, at long last.

This afternoon, Wanderers welcome Leeds United as league football makes its return to the Reebok.

Wanderers have had a good summer in terms of recruitment, with Will Buckley (Sunderland), Adam Le Fondre (Cardiff City), Josh Cullen and Reece Burke (loan from West Ham), Adam Armstrong (loan from Newcastle United), Sammy Ameobi (Newcastle), Mark Little (Bristol City), Andrew Taylor (Wigan Athletic) and Stephen Darby (Bradford City) arriving to bolster a squad which managed to win promotion by coming second in League One.

Pre-season has been up and down but performances have been solid, noticeably in the 1-2 defeat to Stoke City where the lads can consider themselves very unlucky to have lost.

Leeds have experienced more upheaval with controversial owner Massimo Cellino selling the club to mysterious Italian Andrea Radrizzani. Fans will be hoping for a less volatile period now that Cellino has left. Radrizzani has appointed former Barcelona striker Thomas Christiansen as the man to replace Garry Monk who headed north to Middlesbrough.

There have been incomings aplenty at Elland Road, with most notable names being Pontus Jansson from Torino for £3.6m, Vurnon Anita from Newcastle on a free transfer, Samuel Saiz from Huesca for £3.1m and Ezgjan Alioski from FC Lugano for £3.2m.

Outgoings have included the likes of Charlie Taylor to Burnley, Marco Silvestri to Hellas Verona and Giuseppe Belluschi, who was released.

Last season saw Leeds finish in 7th place with New Zealand international striker Chris Wood netting 27 times. He will be one to watch.

So we will head to the game later with excitement back in our hearts and ladies and gentlemen I’m sure you’ll join me in welcoming football back with open arms.

Teacher, mother, secret lover - how we have missed you.

COYWM.