A rare and early football programme Bootle v Bolton Wanderers programme 25th March 1889, 4-page match card This programme dates from the historic 188

A rare and early football programme Bootle v Bolton Wanderers programme 25th March 1889, 4-page match card This programme dates from the historic 1888-89 season, when Bolton Wanderers competed as one of the founder member clubs in the Football league, finishing 5th in the table. Bootle were founder members of the Football Alliance and when this body merged with the Football League in 1892 Bootle joined the Second Division. After just one season, and despite finishing 8th, they were in a desperate financial state and were dissolved in 1893. This opened up the door for their neighbours Liverpool FC who joined the Football League in season 1893-94 just a year after their foundation.