# List of Bolton Wanderers F.C. seasons

This is a list of league seasons played by Bolton Wanderers Football Club in English and European football, from 1888 to the current season. The club was founded in 1874 by the Reverend John Farrall Wright.
The club has won the FA Cup four times and the Charity Shield once. They have competed in the UEFA Cup on two occasions.
The club's highest league position is third in the First Division, achieved three times, in 1891–92, 1920–21 and 1924–25. Their lowest league position is third in the fourth tier (Fourth Division and League Two), twice in 1987–88 and 2020–21, the only seasons they competed in the lowest professional tier.

## Key

| Champions | Runners-up | Play-offs | Promoted | Relegated |
Division shown in bold to indicate a change in division. Top scorers shown in bold are players who were also top scorers in their division that season.

## Seasons

| Season | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe / Other | Europe / Other | Top goalscorer(s) | Top goalscorer(s) |
| Season | Division | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe / Other | Europe / Other | Player | Goals |
| 1881–82 | | | | | | | | | | R2 | | | | William Struthers | 2 |
| 1882–83 | | | | | | | | | | R3 | | | | William Struthers | 7 |
| 1883–84 | | | | | | | | | | R4 | | | | R. Steel | 6 |
| 1884–85 | | | | | | | | | | DNE | | | | Unknown | |
| 1885–86 | | | | | | | | | | R3 | | | | L. Fallon | 2 |
| 1886–87 | | | | | | | | | | R3 | | | | Kenny Davenport Hewitson William Struthers | 3 |
| 1887–88 | | | | | | | | | | R2 | | | | James Brogan Bob Roberts | 2 |
| 1888–89 | FL | 22 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 63 | 59 | 22 | 5th | DNE | | | | James Brogan | 13 |
| 1889–90 | FL | 22 | 9 | 1 | 12 | 54 | 65 | 19 | 9th | SF | | | | Davie Weir | 21 |
| 1890–91 | FL | 22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 47 | 34 | 25 | 5th | R1 | | | | John McNee James Cassidy | 9 |
| 1891–92 | FL | 26 | 17 | 2 | 7 | 51 | 37 | 36 | 3rd | R1 | | | | James Cassidy | 18 |
| 1892–93 | Div 1 | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 57 | 55 | 32 | 5th | R1 | | | | James Cassidy Joe Dickenson | 9 |
| 1893–94 | Div 1 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 38 | 52 | 24 | 13th | R/U | | | | James Cassidy | 15 |
| 1894–95 | Div 1 | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 61 | 62 | 25 | 10th | R3 | | | | Charlie Henderson | 14 |
| 1895–96 | Div 1 | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 49 | 37 | 37 | 4th | SF | | | | Bill Joyce | 12 |
| 1896–97 | Div 1 | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 40 | 43 | 30 | 8th | R2 | | | | Bob Jack | 11 |
| 1897–98 | Div 1 | 30 | 11 | 4 | 15 | 28 | 41 | 26 | 11th | R3 | | | | James Cassidy | 8 |
| 1898–99 | Div 1 | 34 | 9 | 7 | 18 | 37 | 51 | 25 | 17th | R1 | | | | Sandy Gilligan Hugh Morgan | 6 |
| 1899–1900 | Div 2 | 34 | 22 | 8 | 4 | 79 | 25 | 52 | 2nd | R1 | | | | Laurie Bell | 23 |
| 1900–01 | Div 1 | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 39 | 55 | 33 | 10th | R2 | | | | Laurie Bell | 9 |
| 1901–02 | Div 1 | 34 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 51 | 56 | 32 | 12th | R2 | | | | Tom Barlow | 10 |
| 1902–03 | Div 1 | 34 | 8 | 3 | 23 | 37 | 73 | 19 | 18th | R1 | | | | Sam Marsh | 9 |
| 1903–04 | Div 2 | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 59 | 41 | 34 | 7th | R/U | | | | Sam Marsh | 21 |
| 1904–05 | Div 2 | 34 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 87 | 32 | 56 | 2nd | R3 | | | | Sam Marsh | 27 |
| 1905–06 | Div 1 | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 81 | 67 | 41 | 6th | R1 | | | | Albert Shepherd | 26 |
| 1906–07 | Div 1 | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 59 | 47 | 44 | 6th | R3 | | | | Albert Shepherd | 19 |
| 1907–08 | Div 1 | 38 | 14 | 5 | 19 | 52 | 58 | 33 | 19th | R3 | | | | Albert Shepherd | 25 |
| 1908–09 | Div 2 | 38 | 24 | 4 | 10 | 59 | 28 | 52 | 1st | R1 | | | | Billy Hughes | 16 |
| 1909–10 | Div 1 | 38 | 9 | 6 | 23 | 44 | 71 | 24 | 20th | R1 | | | | Billy Hughes | 12 |
| 1910–11 | Div 2 | 38 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 69 | 40 | 51 | 2nd | R1 | | | | Billy Hughes | 21 |
| 1911–12 | Div 1 | 38 | 20 | 3 | 15 | 54 | 43 | 43 | 4th | R3 | | | | Joe Smith | 24 |
| 1912–13 | Div 1 | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 62 | 63 | 42 | 8th | R1 | | | | Joe Smith | 22 |
| 1913–14 | Div 1 | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 65 | 52 | 42 | 6th | R3 | | | | George Lillycrop | 25 |
| 1914–15 | Div 1 | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 68 | 84 | 30 | 17th | SF | | | | Joe Smith | 36 |
| No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to the World War I ||||||||||||||||
| 1919–20 | Div 1 | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 72 | 65 | 47 | 6th | R1 | | | | Frank Roberts | 26 |
| 1920–21 | Div 1 | 42 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 77 | 53 | 52 | 3rd | R1 | | | | Joe Smith | 38 |
| 1921–22 | Div 1 | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 68 | 59 | 47 | 6th | R2 | | | | David Jack | 24 |
| 1922–23 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 50 | 58 | 40 | 13th | W | | | | Joe Smith | 19 |
| 1923–24 | Div 1 | 42 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 68 | 34 | 50 | 4th | R2 | | | | David Jack | 27 |
| 1924–25 | Div 1 | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 76 | 34 | 55 | 3rd | R2 | | | | David Jack | 27 |
| 1925–26 | Div 1 | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 78 | 76 | 44 | 8th | W | | | | Joe Smith | 21 |
| 1926–27 | Div 1 | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 84 | 62 | 48 | 4th | R5 | | | | David Jack John Smith | 17 |
| 1927–28 | Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 81 | 66 | 43 | 7th | R4 | | | | David Jack | 24 |
| 1928–29 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 73 | 80 | 40 | 14th | W | | | | Harold Blackmore | 37 |
| 1929–30 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 74 | 74 | 39 | 15th | R3 | | | | Harold Blackmore | 30 |
| 1930–31 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 68 | 81 | 39 | 14th | R4 | | | | Harold Blackmore | 30 |
| 1931–32 | Div 1 | 42 | 17 | 4 | 21 | 72 | 80 | 38 | 17th | R3 | | | | Jack Milsom | 19 |
| 1932–33 | Div 1 | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 78 | 92 | 33 | 21st | R5 | | | | Jack Milsom | 27 |
| 1933–34 | Div 2 | 42 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 79 | 55 | 51 | 3rd | QF | | | | Jack Milsom | 27 |
| 1934–35 | Div 2 | 42 | 26 | 4 | 12 | 96 | 48 | 56 | 2nd | SF | | | | Jack Milsom | 35 |
| 1935–36 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 67 | 78 | 41 | 13th | R3 | | | | Jack Milsom | 20 |
| 1936–37 | Div 1 | 42 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 43 | 66 | 34 | 20th | R5 | | | | Jack Milsom | 14 |
| 1937–38 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 64 | 60 | 45 | 7th | R3 | | | | Ray Westwood | 23 |
| 1938–39 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 67 | 58 | 45 | 8th | R3 | | | | George Hunt | 23 |
| 1939–40 | Div 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5th | | | | | N/A | N/A |
| No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to the World War II ||||||||||||||||
| 1945–46 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | SF | | | | Ray Westwood | 8 |
| 1946–47 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 57 | 69 | 34 | 18th | R4 | | | | Nat Lofthouse | 21 |
| 1947–48 | Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 5 | 21 | 46 | 58 | 37 | 17th | R3 | | | | Nat Lofthouse | 18 |
| 1948–49 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 59 | 68 | 38 | 14th | R3 | | | | Willie Moir | 25 |
| 1949–50 | Div 1 | 42 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 45 | 59 | 34 | 16th | R4 | | | | Nat Lofthouse | 13 |
| 1950–51 | Div 1 | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 64 | 61 | 45 | 8th | R4 | | | | Nat Lofthouse | 22 |
| 1951–52 | Div 1 | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 65 | 61 | 48 | 5th | R3 | | | | Nat Lofthouse | 18 |
| 1952–53 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 61 | 69 | 39 | 14th | R/U | | | | Nat Lofthouse | 30 |
| 1953–54 | Div 1 | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 75 | 60 | 48 | 5th | QF | | | | Willie Moir | 25 |
| 1954–55 | Div 1 | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 62 | 69 | 39 | 18th | R4 | | | | Nat Lofthouse | 15 |
| 1955–56 | Div 1 | 42 | 18 | 7 | 17 | 71 | 58 | 43 | 8th | R4 | | | | Nat Lofthouse | 33 |
| 1956–57 | Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 65 | 65 | 44 | 9th | R3 | | | | Nat Lofthouse | 28 |
| 1957–58 | Div 1 | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 65 | 87 | 38 | 15th | W | | | | Nat Lofthouse | 20 |
| 1958–59 | Div 1 | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 79 | 66 | 50 | 4th | QF | | FA Charity Shield | W | Nat Lofthouse | 35 |
| 1959–60 | Div 1 | 42 | 20 | 8 | 14 | 59 | 51 | 48 | 6th | R4 | | | | Dennis Stevens Ray Parry | 15 |
| 1960–61 | Div 1 | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 58 | 73 | 35 | 18th | R4 | R4 | | | Billy McAdams | 21 |
| 1961–62 | Div 1 | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 62 | 66 | 42 | 11th | R3 | R1 | | | Fred Hill | 14 |
| 1962–63 | Div 1 | 42 | 15 | 5 | 17 | 55 | 75 | 35 | 18th | R3 | R2 | | | Francis Lee | 13 |
| 1963–64 | Div 1 | 42 | 10 | 8 | 24 | 48 | 80 | 28 | 21st | R4 | R3 | | | Francis Lee | 16 |
| 1964–65 | Div 2 | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 80 | 58 | 50 | 3rd | R5 | R2 | | | Wyn Davies | 25 |
| 1965–66 | Div 2 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 62 | 59 | 41 | 9th | R4 | R3 | | | Francis Lee | 18 |
| 1966–67 | Div 2 | 42 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 64 | 58 | 42 | 9th | R4 | R2 | | | Francis Lee | 24 |
| 1967–68 | Div 2 | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 60 | 63 | 39 | 12th | R3 | R3 | | | Gordon Taylor | 12 |
| 1968–69 | Div 2 | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 55 | 52 | 38 | 17th | R4 | R2 | | | Roy Greaves | 12 |
| 1969–70 | Div 2 | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 54 | 61 | 36 | 16th | R3 | R2 | | | John Byrom | 25 |
| 1970–71 | Div 2 | 42 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 74 | 24 | 22nd | R3 | R3 | | | Roger Hunt | 8 |
| 1971–72 | Div 3 | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 51 | 41 | 50 | 7th | R4 | R4 | | | John Byrom Roy Greaves | 13 |
| 1972–73 | Div 3 | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 73 | 39 | 61 | 1st | R5 | R2 | | | John Byrom | 22 |
| 1973–74 | Div 2 | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 44 | 40 | 42 | 11th | R4 | R3 | | | John Byrom | 24 |
| 1974–75 | Div 2 | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 45 | 41 | 42 | 10th | R3 | R2 | | | Hugh Curran | 11 |
| 1975–76 | Div 2 | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 64 | 38 | 52 | 4th | R5 | R2 | | | Garry Jones Neil Whatmore | 13 |
| 1976–77 | Div 2 | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 75 | 54 | 51 | 4th | R3 | SF | Anglo-Scottish Cup | QF | Neil Whatmore | 31 |
| 1977–78 | Div 2 | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 63 | 33 | 58 | 1st | R3 | R3 | Anglo-Scottish Cup | GRP | Neil Whatmore | 21 |
| 1978–79 | Div 1 | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 54 | 75 | 35 | 17th | R3 | R3 | Anglo-Scottish Cup | GRP | Frank Worthington | 26 |
| 1979–80 | Div 1 | 42 | 5 | 15 | 22 | 38 | 73 | 25 | 22nd | R5 | R2 | Anglo-Scottish Cup | QF | Neil Whatmore | 31 |
| 1980–81 | Div 2 | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 61 | 66 | 38 | 18th | R3 | R2 | | | Neil Whatmore | 21 |
| 1981–82 | Div 2 | 42 | 13 | 7 | 22 | 39 | 61 | 46 | 19th | R4 | R1 | | | Chris Thompson | 14 |
| 1982–83 | Div 2 | 42 | 11 | 11 | 20 | 42 | 61 | 44 | 22nd | R3 | R2 | | | Tony Henry | 11 |
| 1983–84 | Div 3 | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 10th | R3 | R1 | Football League Trophy | NR1 | Tony Caldwell | 23 |
| 1984–85 | Div 3 | 46 | 16 | 6 | 24 | 69 | 75 | 54 | 17th | R1 | R3 | Football League Trophy | NSF | Tony Caldwell | 22 |
| 1985–86 | Div 3 | 46 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 54 | 68 | 53 | 18th | R1 | R2 | Football League Trophy | R/U | Tony Caldwell | 16 |
| 1986–87 | Div 3 | 46 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 46 | 58 | 45 | 21st | R3 | R1 | Football League Trophy | NQF | Tony Caldwell | 17 |
| 1987–88 | Div 4 | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 66 | 42 | 78 | 3rd | R3 | R1 | Football League Trophy | NR1 | John Thomas | 28 |
| 1988–89 | Div 3 | 46 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 58 | 54 | 64 | 10th | R2 | R1 | Football League Trophy | W | Trevor Morgan Steve Thompson | 11 |
| 1989–90 | Div 3 | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 59 | 48 | 69 | 6th | R1 | R3 | Football League Trophy | NSF | Tony Philliskirk | 25 |
| 1990–91 | Div 3 | 46 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 64 | 50 | 83 | 4th | R4 | R2 | Football League Trophy | NGS | Tony Philliskirk | 28 |
| 1991–92 | Div 3 | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 57 | 56 | 59 | 13th | R5 | R2 | Football League Trophy | NR1 | Tony Philliskirk | 19 |
| 1992–93 | Div 2 | 46 | 27 | 9 | 10 | 80 | 41 | 90 | 2nd | R5 | R2 | Football League Trophy | NQF | Andy Walker | 33 |
| 1993–94 | Div 1 | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 63 | 64 | 59 | 14th | QF | R2 | Anglo-Italian Cup | GRP | John McGinlay | 33 |
| 1994–95 | Div 1 | 46 | 21 | 14 | 11 | 67 | 45 | 77 | 3rd | R3 | R/U | | | John McGinlay | 22 |
| 1995–96 | Prem | 38 | 8 | 5 | 25 | 39 | 71 | 29 | 20th | R4 | R4 | | | John McGinlay | 9 |
| 1996–97 | Div 1 | 46 | 28 | 14 | 4 | 100 | 53 | 98 | 1st | R4 | QF | | | John McGinlay | 30 |
| 1997–98 | Prem | 38 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 41 | 61 | 40 | 18th | R3 | R4 | | | Nathan Blake | 14 |
| 1998–99 | Div 1 | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 78 | 59 | 76 | 6th | R3 | R4 | | | Bob Taylor | 18 |
| 1999–2000 | Div 1 | 46 | 21 | 13 | 12 | 69 | 50 | 76 | 6th | SF | SF | | | Eiður Guðjohnsen | 22 |
| 2000–01 | Div 1 | 46 | 24 | 15 | 7 | 76 | 45 | 87 | 3rd | R5 | R1 | | | Michael Ricketts | 24 |
| 2001–02 | Prem | 38 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 44 | 62 | 40 | 16th | R4 | QF | | | Michael Ricketts | 15 |
| 2002–03 | Prem | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 41 | 51 | 44 | 17th | R3 | R2 | | | Youri Djorkaeff Jay-Jay Okocha Henrik Pedersen Michael Ricketts | 7 |
| 2003–04 | Prem | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 48 | 56 | 53 | 8th | R3 | R/U | | | Kevin Nolan | 12 |
| 2004–05 | Prem | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 49 | 44 | 58 | 6th | QF | R3 | | | Kevin Davies El Hadji Diouf | 9 |
| 2005–06 | Prem | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 49 | 41 | 56 | 8th | R5 | QF | UEFA Cup | R32 | Stelios Giannakopoulos | 12 |
| 2006–07 | Prem | 38 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 47 | 52 | 56 | 7th | R4 | R3 | | | Nicolas Anelka | 12 |
| 2007–08 | Prem | 38 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 36 | 54 | 37 | 16th | R3 | R4 | UEFA Cup | R16 | Nicolas Anelka | 11 |
| 2008–09 | Prem | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 41 | 53 | 41 | 13th | R3 | R2 | | | Kevin Davies | 12 |
| 2009–10 | Prem | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 40 | 66 | 39 | 14th | R5 | R4 | | | Kevin Davies | 9 |
| 2010–11 | Prem | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 52 | 56 | 46 | 14th | SF | R3 | | | Johan Elmander | 12 |
| 2011–12 | Prem | 38 | 10 | 6 | 22 | 46 | 77 | 36 | 18th | QF | R4 | | | Ivan Klasnić | 9 |
| 2012–13 | Champ | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 69 | 61 | 68 | 7th | R4 | R2 | | | Chris Eagles | 12 |
| 2013–14 | Champ | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 59 | 60 | 59 | 14th | R4 | R2 | | | Jermaine Beckford | 9 |
| 2014–15 | Champ | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 54 | 67 | 51 | 18th | R4 | R3 | | | Adam Le Fondre | 8 |
| 2015–16 | Champ | 46 | 5 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 81 | 30 | 24th | R4 | R1 | | | Zach Clough | 7 |
| 2016–17 | EFL One | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 68 | 36 | 86 | 2nd | R3 | R1 | EFL Trophy | GRP | Josh Vela Gary Madine | 10 |
| 2017–18 | Champ | 46 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 39 | 74 | 43 | 21st | R3 | R3 | | | Gary Madine | 10 |
| 2018–19 | Champ | 46 | 8 | 8 | 30 | 29 | 78 | 32 | 23rd | R4 | R1 | | | Josh Magennis | 7 |
| 2019–20 | EFL One | 34 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 27 | 66 | 14 | 23rd | R1 | R1 | EFL Trophy | R2 | Daryl Murphy | 8 |
| 2020–21 | EFL Two | 46 | 23 | 10 | 13 | 59 | 50 | 79 | 3rd | R1 | R1 | EFL Trophy | GRP | Eoin Doyle | 19 |
| 2021–22 | EFL One | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 74 | 57 | 73 | 9th | R1 | R2 | EFL Trophy | R3 | Oladapo Afolayan | 14 |
| 2022–23 | EFL One | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 62 | 36 | 81 | 5th | R1 | R2 | EFL Trophy | W | Dion Charles | 21 |
| 2023–24 | EFL One | 46 | 25 | 12 | 9 | 86 | 51 | 87 | 3rd | R3 | R2 | EFL Trophy | NQF | Dion Charles | 20 |
| 2024–25 | EFL One | | | | | | | | | R1 | R3 | EFL Trophy | NQF | |
* Seasons spent at Level 1 of the football league system: 73
* Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 34
* Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 16
* Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 2