Q & A with Bolton kit man ahead of Papa Johns Trophy final

In the next six weeks, Bolton Wanderers have the chance to secure a playoff spot in League One with The Trotters currently sitting tucked inside the top six with eight games of their season to go.

Despite that promotion challenge remaining of the utmost importance, the one-time Premier League stalwart club have an opportunity to add to their trophy cabinet this weekend when they take on Plymouth Argyle in the EFL Trophy final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

With Wanderers embarking upon what could be a significant and historic six or so weeks, we checked in with their first-team kit man, Ted Moulden, for an exclusive interview to gauge the general mood of the club ahead of a trip to the capital city.

PM: Before we get into it, at a younger age you were an academy scholar with the club and a part of the under-18 team but now, at 22, I was wondering if you could explain how you got into being Bolton Wanderers’ first-team kit man?

TM: So basically when I was 17, I found out a bone in my ankle just hadn’t grown right and it had caused an area where I’ve not got any cartilage and it’s just bone on bone. It’s a natural injury but I had a hairline fracture in my left foot so I was in a boot for six weeks, which ended up being another six weeks.

I got told it was healed so went back to training but it still didn’t feel right. I went to the physio to tell them it wasn’t right and after that they sent me to an expert in London who said to get other opinions and what not but he discovered the issues that were in my ankle and said that 'if you want to be able to walk and do stuff with your kids when you're older, you’re going to have to stop moving and running on it.’

The club supported me, got me scans and had me seen by surgeons and everything. I didn’t really want to be involved in football at the start and had said to my dad I didn’t really like footy and ended up doing a barbering course for a bit instead but Hawkey (Michael Hawke, former Bolton kit man) got in touch with me to be his assistant and I thought go on then, I’ll do it and, to be honest, it’s the best decision I ever made.

PM: Leaving the playing of football which, as you have mentioned in previous interviews, is something you have always done, how has the general transition to being a non-playing member of staff been?

TM: It was difficult, like, but having seen it now from a staff perspective and seeing things completely differently now. I love it as a staff member, looking at what the players have to deal with and do is so challenging. To be a footballer you just don’t realise, I thought I realised when I was a kid in the academy but it’s not until you take a step back and think ‘wow’. 

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It helped that I had played and been a scholar because you kind of knew what to expect and how to act. Like you know not to come into the changing rooms at half-time laughing and joking whereas if you’re new to the job you might just forget where you are sometimes. Just little things like that helped really.

It’s good because it gives you a good insight like I’m not involved in the ‘big stuff’ but just to spend time with the players and travel to every game. Good morning off the gaffer every morning and he just communicates and that’s the thing, it’s a great work environment.

PM: So, three years in the job, not a bad time to have started with the club with a promotion from League Two, ninth place finish in League One and then a League One playoff challenge this time around. How special is the final, though, for yourself and the lads & are you excited to be setting up at Wembley and on the pitch?

TM: Can’t wait mate. Just for the lads that have been there since the start of this like Rico (Ricardo Santos), Geth (Gethin Jones), Izzy (Lloyd Isgrove), Dec John (Declan John), Johnno (George Johnston) to an extent and they really deserve it. They all do really deserve the day out.

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PM: What are your thoughts on the game itself, is there anyone in particular you think could thrive on the bigger stage and the bigger pitch?

TM: Rico. There are more obviously and the squad we’ve got is just so good but he just loves it and he’ll love the occasion.

PM: After the final, Wanderers play eight games in around 30 days as they seek to clinch a playoff spot. Are you confident ahead the ‘run-in’?

TM: It’s been a long season and it’s going to be really hectic. It’s one of them, though, you’d rather it be like that because everything comes quicker when it is Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday and it’s much better.

We’ll make playoffs and then the playoffs are just a lottery after that. The game on Sunday is going to be a cracker.

📈 Most league points won in 2023 (top 4 tiers):

1⃣6⃣: 💥BOLTON*💥
1⃣5⃣: Derby, Shrewsbury
1⃣4⃣: Colchester
1⃣3⃣: Salford
1⃣2⃣: Boro, Burnley, Luton, Charlton, Sheff W, Carlisle

* WDWLWWW in L1 this year. #BWFC @OfficialBWFC @_kyledempsey pic.twitter.com/FWTDbsfrbZ

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 7, 2023