This is exactly what the summer had been building up to. All of the hard work in pre-season. The training drills. The signatures on the dotted line. All of it leads up to this – the first game of the 2023-2024 – so as we awoke this morning, there was nothing but excitement in the air. Bolton County u8 Bullets were good to go…

We were going over to take on our old friends at Ladybridge and with the sun blistering, it promised to be a great day of football. The players started arriving and as they were put through their warm-up’s, it was clear to see that the kids were really looking forward to this. A large travelling contingent of County fans had made their way across the A58 and with the scene set, that first whistle went and we began the season…

Despite the baking heat, it was the players in blue that started the brighter and whenever we did get the ball down and pass it, we looked composed and assured. Some of the passing was first-class and as we began to get forward more often, we were giving their goalkeeper and defenders plenty of work to do – and as the minutes ticked by, it was the County fans that were smiling the most. Each and every player out there was playing their part and we were performing heroics in every area of the pitch. The weather didn’t hold us back – we don’t know how as it seemed to be over 80 degrees out there – but the water-breaks were much needed and when the final whistle went, the best thing of the morning was the fact that we’d kept a clean-sheet. A superb effort from all of them…

The away fans showed their appreciation as their heroes left the field of play – by way of a rapturous round of applause – and as the County players left the pitch, they could definitely feel the love! A great first game of the campaign and if they can keep this up, then we’ve every reason to believe this could be a very successful season…

Well done Bullets – we’re well proud of you!

#UpTheCounty!