MANCHESTER Evening News' Bolton reporter Richard Frost trawled through the archives and his personal memory bank to pick an all-time Bolton XI. To pick your own vote here.

GOALKEEPER

EDDIE HOPKINSON: Hoppy, who died recently, wins the goalkeeper's shirt on the strength of his club record 519 appearances between 1956-70 and the fact that, despite his lack of inches, he also won 14 England caps.

He was rated one of the most difficult keepers for a forward to beat in a one-on-one situation and also played at a time when the job was far more physically demanding, as referees gave little protection. Bolton have a good tradition for keepers with Jussi Jaaskelainen, Keith Branagan and Jim McDonagh all having their supporters.

DEFENDERS

PHIL BROWN: Another touch-and-go decision with Brown, now the club's assistant manager, shading it from 1958 FA Cup final hero Roy Hartle and John Ritson. Many will disagree but, unlike the Hartle era, Brown starred for Wanderers at a time when the full-back's job had grown, with modern tactics, from the prime task of stopping the opposing winger. He had more facets to his game than being purely destructive.

GUDNI BERGSSON: I doubt if there would be any opposition to the choice of modern legend Bergsson, who retired home to Iceland 12 months ago after a magnificent Bolton career spanning eight years. A great captain, Bergsson's pace and fitness meant that, even at the age of 38, the latter-day whiz kids could never run away from him. Many felt he could have managed another season but he always said he'd know when the time was right.

PAUL JONES: It was tough to leave out French powerhouse Bruno N'Gotty, who has just had such a great Premiership season against some of the world's finest strikers, and I'm sure many would pick him. His boss Sam Allardyce, however, would be hard-pressed to leave out his cultured, classy former playing partner Jones who was widely regarded as the best central defender never to win an England cap.

TOMMY BANKS: No-one argued with iron man Banks on the pitch and I'm not arguing with his selection at left-back, even though Tony Dunne was a fine player in that position. The current era of supporters would make out a case for the high-speed Jamaican international Ricardo Gardner, whose best is probably still to come. But rugged was just one of the many words that could be used about the 1958 FA Cup winner Banks, who didn't believe in letting wingers go by. Certainly not more than once, anyway!

MIDFIELDERS

DOUG HOLDEN: Another of the Class of 1958 who edges into the side as a player of immense skill who could operate with equal threat on either the right or left flanks of the attack. There are many others who come into the midfield reckoning like current star Ivan Campo and Irish international Jason McAteer, but Holden's outstanding ability to fill a variety of roles earns his nomination.

JAY-JAY OKOCHA: The current captain is probably the most naturally-gifted midfielder ever to wear a Bolton shirt and his importance to the best side Bolton have ever had makes him an automatic choice. The Nigerian's standing in international football, his tricks and his shooting power combine to give him the kind of presence that enthrals supporters and rubs off on his colleagues.

YOURI DJORKAEFF: He's not the first World Cup winner to play for Bolton but he has made a far greater impact than England's Roger Hunt, who went to Burnden after the 1966 triumph. Djorkaeff is a gem of a player and a gem of a man. How some of our self-opiniated young stars could learn from the little maestro, who has won just about everything in the game including the biggest prize with France.

PETER REID: I cheated a bit on the midfield by taking advice from longer-term supporters and probably ended up even more confused! But my final midfield place goes to Peter Reid, that tireless tackler who patrolled the middle, destroying attacks and setting his own forwards in motion. Reidy goes in ahead of Willie Moir, Harold Hassall and Ray Parry, one of the youngest players ever to win an England cap, not to mention Willie Morgan, Peter Thomson and Roy Greaves, a real stalwart who wasn't fully appreciated by everyone until he'd left the club. Parry, an FA Cup winner and a member of Bolton's great team of the 1960s who later went to Bury, was an old fashioned inside-forward who played next to Nat Lofthouse, but Reid's industry, which won him England honours, gave him the edge.

STRIKERS

NAT LOFTHOUSE OBE: The original Bolton legend, local boy Lofthouse scored 255 league goals between 1946 and 1961 and was, of course, the hero of their 1958 FA Cup win over Manchester United. He was the archetypal old-fashioned centre-forward who regarded the shoulder charge as a key part on his powerhouse armoury. Dubbed the Lion of Vienna for his exploits for England in an international against Austria, Lofthouse served the club in many roles and still maintains close links. He is president and an honorary director.

JOHN McGINLAY: McGinlay is the more difficult striker choice because Lofthouse picks himself but his weight of goals, and the ability to play in partnerships, give him the edge over the likes of Frank Worthington, Andy Walker and Franny Lee who really made his name with Manchester City. Fort William-born Super John would probably have formed a damaging partnership with Lofthouse had their careers coincided and he shares a similarly warm spot in the hearts of the Bolton faithful.

Vote for your own all-time XI here.

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