West Women Preview | Bolton Wanderers (A)

• Sunday 23rd August 2026
• 2:00pm kick-off
• NWWRL Premier Division
• Matchday 3
• The Ginge Power Stadium (New Sirs), St James Street, Daisy Hill, Westhoughton, Bolton, BL5 2EB
• Admission:
  • Adults: £6
  • U16s: £3
  • U12s: Free with a paying adult

West are back on their travels this weekend with a second away game in the space of four days as we head to Bolton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon for our third North West Womens Regional League game of the season.

The trip follows Wednesday night's midweek fixture at FC St Helens, where goals in either half secured a 2-0 win and our first three points of the season. Beth Wilson opened her account for the season with a brilliant finish, before an Ava Bushell cross was too much for the hosts to deal with, sending it through their own goal.

Sunday's hosts hold a 100% league record, with a 3-1 opening day victory away at Darwen followed up by edging Bury FC 1-0 at home during midweek. It has been a dream start for a club who'll certainly have ambitions to win the division this time out. The 2025/26 season arguably fell below expectations with a 3rd place finish, 10 points behind Mancunian Unity in 2nd, and a mammoth 24 points from eventual winners AFC Fylde.

Wanderers are currently managed by Tom Cunliff, who took over the reins in October 2025. This was initially on an interim basis following his predecessor, Myles Smith, losing his job due to a slow start. Cunliff was appointed on a full-time basis that November, and has been backed over the summer. One signing of note was Naomi Lawrence, who spent last season top-scoring for West before being lured away.

There is a fresh feel to Bolton Wanderers Women this season, and not just on the pitch. After spells playing as guests elsewhere, including a period at Chorley's Victory Park, the team now play at New Sirs - or The Ginge Power Stadium as it is known for influencer sponsorship reasons - the ground of Daisy Hill FC in Westhoughton. Sunday gives West Women a first look at the ground, 14 years after our men's team made their solitary appearance there (a 1-0 win).

To date there have been three games between West and Bolton Wanderers, with the current record not making for happy reading. Our August 2025 league fixture saw Naomi Lawrence bag her first three goals for West, but a hattrick wasn't enough to earn anything from the game as we lost 5-3. We've drawn a blank in our other two head to heads, losing 4-0 at home in the 2018/19 FA Cup, and 1-0 away in January of this year. We'll be looking to rectify that this Sunday.

For details on how to travel to Sunday's match, click here.