On Tuesday night, Bolton Wanderers secured their place in the League One play-off final after a 5-4 aggregate victory over Barnsley. The Trotters had been looking to secure automatic promotion this season but ended up finishing five points adrift of Derby County in second place.
As a result, they have been forced into the playoffs and have overcome their first hurdle. They will face Peterborough or Oxford United in the final at Wembley at the end of the month but the club's fans are already in the mood for celebrating after a Bolton pitch invasion took place at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Tuesday following their triumph.
The pitch invasion has sparked controversy online with many football fans believing that pitch invasions should be reserved for real accomplishments such as winning a final or securing promotion, not merely reaching the final.
Every angle of @OfficialBWFC pitch invasion last night reaching Wembley! 🎆#bwfc #bolton
📸 ZadeHogan69, KKennealey, MenInBlazers, JackRamsde32895, Jack_BWFC2021, SwillMith123 pic.twitter.com/HlW2iQmx1F
— FanHub (@FanHub) May 8, 2024
Fans wade in on Bolton pitch invasion debate
The Bolton pitch invasion has sparked a ferocious debate online about whether such an act is appropriate when there is still a match at Wembley on the horizon. One fan posted on social media:
“Sorry but Bolton fans doing a pitch invasion for winning a League One Play-off Semi Final is nothing short of embarrassing.” Another said: “Watch it now, they go on to lose the final and this just makes them look like absolute sausages.”
A third added: “It's very strange, I think they thought they were up. Players on the peronis and that – when they bottle it at Wembley it is going to be tremendous viewing.”
Bolton fans invaded the pitch after qualifying for the League 1 Play Off Final last night.
Thoughts on pitch invading for reaching a final? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/aP8VL8xhQ1
— Football Away Days (@FBAwayDays) May 8, 2024
There were plenty of other fans who thought the pitch invasion was fine and appropriate. Explaining why, one fan posted: “As fans we pay a fortune each season, get soaked, freeze to death and most of us often don’t have a lot to cheer about. Let them be happy I say.”
Another said: “Last home game of the season. Progress to a Wembley play-off final. Completely fine.”
Finally, one Bolton fan posted: ” We nearly went into extinction 4/5 years ago. Now, we're on the verge of promotion after losing out at the same stage last season. Let us celebrate!”