Final to Tranmere1991_Football_League_Third_Division_play-off_Final and Reading had never featured in a previous play-off final. Reading had played at Wembley Stadium in the 1988 Full Members' Cup Final where they defeated Luton Town 4–1. Bolton's most recent visit to the national stadium was in April, where they lost the 1995 Football League Cup Final against Liverpool. Reading had spent a single season in the second tier of English football, having been promoted the previous season as champions. In their 124-year history, they had never played in the top tier of English football. Bolton had been in the First Division for two seasons, having been promoted in the 1992–93 season, and last played in the top division in the 1979–80 season. Top scorers for Reading were Lovell, with 12 goals in all competitions, followed by Nogan with 11. McGinlay had scored the most goals for Bolton, with 20 in all competitions, with Mixu Paatelainen contributing 14. During the regular season, Bolton won 1–0 at home in January 1995, while Reading won the return fixture 2–1 three months later. Bolton had made several signings after gaining promotion the previous season. Simon Coleman moved from Sheffield Wednesday for a reported fee of £350,000, Paatelainen was signed from Aberdeen for a similar sum, while Fabian de Freitas was bought from the Dutch club FC Volendam for around £400,000. In contrast, Reading had spent £130,000 on two players and taken in two players on free transfers, before equalling their club transfer fee record of £250,000 when they bought Nogan from Watford in January 1995. In December 1994, then-manager of Reading Mark McGhee left his position to join Premiership club Leicester City, despite having previously been convinced to remain with Reading by the chairman John Madejski. He was replaced in January by co-managers Jimmy Quinn and Mick Gooding. Prior to the final, there was considerable speculation that the Bolton manager Bruce Rioch would be leaving to join one of a number of Premiership clubs, including Manchester City, Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday. Bolton's team was struck with several injuries: David Lee had broken three bones in his foot in the second leg of the play-off semi-final, while Mark Patterson, Richard Sneekes and Coleman were also ruled out. Alan Stubbs was receiving treatment for a thigh injury, but secured a place in Bolton's starting eleven. Neil McDonald was also back in the squad, having served a suspension. Reading's Ady Williams