BOLTON'S international stars got a taste of what was to come from Crewe's youngsters when they rocked up at Gresty Road in the summer of 1997.

The Alex and the Trotters were to enjoy some epic Division One clashes in the years that followed, none more so than an unforgettable 3-1 win at the Reebok Stadium in February 1999 lit up by Rodney Jack's double.

The little West Indian blasted in from distance in a 2-2 draw when Crewe returned to Bolton later that year. An eight-goal thriller (4-4) at Gresty in September 1998 as well as a 2-1 home success with strikes from Rob Hulse and Dean Ashton in April 2001 will also stay in the memory banks from the club's successful second tier era.

One game that may not last that test of time, but was a significant pointer as to how Crewe would fare after their 1997 promotion was this July pre-season friendly.

Colin Todd's Bolton were a Premiership side infused with Scandinavian and Icelandic talent such as Mixu Paatelainen, Per Frandsen and Gudni Bergsson.

While Crewe's promotion team needed reinforcement as Danny Murphy had left for Liverpool and Robbie Savage and Gareth Whalley were angling for big moves; Savage, who spent that summer training with hometown club Wrexham, got one (to Leicester), but Whalley stayed on for another season.

The new boys stepping into the limelight were Seth Johnson, Kevin Street and James Collins who all played a big part in a morale-boosting win over Todd's expensive recruits.

Dele Adebola was to be a key figure as Crewe took time getting to grips with the second tier and the big striker set up Mark Rivers to squeeze an agnled finish past Keith Branagan for a first-half opener.

Popular Nigerian keeper Ademole Bankole, on for Jason Kearton at the break, saved a penalty from Nathan Blake, who had previously levelled the game up.

But after Street was stopped in his tracks by Bergsson in the closing minutes, centre-half Steve Pope stepped up and curled a fierce free kick past Gavin Ward for a deserved winner.

The tough challenge of Division One saw Dario Gradi move into the market to strengthen his defence after the sidelining of Steve Macauley, with loanee Julian Watts followed by then record signing Dave Walton.

But the midfield took care of itself. The Alex boss knew he could keep the club's cheque book in the drawer with Johnson, Street and Kenny Lunt arriving on the scene.

"They're going to get better. Gareth and Savage may be going but I'm going to keep putting the kids in. They have given me a great thrill tonight," said Gradi as he looked forward to a season which promised appetising encounters with the likes of West Brom, Manchester City, Notts Forest and Wolves.

Sadly, matchwinner Pope didn't fare so well as the midfield contingent. The Stoke-born defender started his second and last Alex game, a 5-2 home hammering from Huddersfield that December, a result which saw the Railwaymen drop to second bottom of the table.

They recovered remarkably beating Stoke and Manchester City before the year was out. Even Adebola's departure the following February failed to stop the upward trajectory which finished with Crewe sitting in a highest ever league finish of 11th.

Bolton, on the other hand, were relegated from the Premiership on a dramatic final day losing at Chelsea while Everton survived on goal difference - so setting up six exciting fixtures with the Alex over three seasons.

Crewe 2, Bolton 1. Pre-season friendly, July 1997.