Saint Lucia international Chris Forino Joseph will compete in the second tier of English football next season, after playing a key role in Bolton Wanderers’ 4-1 win over Stockport County in the League One play-off final at Wembley Stadium last Sunday.
Forino usually plays as an attacking wing-back for Saint Lucia. But with Bolton captain Eoin Toal out with a hamstring injury, the 26-year-old stepped in at centre-back and delivered an outstanding performance.
Bolton took the lead in the first five minutes with a goal from Ruben Rodrigues, but Adama Sidibeh equalised in the 29th minute. In the second half, Bolton benefited from an own goal, a scissor kick by Sam Dalby, and a Rodrigues penalty to secure their return to the Championship after seven years.
“Excuse my French, but it’s f****g fantastic, unbelievable,” Forino told Bolton News. “We set out the objective when I signed for the club and this season, to do it, and you have got to do the press right, play the game right, but if you have to choose between doing it automatically and doing it at Wembley, you do it at Wembley.
“The gaffer said to me when we were lifting the trophy, ‘You lot were excellent second half’, and I don’t even know what I thought, I wasn’t taking it in, it’s all a bit of a haze. We were so locked in on the game.”
A Bank Holiday heatwave pushed the temperature at Wembley to 30 degrees by the 1 pm kickoff, so players needed cooling breaks. On the way to their victory parade at Victoria Square, Forino was in great spirits and praised his teammates.
“The boys were excellent, nobody went down with cramp, so credit to Paul Walsh and the medical staff, the doc, David Humphreys, he has been exceptional,” gushed Forino. “I was ill leading up to the Bradford game, and I think I should put him on a retainer for next season, because he has been a different class.”
