Career
Born in Birtley in Tyne and Wear he started his career at nearby Sunderland as a trainee and spent nine years at the club before moving to Middlesbrough and then Sheffield United, following which he was forced to retire through injury. Sunderland
He soon established himself in the first team and remained a stalwart of the side for the next nine seasons. When he finally left Sunderland he had made 273 league appearances and scored 11 goals.
Middlesbrough
In 1981 Bolton was signed by Sunderland"s North East rivals Middlesbrough for £200,000.
In two seasons he made 59 appearances, scoring a solitary goal. Sheffield United
Bolton signed for Sheffield United on a free transfer in August 1983, brought to the club by his former Sunderland team mate Ian Porterfield who was now manager at Bramall Lane.
Viewed as a solid, no-nonsense defender during his time at the club, he helped United to promotion as they finished third in Division Three in his first season. After making 130 appearances for the club in three years injuries began to take their toll and he was released in May 1986.
After an unsuccessful trial with Rotherham United Bolton dropped into non-league and spent a season and a half playing for Matlock Town before finally retiring and taking a job as a lorry driver.
Bolton was mentioned on the back of The Housemartins" single, "Happy Hour", which described the band as having "more striking power than Lineker, Platini and Joe Bolton all rolled together into a great big cuddly ball."
Sunderland
Division Two: Champions 1976
Sheffield United
Division Three: Third (promoted) 1984.