David Wheater is so popular in Bolton that local brewery names latest beer after him

DAVID WHEATER is such a hero in Bolton the local brewery have named their latest beer in his honour.

Super Wheats — a refreshing wheat beverage — has been downed in boozers all summer.

Trotters fans are still buzzing after the defender’s 86th-minute goal sparked a last-day great relegation escape against Nottingham Forest.

Trailing 2-1, Wheater’s leveller gave Bolton the momentum and Aaron Wilbraham’s dramatic winner two minutes later ensured they avoided dropping into League One.

Wheater has been a loyal servant to Bolton for eight years, playing in the Premier League, Championship and League One, racking up 202 appearances in all competitions.

And he revealed: “The local brewery contacted the club to say they wanted to name a beer after me so I went down there to oversee the brewing process and I’m really pleased with the result.

“I’ve not usually been a beer drinker but must say it tastes really nice.

“I took my mum and dad down to the pub a couple of weeks ago and they liked it too.

“The idea was inspired by the brewery.

They wanted to do something to celebrate us staying in the Championship and my name just happens to lend itself very well to wheat beer.

“We just came up with the idea together and it’s really nice.

“When I first tried it, I had to restrain myself from drinking too much of it because it was a day before pre-season training!

“I did manage a few half pints the other day, though — and I loved it.”

The pump serving his beer has a photo of Wheater’s face on it.

And the Bolton star laughed: “It’s really weird seeing my face on a beer pump. Even my mum and dad thought it was strange.

“I’m from Middlesbrough and used to go and watch Boro. I thought, ‘This is a different world, I’m never going to be a footballer’.

“Now, at the age of 31, I’m a professional footballer and have a beer named after me. Life is good!”

Wheater ranks his goal — a close-range scrambled effort — and the victory over Forest as the finest match he has enjoyed at the club.

He added: “Without question, it was the greatest day I’ve had here and the goal was the most important I’ve ever scored.

“When we got promoted from League One the previous year, it was great but we were expected to go up.

“Nothing compares to the emotion of that Forest game.

“I was out of a job until the 88th minute when we finally got over the line.

“That’s life outside the Premier League, you’re constantly on a cliff edge. Defeats can mean people losing jobs, it’s real pressure.”

Some Bolton fans were concerned by a stand-off between the players and chairman Ken Anderson this summer when a pre-season friendly at St Mirren had to be cancelled after players refused to play, citing unpaid wages and bonuses.

However, Wheater says that has all now been sorted and there was never a chance of the players going on strike during the season itself.

He said: “There was one game in Scotland where we said we weren’t going to play if we didn’t get our money.

“We were all going to only play 45 minutes in that game anyway.

“So it would’ve only been 45 minutes out of our pre-season.

“We had trained the full week and we’d rather do it during the pre-season than the season itself.”

Wheater could not imagine living anywhere other than Bolton now he is well settled in the area.

He added: “I’d be distraught to leave. Players just seem to stick around this area. Jussi Jaaskelainen still has his house here, he’s been here 21 years.

“Kevin Davies is just about to leave but he’s been here 20-odd years.

“The fans are brilliant, you play well and work hard then they love you. But they are not shy to tell you if they think you’re not trying.

“You go on a night out with this group of lads and there’s not one bad egg. It’s just a nice club, the ground is brilliant and the town is lovely, too.”

But can Bolton avoid a battle against the drop? Could they even be an outside bet for the play-offs? In the Championship, you can never tell.

Wheater believes in Phil Parkinson they have the right manager — and thinks anything is possible.

He said: “I’m happy to say he is the best manager I’ve worked under.

“I’ve worked under some good ones here. But I don’t think he has spent anything in two years yet he has got us promoted and kept us in the Championship. He’s a good coach as well.

“We stayed up by the skin of our teeth last season and hopefully we can now push on.

“Everyone wants us back in the Premier League but we know that’ll be tough.

“We’ll give it our best go and if we win or draw our first game at West Brom, they could set us up.

“If we work hard, train hard, you can get into the play-offs.

“It’s the hardest league in the country because you’ve got guys fighting to become Premier League players and others who are just fighting for their contract. It’s dog eat dog.”