That Bolton have managed to spend a decade in the Premier League without the influence of home-grown players makes the achievement all the more remarkable.But it also explains why there is so much excitement about the emergence of midfielder Joshua Vela, who raced from the academy sides to the first team's bench this season.
Kevin Nolan came through the club's academy to become an established Premier League player with Bolton and Newcastle and Nicky Hunt, Joey O'Brien and Ricardo Vaz Te were also developed by the club.
But not since Nolan has there been so much excitement surrounding a youngster at the Reebok Stadium.
At 17, Salford-born Vela became one of the youngest players to sign professional terms at Bolton, where he has come through the ranks since arriving as a nine-year-old.
And the word around the Reebok is that there is still much more to come from the diminutive player, who is comfortable across midfield, behind a striker and even in attack.
He is renowned for his work-rate, love of snapping into tackles and ability to retain possession, although he has to be told to calm his aggression at times.
Being named on the bench by Owen Coyle for the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on the final day of the season will have left him craving more first-team action next season.
An early sign of Vela's progress came when he was taken with the first-team squad for a friendly to open the new 3G pitch at Cliftonville's Solitude Stadium in November.
After breaking into the reserve side, he was rewarded with a professional deal in March, signing at the same time as Adam Blakeman, Joe Riley and Rob Lainton.
"Josh has done exceptionally well," academy manager Jimmy Phillips told the Bolton News.
"He's played a handful of reserve game and always looked very composed against more senior players.
"He's got great poise on the ball, aggression in the tackle and has almost all the qualities to be an all-round midfielder.
"He stills needs developing but the basic raw ingredients are all there. It's up to us that we get the best out of him."
Vela showed he is not over-awed by big names with a bustling performance against Darren Fletcher in Bolton's 3-1 defeat to Manchester United in the Manchester Senior Cup final at Old Trafford.
That came the week after he was named the academy's player of the year, with Vela claiming his exposure to reserve-team football has helped him progress quickly.
He told the club's website: "I owe a lot to David Lee and Tony Kelly for the way they have helped me and I'm happy I've been given the chance to progress in the reserve team.
"I now want to progress and enjoy my football at the club. To be playing against the likes of Andy Reid and Stephen Warnock in the reserve team is a brilliant feeling."
Assistant academy director Lee believes Vela has everything required to carve out a career in the Premier League.
Lee said: "He's been able to taste first-team football and has progressed to play regularly for the reserve side.
"We'll keep working alongside him and guide him where needed because he's such an enthusiastic individual."
Coyle admitted that a lack of depth in his squad hit Bolton hard at busier stages in the season.
With Stuart Holden set to miss pre-season with a knee problem and Tamir Cohen gone, Vela may be given the opportunity to impress in the early weeks of next season, as back-up to Fabrice Muamba and Mark Davies.
Skipper Kevin Davies has been buoyed by having Vela around the first-team squad and told the Bolton News: "The squad isn't that strong, I don't think, but we have young players coming through.
"Young Josh Vela was on the bench against Manchester City and that's encouraging. Adam Blakeman was in the squad too. Those signs are good."
