Britain

During the 1957–58 Northern Rugby Football League season Bolton played at stand-off in Wigan's 8–13 defeat by Oldham in the 1957 Lancashire Cup Final at Station Road, Swinton, on Saturday 19 October 1957. Later that season Bolton played stand-off in Wigan's 13–9 victory over Workington Town in the 1958 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday 10 May 1958, in front of a crowd of 66,109,^[5] and played stand-off, and scored a try in the 30–13 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1959 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday 9 May 1959, in front of a crowd of 79,811.^[6]

He also featured in the club's 1960 Championship Final win.^[7] During the 1959–60 Kangaroo tour Bolton played for Great Britain at stand-off in all three Ashes series Test matches. During the 1963–64 Kangaroo tour Bolton again played for Great Britain at stand-off in the first and third Ashes series Test matches.^[8]

Australia

Bolton also played in Australia for the Sydney club Balmain. With them he reached the 1966 NSWRFL season's grand final against St George. Bolton played at number 7 in his sides loss against the all-conquering Dragons team of the era. As Balmain had gone through the first half of the 1966 season undefeated, they earned the right to play the Great Britain touring team. With Bolton playing no small part, Balmain defeated Great Britain. He featured in the 1969 season's Grand Final-winning Balmain team. This made him only the second Englishman to play in a grand final-winning team in Australia. Bolton retired from playing in 1970 after being unable to keep his first grade spot in 1970.^[8] He is often remembered as a prolific kicker of drop goals, at a time when they were worth 2 points. He was a great drop goal kicking asset to the club, he kicked 21 drop goals for Balmain during his era, some of them long range, and many of the drop goals were the difference between Balmain winning and losing.^[7]