Cook Quits Euro-bound Sligo
‘Mutual Consent’ Departure – For Now
Paul Cook has turned his back on European football by leaving his job at Sligo Rovers – but hopes the parting of the ways might be temporary. The 41-year-old former Wolves midfielder was today said to have left the League of Ireland club by mutual consent, two and a bit months after he led them into the inaugural UEFA Europa League.
Digging Deep For ‘Duggie’
Name Game Pays Off After A Struggle
John Richards’ disclosure on these pages last week that he had no idea about the origin of Dave Woodfield’s nickname ‘Duggie’ has kicked off much head-scratching in the former Wolves player fraternity. Subsequent attempts by www.wolvesheroes.com to clear up the mystery came to little despite a host of enquiries among his one-time team-mates and even a few supporters.
A Wedding Belle For Mike
Keeper Planning For Promotion And Nuptials
Mike Stowell is hoping for a triple celebration this summer – promotion for his current and past clubs as well as a sunshine wedding on the Continent. The 43-year-old, who has played more League and cup matches in Wolves’ goal than anyone else in history, is now goalkeeper coach to clear League One leaders Leicester.
Full-back’s Regret
I Shouldn’t Have Left – Bobby
There was a time in the 1960s and early 1970s when a whole succession of Wolves forwards seemed to deliver excellent deeds, only to be moved on quickly. Ray Crawford (41 goals in 61 Wolves games), Hugh McIlmoyle (45 in 105), Ernie Hunt (35 in 82), Bob Hatton (8 in 13), Frank Wignall (16 in 36) and Hugh Curran (47 in 98) all seemed worthy of longer stays than they had at Molineux before the club eventually struck on the feared Dougan-Richards partnership.
Plotting An Upwards Curve
‘Psycho’ Playing A Part In Preston Climb
Keith Downing is filling some of his time between coaching posts by helping his former Molineux pal Rob Kelly’s fine work at the side of Preston manager Alan Irvine. North End are one of the Championship’s form teams, having added to their excellent recent win at Wolves by beating local rivals Burnley 2-1 on Saturday to stand fifth in the table, four points above seventh place.
At Home Away
Woodfield A Wanderer In Both Senses
Some of the large gaps in Dave Woodfield’s post-Molineux life have at last been filled in – and confirmation received as to his current whereabouts. But it sounds as though anyone hoping and expecting to see him rushing back to these shores when he turns 65 in October should brace themselves for disappointment.
Richards Writes
A View From Within
When John Richards was taking his introductory steps in Wolves’ senior team, David Woodfield was on the verge of bowing out. By coincidence, the first three League games the young star played in were also the last three in which the stalwart centre-half appeared for the club. Here, a couple of days before we post our promised article about Woodfield, the record-breaking striker reveals his memories of a man he was still to see plenty of.
Austria/Germany, 1998
An Ill Wind Blowing
Sir Jack Hayward once said that one of Mark McGhee’s greatest strengths was remembering the names of all the players he had signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers. It was less than veiled criticism of the Scot’s management of the club in 1998 after he had, shortly before their appearance in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal, unveiled five newcomers together – Steve Claridge, David Connolly, Robbie Slater, Stephen Wright and the returning Neil Emblen.
The Man The FA Overlooked
A Valuable Keepsake, Half A Century On
A former Molineux youngster who was the first player ever to wear Wolves’ famous 1950s fluorescent gold shirt has treated himself to the FA Youth Cup final medal he was due 56 years ago. Brian Punter played in the first leg of Wolves’ 1952-53 Youth Cup final against Manchester United – a 7-1 defeat at Old Trafford in front of 21,000 – but suffered an ankle injury that kept him out of the return five days later.
An Ode To Hugh
Devotion In Rhyme
A Wolves fan has penned a tribute to Hugh McIlmoyle and illustrated it appropriately following a trip to see the statue of his first Molineux hero. As befitting his passion for poetry, Wolverhampton-born Robbie Kennedy Bennett describes himself as A Wanderer With A Scottish Heart, A Man Divided In Two, A Fortunate Man Is Who I Am, At Home In Gold And Blue.
