February 2011

Dean Richards: 1974 – 2011

Shock Death Of A Rare Talent

First Mark Kendall, then Paul Birch. Now, much younger still, Dean Richards. Life really isn’t fair. When we decided to include an obituaries section on this website, it was assumed we would be using it to house fulsome tributes to heroes of the 1950s and, eventually, one or two from the 1960s.

Tribute To Deano

Spotlight On Defender Who Has Died At 36

We at Wolves Heroes wish to add our condolences to the family and friends of Dean Richards following the desperately sad news today that he has passed away. The announcement that he had lost his battle with serious illness cast a shadow over Molineux before the vital 4-0 Premier League victory over Blackpool.

Doc’s Orders Were A Bitter Pill

Coach On His Molineux Ups And Downs

Contrary to popular opinion, it was not Graham Hawkins who brought Jim Barron back to Molineux in the early 1980s. The two may be well remembered for working together successfully almost three decades ago and for unexpectedly taking Wolves straight back up to the top flight in 1982-83.

The Safest Pair Of Hands

Kearns A Cool Head In Crisis

Former Wolves keeper Mick Kearns has modestly played down the ‘life-saver’ tag attached to him recently by his international manager, Johnny Giles. Kearns was labelled a hero, over 36 years on, for rescuing his Republic of Ireland team-mate Don Givens in the sea off Copacabana Beach during an end-of-season tour of South America.

A Quality Keepsake

Success On The Cards For Phil

Sets of cigarette cards depicting some of the greatest names in Molineux history in caricature have gone on sale. Lancashire businessman Phil Neill has added a Wolves section to his growing portfolio and is now considering approaching the club.

Danny’s Derby Revelation

Moyes, Not Crainie, Was Initial Target

On the eve of the fixture in which he made his name south of the border, Danny Crainie has let on that there was an element of default about his move to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Sammy Chapman, no stranger to the art of making a good signing, was the man who recommended his bosses to go for the Celtic winger almost three decades ago.

Success All The Way – From Spain To Oxley

A Winning Trip Abroad, Then An Ace At Home

Geoff Palmer can point to a football trip to Spain and the first hole-in-one of his life as evidence that he is adapting nicely to retirement. Having last year opted for the easier life following almost a quarter of a century in the police force, the veteran full-back is furthering his sporting interests with his spare time.

Wayne Pain Still A Talking Point

A Return That Was Blighted By Misfortune

Memories of one of the shortest Molineux impacts of all time came flooding back when Wayne Clarke found himself guest of honour at another of his former clubs. The striker turns 50 late this month and included two stints at Shrewsbury in a long career of almost 450 League appearances.

Bill – Man Of Virtue

Slater’s Ticking-off For Mouthy Youngster

Bill Slater’s penchant for good manners has been revealed in one of football’s best-selling books of this season. Wolves’ 1960 FA Cup-winning captain is given a mention in John Giles: A Football Man – the autobiography of the Leeds legend who played his second match as a Manchester United teenager at Molineux in the autumn of 1959.

Yugoslavia, 1970

Testing Times For Weary Travellers

Wolves’ players were busy collecting stamps on their passports at the time they spread their wings in search of a fillip following a quite dreadful finish to their 1969-70 season. Having signed off the campaign with a 13-match run without a victory from which they still emerged with a final placing of 13th, they braced themselves for a summer of travelling across mainland Europe.