A Bloomin’ Long Wait

Garden Not So Rosy Since Flowers Faded

Little could Ron Flowers have known of the large void that was to follow when he trooped dejectedly off following England’s 5-2 European Nations Cup defeat in Paris in Alf Ramsey’s first competitive game in charge. Come August, it will be 50 seasons since Wolves have provided a player who actually kicked a ball for the home country in the tournament proper.

Emlyn Unfulfilled By Euro Experience

Frustration Of Molineux Skipper On England Bench

Try as he might, Emlyn Hughes couldn’t convert his selection for the 1980 European Championships finals into an increase in his impressive tally of England caps. The veteran defender, who had lifted the League Cup for Wolves a few months earlier, travelled to Italy in Ron Greenwood’s 22-man squad but didn’t kick a ball in the tournament and didn’t represent his country again.

Dear Diary, Entry Ten

International Travels Top The Agenda

Monday, May 21: Les Wilson, who had a long and successful spell in international management with Canada, has a heart of gold. He is dedicating to his country’s Hall of Fame a signed German no 18 shirt that was worn by Jurgen Klinsmann in Germany’s 2-0 victory in Toronto shortly before the 1994 World Cup finals. The blond legend presented the item to the former Wolves man after the game and is back in Canada in a couple of weeks’ time as manager of the USA team who are playing there. Klinsmann was the first player to score in three different European Championships (1988, 1992 and 1996).

Loan Keeper Enjoyed His Taste Of Europe

Wolves Product Who Guested Abroad For Arsenal

Nigel Sims and Malcolm Finlayson had more in common than their roles, at different times, as rivals to the great Bert Williams at Wolves. They also remained two of the Football League’s best uncapped goalkeepers and so missed out on any flirtation with the World Cup or what was then known as the European Nations Cup.

Doog’s Peep Behind The Iron Curtain

Tales Of Tough Times On Distant European Travels

Derek Dougan would have smiled at the welcoming fan camps, the fabulous grounds and even the cappuchino-quarter choice that are marking England’s challenge in the European Championships. Visiting such far-flung corners of the continent was a different experience altogether in The Doog’s day – guaranteed to quickly induce pangs of homseickness.

Molineux ‘Elements’ In Dismal Euro Campaign

Taylor Suffered Wrath Of Failure In Sweden

It wasn’t just the cruel turnip caricatures in the tabloid press that troubled Graham Taylor as England manager. In the summer of 1992, the Swedes were a problem as well. And the Danes. And the French. Less than two years before his controversial instalment at Molineux, Taylor presided over a European Championships campaign that reached no great heights in the qualifying stages and tailed off alarmingly in the finals.

Evans Eyes Back On Donetsk

VIP Treatment Of Ex Wolves Academy Man

England’s big Euro 12 kick-off in Donetsk tomorrow will have special resonance to a long-serving former member of Wolves’ coaching and managerial staff. Seven years ago, Chris Evans spent nearly a week in the eastern Ukraine city while being interviewed for a position that would have increased his salary four or five times.

Sinton On His Late Euros Call

Replacements Were Commonplace Even Then

When is it safe for a footballer to take his holidays at the end of a season? Or to tie the knot for that matter? A month ago, few would have thought John Ruddy would be fretting over his wedding because of a call to arms from England for Euro 12.

And you would have got long odds around the same time on Liverpool defender Martin Kelly being asked to board the plane to Poland and Ukraine; even more so on Jack Butland (the replacement for the now injured Ruddy).

For the likes of Kelly, Butland and Jordan Henderson in 2012, though, read Andy Sinton in 1992.

Kissing Goodbye To A Netful Of Goals

300 Reasons (Give Or Take) Why Wolves Boobed!

Good strikers had virtually been a ‘given’ at Wolves’ for decades. But, around the time they won the League Cup for the first time, they made a decision that was to come back and haunt them. Bill McGarry had John Richards and an admittedly ageing Derek Dougan in harness at Wembley in 1974, with the likes of Peter Withe and Steve Kindon pushing for a way in.

Jubilee Duty For All Stars

Old Boys To Put On Their Sunday Best

Wolves All Stars are in Bank Holiday weekend action when they face a Midlands estate agents’ team at Sutton Coldfield’s Coles Lane ground on Sunday. The fixture, which is rearranged from the end of April, kicks off at 2.30pm and is to raise funds for the Katie Pritchard Family Trust.