Dear Diary Entry 55

A Project To Put Your Shirt On

Friday, April 1: Had a two-hour meeting in one of the Billy Wright Stand’s executive boxes about the terrific They Wore The Shirt project that is advancing nicely. Steve Plant, whose brainchild this quality, hard-back book is, continues to be an inspirational leader

Still On The Reunion Trail

Knighton Accepts Second-Time-Round Invite

When we teamed up in 2012 with former Wolves youth player John Doughty and played a support role in a 50-years-on reunion he was organising for his Molineux contemporaries, we promised we would be back with further news from and/or on this interesting character. A proud Black Country lad, he remained in the area throughout the successful business life that followed his football career – part of the reason he is still in touch with any number of good friends who progressed further in the game than he did.

The Gift Of Love

A Time For Remembering

Wolves Former Players Association have used their 2016 dinner to honour the memory of some of their departed friends by making a £2,000 donation to help fund a new reminisce room at the city’s New Cross Hospital. And with Wolves Aid agreeing to match the amount, a £4,000 presentation was made last night to the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust by family representatives of those we have loved and lost such as Barry Stobart, Peter Broadbent, Bert Williams, Roy Swinbourne, Dave Wagstaffe, Bobby Thomson, Alf Crook and Malcolm Finlayson.

A Leader Even As A Teenager

Proof Of Why Mike Is Coming ‘Home’ For Captains’ Night

By way of a scene setter for Thursday’s Wolves Former Players Association dinner, we have been researching the life and times of Mike Bailey – one of the evening’s principal guests. The 1974 League Cup final skipper will be on stage with two captains of a more recent vintage, Alistair Robertson and Jody Craddock, and revealed in the book he brought out in mid-season that he was chosen to lead out Charlton’s side on a permanent basis at the age of only 19.

More Memories Of Malcolm

Blogger Keeps Us Posted On Star Keeper

We are indebted to Yorkshire-based writer Mark Metcalf for sharing with us some of the happy recollections from his surprise latter-day friendship with Malcolm Finlayson. The lifelong Sunderland fan interviewed the goalkeeper for several of his books and gleaned some valuable extra snippets about a career shared between 200-plus games for Millwall and a similar number with Wolves.

Hickman – ‘Hyper And Hich Octane!’

Revelations About Molineux Coach As Lawrie Goes To Print

An interesting new take on a popular Molineux figure of the 1990s has come to light from one of English football’s highly respected former managers. Mike Hickman was at Wolves for nearly three years after arriving in these parts in late 1995 as a member of Mark McGhee’s backroom team.

Walter Wall To Wall In Goals!

Milestone Man Who Set A Happy Trend

What happened the small matter of 107 years ago today that has occured another 42 times since in Wolves’ history? Answer: A Wolverhampton-born inside-forward named Walter Radford become the first man to score 20 goals in a season for the club.

Straight From The Heart

Fond Memories Of Hopeful Who Gaffer Jettisoned Twice

Graham Turner’s arrival at Molineux wasn’t good news for everyone. For one player, it was a bit of a nightmare. Not only had he hit it off in a big way with the manager’s predecessor Brian Little but he had actually been shown the door by Turner previously.

Dear Diary Entry 54

Barry’s Watching Brief

Thursday, March 3: Was pleasantly surprised to receive a call from Barry Powell enquiring about the ‘They Wore The Shirts’ book project being overseen and organised by Steve Plant. Barry had seen a post on Facebook about the enterprise and was interested to be kept in touch

One Giant Leap Of Faith

How Bully defied the odds to join up with England

Unfortunately for Wolves fans, seeing their club’s badge on numerous flags is as close as they will get for now to having representatives from Molineux with the national team. A few of Mick McCarthy’s Irish contingent played at Euro 2012 but not since Matt Jarvis in 2011 have Wolves had a player who has pulled on the senior three lions shirt.