Stowell Checks In During Hectic Pre-Season

This has been a big weekend for Mike Stowell and family. Yesterday, he was back at the club for whom he played 448 League and cup games. Today, a major celebration in the garden, gazebos and all, to mark the fact his wife turned 40 a few days ago. All things considered, we think we did well to catch up with him and enjoy half an hour of his time at the Walsall hotel Leicester used for their 'pre-match' before heading to Molineux.

Spotlighting 40 Years Of Wolves Winners

John Richards didn't make it on to the list; nor did several other worthy candidates from the 1970s and early 1980s, such as Derek Parkin, John McAlle and Geoff Palmer. Steve Stoutt did, though - he beat Steve Bull in the process - and Floyd Streete, Tom Bennett and Mark Rankine are among what might be regarded as the other surprise inclusions.

Power Supply Was Reduced For Shield Date

Have Bolton always tended to prove troublesome opponents for Wolves? Was there ever a time when they were seen as a comfortable proposition? Yes and no but the meeting in the autumn of 1958 - in the Charity Shield, no less - was more problematic than most given the junior look to Stan Cullis' forward line.

How Hughes Stepped Out Of One Spotlight And Into Another

Billy Wright was in on it. So, too, Bob Paisley, Bill Shankly, Jack Taylor and most of John Barnwell's upwardly mobile, Wembley-bound squad. But, in keeping with the essential element of surprise, the main man was in the dark until the last dramatic moment. Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Molineux was about more than Wolves' first League victory for seven seasons over a Liverpool side enjoying their years of near-invincibility.

A Stay-At-Home Preparation For Changing Wolves

Pre-season plans didn't always include flights across Europe and beyond - even in the era in which Wolves travelled much further and more often than they now do. At a time when Austria has again become a destination of choice for the club, we have been reminded how the Wanderers squad stayed within these shores when preparing almost half a century ago for Bill McGarry's first full season in charge.

Gardner Gave Hope - But Where Did He Go?

Exactly three weeks on from our piece detailing Bob Hazell's historic England under-21 debut, we now find ourselves writing about the first black player to appear in Wolves' first team. Don Gardner beat his fellow Jamaican into the League side at Molineux by some three seasons, with George Berry seen for the first time at that level in between the two.

Graham Reflects On Bird's Eye View Of USA Spectacular

Maybe the subject hadn't come up before or we just hadn't asked the right questions. But only in the last few days have we learned for the first time that one of our good friends from this patch was present 50 summers ago on the famous night on which Wolves spectacularly beat Aberdeen in the final of the first USA tournament.

McCarthy A World Cup Star - On And Off The Pitch

It is already five and a half years since the departure from Molineux of Mick McCarthy, the last manager to lead Wolves to the Premier League. But the occasional reports we receive of his humorous asides elsewhere will still raise a chuckle among those who knew him here.

Molineux Departure Was Catalyst To Big-Time Chance

It took 26 years but finally I caught up with the first goalkeeper to be signed at Molineux after I wrote In Keeping With the Wolves, the book focused on keepers from Williams to Lange. The big surprise was that I did not hear a Welsh lilt. “I was born in Chirk in Denbighshire in 1967 but was there for only two years," says Paul Jones. "We moved to Hadnall in Shropshire and I attended Wem Secondary School.

Good Early Impression Of New Man

Thursday, June 1: I hope to be doing this a little less often in future but attended the unveiling of another head coach at Molineux, charged with the task of writing a 'colour' piece on proceedings for the club's official website. Nuno seems an impressive character, with a more than worthy CV