Memory Match: Ipswich 2 Wolves 2

Gripping Cup Clash That Is There To Be Relived

It was 12 months ago this weekend that Wolves famously won at Liverpool as the high spot of the Paul Lambert era. Even more precisely, it is 41 years to this very day that Sammy Chung’s side set up a less spectacular giant-killing – but one made even more coincidental given the club’s latest Sky Bet Championship victims.

Precious Memories

A Treasured Trip To The Coast To See Cup Winner

With the funeral of Nigel Sims taking place in South Wales a week on Monday, we asked our valued contributor Charles Bamforth for his memories of the time he visited the former Wolves reserve keeper for an extended interview more than a quarter of a century ago. At the time, Charles was compiling his In Keeping With The Wolves book – a true labour of love as it brought him into direct personal contact with many of his heroes between the posts at Molineux.

An Insight Like No Other

Skipper Opens Up On Fondly Remembered Renaissance Era

Gary Bellamy and Steve Stoutt were good players who lacked confidence, Floyd Streete had the attributes to play at a significantly higher level and Micky Holmes was inclined to cry when he was left out of teams in his younger years. Alistair Robertson doesn’t stop there. He tells us that the Wolves dressing room became a much duller place when the club said goodbye to David ‘Digger’ Barnes – ‘he was the funniest lad’ – and reveals that Holmes and Jon Purdie were his biggest Molineux mates, partly because they shared his views on what might be described as refuelling!

Gerry’s Vow

Farrell Urged: ‘Don’t Wait So Long Next Time!’

Gerry Farrell waited more than 40 years to catch up with the mates he left behind in a hurry when released from Molineux as a heartbroken teenager – but vows he will see them again within months. The Liverpudlian is still digesting the ‘surreal’ experience of being back at the club and with old friends when he attended Wolves’ victory against Ipswich just before Christmas.

Big Cyrille – Loved By Lots, Admired By All

Wolves Connections Of Departed Icon

To the mountain of words already written and broadcast, we at Wolves Heroes would like to add our own condolences to the family and friends of Cyrille Regis after yesterday’s appalling news that he had passed away at the age of only 59. Although it’s true that the genial striker scored at least twice as many goals against Wolves as he managed for them, he left a very fond mark on many of those he met through his time at Molineux.

A Home ‘Match’ To Be Savoured

Life In The Lounge With Some Top Mates

Can our readers identify any of the youngsters in this photograph? Clue: It dates back virtually 50 years and takes in one Wolves player who made it at first-team level, another who briefly threatened to make it and a third who didn’t reach the senior team.

Good Gracious, Gus!

How Molineux Veteran Laid Down The Law

‘Tis the season for reading new football books and one of them has an interesting and contentious take on the judgement of a strongman Wolves defender from decades past. We have written before about Angus McLean becoming Brian Clough’s late-1960s successor in the manager’s chair at the club then known as Hartlepools.

Sad News Of Cup-Winning Keeper

Loyal Hopeful Who Clicked Across The Patch

Nigel Sims, the one-time Wolves hopeful who grew tired of life in the Molineux shadows of Bert Williams, has died at the age of 86.
The keeper from the Derbyshire-Staffordshire border understudied the England star following his arrival at the club in 1948 and, with Dennis Parsons also pushing for a place, had to be patient for first-team opportunities.

Programmes Worth Seeing

JR Tribute To Departed Friend

John Richards has spoken of his poignant last contact with John Hendley – the hugely popular Wolves historian and programme editor whose passing will be marked at tomorrow’s FA Cup tie with Swansea. ‘Foz’, who died this week aged 67, was never happier on the Molineux payroll than when he had the club’s second leading goalscorer of all time as his ultimate boss.

Dear Diary Entry 75

The Saddest Of Backcloths To Match Night

We precede this column with the dreadfully sad news that Wolves have lost one of their most loyal and longest-serving members of staff, programme editor John Hendley. In the coming days, we will be writing much more about ‘Foz’ over and above the mention to him at the bottom of this regular feature. Many of us are mourning the departure of a very good friend and we can safely include past and present players in that huge number.