Celebration Time For Decorated Inside-Forward

An unexpected message from a football fan in Oxfordshire has given us a handy platform on which to express warm birthday wishes to one of the last surviving members of Wolves’ title-winning teams.

Colin Booth, who played 13 League games in 1957-58 when Stan Cullis’s men reigned supreme and and an identical number (plus two in the FA Cup) when the Championship was retained 12 months later, turns 90 today.

And the words of praise we recently received about him provided a happy coincidence as we were mulling over how to ‘flag up’ his milestone day for our readers.

Ironically, though, the emailed tribute to him had little to do with the playing ability that earned him a total of 82 League and cup appearances in his Molineux years.

Instead, Brian Webb was singing the praises of him from a good few years later. “Colin Booth remains one of my heroes, having been my first football coach,” he wrote.

“He was a fabulous guy who I think is in a care home down here in Oxford. I was captain of Cowley Boys under-18s. We were a very good team who benefitted from having Colin around us…..he was a superb coach.

“He told wonderful stories about the Wolves team from 1956 to 1959. The most interesting was the one about Johnny Hancocks’ volleying ability, which Colin had also developed.”

Booth, who was born on December 30, 1934, played three games in the first half of 1959-60 before his lack of first-team opportunities led him to accept a move to the visitors to Molineux next Monday night, Nottingham Forest.

Of those who played League games in Wolves’ title-winning seasons, Allan Jackson and Bobby Mason are the only other survivors. 

Booth’s birthday is not the only major landmark one around the turn of the year among the former Wolves player fraternity.

Among those who have recently had reason to celebrate are Rob Kelly (60, December 21), Tony Lange (60, December 10), George Ndah (50, December 23) and Darren Potter (40, December 21). 

And the following landmark occasions are just round the corner….Paul Blades is 60 on January 5, Joe Gallagher 70 on January 11 and Christophe Berra 40 on the 31st of next month.