Backpass Hits Right Note Once More

A full-page feature on Billy Wright highlights the Wolves content in the latest high-quality issue of Backpass.

The article, suitably presented on a gold background, is very much a personal one by the former Express & Star Molineux correspondent David Harrison, who recalls his mother’s love for the Wolves and England star, afternoons at his and her side in the Lyons tea room in Queen Square and Billy’s enduring modesty.

Backpass’s spotlight on Ironbridge’s most famous son is a belated marking of the 20th anniversary of his death – a date we at Wolves Heroes also felt compelled to recognise.

Issue 41 of the retro magazine also contains tribute pieces on Malcolm Finlayson and Eddie Stuart, written by football’s foremost obituarist, Ivan Ponting.

Further names of a gold and black theme to be mentioned include Denis Irwin, Ron Flowers, Dave Thomas and Jimmy Murray, the latter in relation to the forward’s hat-trick for Manchester City in a 6-0 win at home to Leyton Orient in 1964. Five days later, City were beaten in the return fixture at Brisbane Road.

This being a festive edition of the publication, there is a spotlight on Boxing Day, 1963, which was so freakishly goal-laden that Wolves’ 3-3 home draw against Aston Villa (with goals by Terry Wharton and Ray Crawford, 2) was actually one of the lower-scoring games.

A club-by-club count-up of related articles reveals Wolves to have been one of the clubs most often featured in Backpass and a photo of Mark Lazarus and Graham Taylor’s usual column are further characteristics of this latest magazine off the press.

A new publication, Extra Time, is being launched in February, with four issues guaranteed up to the end of the season.

Extra Time will incorporate Backpass but there will also be a fresh angle to it, thanks to a batch of new writers and a look at current events through figures from football’s colourful past.

We look forward to bringing you further information on the new venture, in particular the Molineux content in it.