Mystery Twist Planned In Star Turn-Out

First it was Derek Parkin, then Kenny Hibbitt and, some months later, Steve Bull. Now it’s to the other end of the pitch that Molineux’s corporate spotlight switches.

Because of the position he played in and the fact he also had an enduring and highly successful career in America, Phil Parkes did not threaten the top places in Wolves’ all-time appearance-makers’ list that are filled by those other three star names.

But he was and remains a legend in these parts. He married a Wolverhampton girl, still lives and drinks in the city, supports everything that’s going on and is always happy to reminisce on his 382 senior games for the club – and much more.

Lofty is as close to the Wulfrunian heartbeat as any of the many former Wolves players whose company we are regularly blessed with at events, whether football-led or on the golf course.

He is also, of course, extremely popular with his contemporaries, which explains why former team-mates Hibbitt, John Richards, Steve Daley, Steve Kindon, Terry Wharton, Jim McCalliog, Gary Pierce, Barry Powell and Mel Eves have indicated they will be present at the dinner being held in his honour a week tomorrow.

Invitations have also gone out to several others, including Bernard Shaw, the full-back who has shown a willingness to be reintegrated to the Wolves family in recent years.

International breaks are seen as a safe bet for such occasions and the Friday night of Wolves’ next inactive weekend has been chosen for this tribute.

A special guest of whom we can say no more for now is promised alongside Lofty on stage at some point as well and past experience tells us that the entertainment will be in rich supply.

Tickets for this October 8 event cost £50 and are best obtained by contacting chief organiser Steve Plant (07971-012370), who is yet again promising to support the Birmingham Children’s Hospital with the profits.

As well as promoting this series of tribute dinners for a growing selection of Molineux heroes, the lifelong supporter published his hugely popular They Wore The Shirt book, which was launched on another sell-out evening at the stadium in 2016.