Dear Diary Entry 164
Regret At Missing Mark’s Molineux Return
Saturday, May 10: Was disappointed to miss seeing Mark McGhee at Molineux today when he joined Paul Berry on the microphone in the Billy Wright Stand corporate rooms before Wolves’ home game against Brighton. Mike Stowell’s surprise 60th birthday bash took us instead to Bristol, where we were delighted to meet up with Paul McLoughlin.
Back To Where It All Began
Warmest Of Tributes To Wath Founder
From Solihull, Leeds, York and, in particular, Wolverhampton, all roads led to Wath upon Dearne; to the small town in South Yorkshire that served as a springboard to Molineux and professional football for numerous youngsters. Bob Hatton called this return journey a pilgrimage, Steve Daley reckoned he hadn’t been to those famous training pitches since he last played on them five and a half decades ago and, from two or three hours north, Paul Walker and Jimmy Seal were lapping up the waves of nostalgia, too.
A Working Life Like No Other
Woodfield: Fitness Fanatic Who Travelled The World
When Wolves Heroes was launched, Dave Woodfield was one of those Molineux favourites we fretted over ever locating and interviewing. Meeting him, even more so. We weren’t to know at that point, of course, that we would still be going strong more than 15 years later. More pertinently, who was to say when Duggie would return to these shores from decades of living and coaching in distant parts of the world?
A Winner Once More
Keane Keeps That Champion Knack
Robbie Keane is celebrating a second title triumph in two seasons. After leading Maccabi Tel Aviv to a league and cup double 12 months ago, he has now overseen Ferencvaros’s march to another top-flight Hungarian crown.
Gary Pierce Passes Away
Upsetting News Of League Cup Final Hero
Gary Pierce, the headline act of Wolves’ 1974 Wembley conquest of Manchester City, has died in his home-town, Bury. The upsetting announcement concerning the side’s unlikely star came this morning following what is described as a short illness.
Goodbye To The Grand Old Lady
Wayne And Friends Back In Town For The Big Farewell
Wayne Clarke has had a full-on reunion with many of his former Everton team-mates while being present for Sunday’s emotional farewell to Goodison Park. Andy Gray and Derek Mountfield, big characters at opposite ends of the pitch in Wolves line-ups of different eras, were among the favourites the 64-year-old reconnected with after too long (for our liking!) out of the football loop.
The Whirlwind That Is Paul Cook
Workplace Antics Lit Up ‘Nearly’ Night
Paul Cook will not be prowling the Wembley touchline at Wembley a week tomorrow. He will, though, be at Anfield for the Premier League winners’ big party next Sunday. Knowing him, he would have found a way to be at both anyway. Chesterfield’s extraordinary boss has missed out on a fifth managerial-career promotion courtesy of his club’s defeat at Walsall on Friday night.
Keeper With Magic In His Feet
Retrospective Tribute To Multi-Decorated Star
It is 35 years or more since I trekked up to the banks of Loch Lomond to interview Evan Williams for my book on Molineux goalkeepers, In Keeping with the Wolves. I was immensely saddened to hear of his passing at the end of the winter and was moved to revisit the newspaper archives to dip again into his short and so varied time in the West Midlands.
Sad News Of Colin Booth
Death Of Double Title Winner
Wolves have lost another precious link with their 1950s glory years with the death of Colin Booth. The inside-forward made the first of his 82 League and cup appearances for the club just before their 1954-55 title defence ended in an agonising near-miss but totalled 26 games across their successive championship triumphs towards the end of the decade.
What’s Up, Doc?
Defender In Exalted Company
Matt Doherty has the chance to push himself even further up the list of Wolves’ all-time top appearance-makers after breaking into their top 20. The defender pushed the late Frank Munro down a place with his outing in the defeat at Manchester City last weekend – his 372nd at senior level in the League or cups since signing at Molineux for the first time.