Festive Treats From Seasons Past

Dave Wagstaffe’s signing: The wizard of the wing agreed his move south from Manchester City on Christmas Eve of 1964, made a slip-slide debut at home to Villa two days later but, boy, really showed what he could do over the next 11 years!

An 8-0 Molineux annihilation of Manchester City: How good does that sound now! A hat-trick by right-winger Charlie Phillips was the main feature of this romp on December 23, 1933.

A goal for Bill Baxter: The wing-half netted for the only time in his senior Wolves career to help secure a 1951 Christmas Day 3-3 Division One draw at Villa – the club he would later join.

The double demolition of Derby: West Midlands conquered East Midlands on both Christmas Eve and Boxing Day as Ronnie Allen’s Wolves continued their goal-filled march towards promotion from Division Two. They followed up a 5-3 Molineux mauling of the Rams by winning the return 3-0.

Pompey’s Pummelling – Twice Over: Three Wolves players hit hat-tricks as Wolves revved up their successful title defence by beating Portsmouth 5-3 away on Boxing Day and then 7-0 at home the following day. The treble shooters in this 1958 spectacular were Peter Broadbent, Colin Booth and Norman Deeley.

A victory over a bogey club: It doesn’t sound much but Wolves hadn’t beaten Brighton in 12 attempts in the League until Graham Turner’s side put away these pesky opponents 2-0 at Molineux on December 28, 1991.

Stars in the north: Wolves beat Huddersfield 2-1 at Leeds Road to record their last Christmas Day victory. This 2-1 success in 1950 was based on goals by Johnny Walker and Yorkshireman Roy Swinbourne.

The arrival of a striking legend: Andy Mutch took his first few breaths in the outside world when born in Liverpool on December 28, 1963 – the day Wolves drew 2-2 at Villa thanks to goals by Ray Crawford and Chris Crowe.

The memories of packed fixture lists: In 1955, for example, Wolves drew 2-2 at Manchester City on the 24th, evenly shared six goals at Arsenal on the 26th and then took a point from a 2-2 draw at Highbury on the 27th.

But it hasn’t always been joy and good-will to all men: Colin Lee was sacked a few days before Christmas in 2000 and two of the men chasing his job, Dave Jones and Dave Bassett, comically bumped into each other in the street when heading for interviews at Sir Jack Hayward’s London residence.

A happy, healthy Christmas to all our readers……we plan to be back with another post on Thursday.