When (Son Of) Barry Met Harry

Wednesday, August 5: It was bound to happen some time……one-time Molineux youngster Loy Stobart has had a meeting with Harry Redknapp on the Dorset coast. The two live close together and, for many months, we had been suggesting that he readied himself to say he was the son of a 1960 FA Cup finalist – something we just knew Harry would be interested in. And he apparently was.

Thursday, August 6: Enjoyed watching some goal clips of Wolves beating Juventus in 1972 as part of BBC Midlands Today’s preview of the severely delayed Europa League return leg against Olympiacos tonight. Where was that film hiding when we were compiling the Official History dvd on the club a decade and a half ago? Well done to the Beeb, who also took John Richards out on to the golf course as part of their feature.

Monday, August 10: Interesting to see Keith Downing and another former Wolves midfielder Paul Simpson installed at Bristol City as part of the team working beneath the club’s new head coach, Dean Holden. The two have given up good jobs at the FA, where they have performed brilliantly to have the winning of age-group World Cups on their respective CVs. Holden is known round here from his playing stints at Shrewsbury and Walsall and was upgraded temporarily for the last few games of last season following the departure of his boss, Lee Johnson.

Tuesday, August 11: How brilliant to hear that a women’s cricket tournament has been named after former Wolves director Rachael Heyhoe Flint. The new county competition, beginning over August Bank Holiday weekend and with the final on September 26, is 50 overs per side and comes at a time when the memory of Bob Willis is being well served in the men’s game. Baroness Heyhoe Flint led England to World Cup glory in 1973 and is regarded as a trail-blazer for women’s cricket.

Friday, August 14: Super words from Express & Star writer John Lalley on Gerry Harris, whose funeral in Claverley today was attended by Ted Farmer, Steve Daley and the Wolves Former Players Association’s Richard Green. “In my earliest days watching Wolves, he impressed me as a terrific player; someone of real quality and plenty good enough for the full cap that he didn’t receive,” John said in an email to us. “I also always have quirky memories that mean a lot when one of the old generation departs. When we kids were collecting autographs in the holidays, Gerry always parked his little car – an A40 or something similar – in the same place each morning on the old North Bank car park. He never opened the window and was dressed in collar and tie as he spent 15-20 minutes reading his copy of the Daily Express. Then he got out of the car, signed a few autographs and was in for training, as regular as clockwork. Great memories!”

Monday, August 17: Had the annoying experience of hearing a familiar voice on BBC Radio’s coverage of the Second Test against Pakistan – and being unable to place it. He was in full flow in an interview with Jonathan Agnew when I switched on and it took some time for the penny to drop. It was Stuart Cain, the predecessor to Matt Grayson as Jez Moxey’s right-hand man at Molineux. Stuart has worked for Rangers, the NEC and in rugby with Wasps since Wolves and was appointed this summer as chief executive of Warwickshire CCC.

Saturday, August 29: Conor Coady’s well-received selection for the first England squads of the 2020-21 season was predicted by a well-respected Molineux figure while Wolves were still in the Championship. Richard Skirrow told me then that Gareth Southgate could do worse than pick Nuno’s outstanding skipper and sweeper if he wanted to use someone in the same position. A good spot by the long-time former club secretary!