Sunday, December 1: More disappointment for Stephen Ward, Richard Stearman and their colleagues at Solihull Moors as they were beaten at home this afternoon by Bromley in the FA Cup. The televised second-round tie offered the Midlanders the opportunity for some revenge after the sickening two Wembley defeats against these opponents over successive weekends in the spring. But the Football League newcomers shaded it again to progress to the draw containing the bigger boys.
Wednesday, December 4: Good luck to Kenny Jackett for his recovery after last month’s disclosure that he had stood down as Gillingham’s director of football for medical reasons. Fingers crossed for him to be fully on the mend very soon.
Friday, December 6: Staggering to hear that Conor Coady’s appearance for Leicester away to Brentford last weekend was his first in a Premier League starting line-up for 18 months, his only previous taste of top-flight duty this season having come as a substitute. It wasn’t a happy occasion either as the Foxes crashed to a 4-1 defeat on the day they were watched for the first time by manager-in-waiting Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Saturday, December 14: Thank goodness for the warm nostalgic glow reflected by the conquering of Honved 70 years ago yesterday. The lovely company today of the players’ descendants – and the joy of seeing Wolves making such a fuss of them before, during and after the game against Ipswich – was undoubtedly the high spot of an otherwise gloomy afternoon. The on-field outcome of the six-pointer against Ipswich was thoroughly depressing. And what would Billy, Bert and the rest have made of all that end-of-match nonsense, not to mention what how the Iron Manager would have reacted!
Sunday, December 15: So, it’s an inevitable goodbye to Gary O’Neil, a thoroughly decent guy who perhaps exceeded all our expectations after being given a ‘hospital pass’ on the eve of last season but who then started to flounder in March. The slide obviously couldn’t be allowed to continue but he did his very best under difficult circumstances and now, with Vitor Pereira expected to be appointed here, we wait to see where his predecessor resurfaces.
Saturday, December 21: Well done to Jim McCalliog for going public in the Daily Mail over his successful prostate cancer battle. Inspired by the example set by fellow countryman Chris Hoy, Wolves’ 1972 UEFA Cup final skipper decided to open up as a way of encouraging others to do the same if they have worries. “When I was told my cancer was untraceable after treatment, I had a wee tear in my eye,” he was quoted as saying.
Tuesday, December 24: Interesting words as ever from Norman Giller, this time about his old friend Billy Wright, in a two-page spread in the latest issue of Backpass. This outstanding magazine is now 91 issues old and there is a brief supplementary piece by David Harrison on Steve Gordos’s newly-published book on the Wolves and England legend, Golden Hero. Please click on this link Home – Backpass Magazine to see how to order a copy.
Friday, December 27: Lovely to receive some festive greetings from Les Wilson and his wife Lois and to hear his feedback to yesterday’s Molineux clash of his two favourite clubs. Manchester-born Les watched the game live at home in Vancouver and would love to have been here in person to savour the second big step taken by the side under the leadership of Vitor Pereira. It was a special evening!