Mick Joins Familar Faces

Wednesday, December 3: A good collection of Molineux favourites were on duty for the visit of Nottingham Forest tonight, with the media trio of Andy Thompson, Lee Naylor and Don Goodman supplemented by Mick McCarthy and Jody Craddock doing separate turns in a double-header for the Billy Wright Stand corporate areas. Elsewhere in the ground was another of the manager’s Molineux faithfuls, Stephen Hunt, who is now an agent.

Monday, December 8: A rare Wolves v Manchester United game played without Sir Alex Ferguson being in attendance. With relegation looking likely, who knows when we might see him back at Molineux again now? Hopefully he will be at the return fixture of the two clubs just after Christmas.  

Tuesday, December 9: Very sorry to be informed that Mark Kendall’s widow, Gaynor, has died at the age of 65. Her funeral takes place a week on Monday in Blackwood, South Wales, where Mark’s funeral was a standing-room-only occasion 17 years ago – and many of those without seats were outside.

Wednesday, December 10: Another good ‘Wolves old boys’ representation took their places among the co-commentators on tonight’s EFL highlights programme on ITV, with Matt Jarvis, David Edwards and Chris Iwelumo all on summarising duty on our screens. 

Thursday, December 11: News from overseas that former Wolves keeper Rui Patricio has retired after a 19-year playing career in football. The 37-year-old won 108 caps for Portugal and played for Roma, Atalanta and UAE club Al Ain after ending his three-year Molineux spell in 2021. His appearance tally here was a more than useful 127.

Saturday, December 13: Interesting to hear that Tim Flowers is back in football – as manager of Bromsgrove Sporting. The rapid merry-go-round is obviously not confined to the upper echelons of the game. The 1980s Wolves discovery has also had spells with Redditch and Alvechurch in the last year and a bit and has impressed those he has had working for him.

Saturday, December 20: On the occasion of Keith Andrews’s return to Molineux as Brentford’s head coach, one of his contemporaries, Lee Naylor, took his usual place in the broadcasting area of the Billy Wright Stand for the game this afternoon. Andy Thompson and Dave Edwards were also on duty here, with Mel Eves sitting near the back of the press box. Like everyone in the ground, they couldn’t fail to have been moved by the minute’s silence in honour of former Wolves youngster Ethan McLeod just before kick-off.

Sunday, December 28: Good luck to Jamie Smith during his interim spell in charge of Port Vale following the sacking of Darren Moore today. Twelve matches without a win and a run of seven defeats in nine have brought about the change at the helm at League One’s bottom club. Is ‘Jinky’ in with a chance of becoming a contender on a full-time basis? He and Moore have been recognised as a duo for a long while.