Got It! A Job For Rob

Monday, July 21: Delighted to read that Rob Edwards – always an approachable and dependable character during his years as a Wolves player – had got the under-18 coaching position at the club. I had recently bumped into him, when he was suited and booted and sitting in the foyer at Molineux, while he was awaiting his job interview.

Thursday, July 24: Had a bit of a ‘result’ when exchanging a flurry of emails with Australian-based Gary Cutler. He had just rung his mum in Kidderminster and been surprised by the news that his friend Brian Garvey was staying with her as part of a return to England. Not only did we make plans to see him that afternoon but had the bonus when we did so of also meeting up by accident with Eddie Clamp’s son, Adrian, in the city’s archives library.

Monday, July 28: The flow of ‘cold’ emails to Wolves Heroes continues. First there was a message from the daughter of Peter Russell’s niece, saying her family had seen the article we did on the 1950s Molineux reserve defender and pointing out that her mother would love to get in touch with her uncle. As ever, we happily acted as go-betweens and now await possible news of contact being made. We have also heard from Huddersfield fanatic Alan Hirst, who told us he has been dating John Oldfield’s daughter Karen. We were delighted to hear that Karen had been fascinated to learn through our posts about her Dad’s career as a keeper at Wolves because she had been a young girl at the time and much of it had passed her by. She apparently remembered moving to Wolverhampton as a six-year-old and starting a new school following Bill McGarry’s signing of him from Huddersfield. Alan concluded: “Karen and myself will be attending the fixture at Molineux on October 1 as Wolves have always held a soft spot for her.”

Tuesday, July 29: Went to a meeting at Molineux to learn about my commitments in the match-day programme for the coming campaign and saw the team bus being loaded up ready for the friendly at Oxford tonight – Wolves’ first ever visit to the Kassam Stadium.

Wednesday, July 30: Had an email from a Liverpool fan called Jarek, expressing his gratitude after an autographed photo of Alun Evans had safely reached him in in Gdansk, Poland. We put him in touch with Alun several weeks ago while the former Wolves and Anfield forward was over here on his annual visit to see his mum in Kidderminster.

Thursday, July 31: Plenty of Wolves connections tonight as Martin Swain said farewell to Wolverhampton and the Express & Star with a well-attended leaving do at Steve Bull’s place in Tettenhall. Barry Stobart’s widow Maureen, Des Horne’s daughter Nicky Horne, Mel Eves, John Dee, Tim Nash and Steve Gordos were among those present, as was Rob Bishop, who in 1989 wrote the fast-selling first book about Steve Bull.

Saturday, August 2: Was delighted to receive a home visit for an hour or so from Charles Bamforth before I set off for Wolves’ feisty pre-season home friendly against Celta Vigo. Charles has been over in the UK for around a month and flies back to California tomorrow prior to another business trip across the States in the next week.

Tuesday, August 12: Another match-day visit to Molineux, this time for the Capital One Cup tie at home to Northampton…….don’t Wolves regularly make a hash of ties in this competition considering how golden it was to them 30 odd and 40 years ago?