Dropping By…….En Route For Three More Points

Saturday, February 2: Had the pleasure of a mid-morning ‘refuelling’ visit from Mel Eves and his chauffeur, Mike Taylor from BBC WM, as they made their way to Everton for Wolves’ game today. Pleasant as it was, I guess it would have been better to see them on their way home and had a first-hand account of the side’s excellent result and performance at Goodison Park.

Tuesday, February 5: Interesting to speak to Karl Henry at tonight’s Wolves v Shrewsbury FA Cup replay and learn for the first time that he has recently decided to retire from playing. Karl played six games in mid-season for Bradford following his spell at Bolton, but injuries and the struggle for full fitness have prompted him to call it a day and now look towards a career in coaching. Also at the game tonight were Andy Thompson, Mel Eves, Matt Murray and former Shrewsbury and Albion midfielder Bernard McNally, as well as visiting manager Sam Ricketts, of course.

Thursday, February 7: Enjoyed having a meet-up with former Wolves secretary Richard Skirrow and one of the Express & Star’s fan correspondents, John Lalley, in the Costa Coffee branch that used to serve as the club shop in Dudley Street. Much to talk about with Wolves doing so well…..and nice to hear that Richard still attends most of the first-team fixtures at Molineux.

Monday, February 11: Was delighted to seek out two spare copies of the Wolves v West Ham programme and send them to the daughter of Johnny Walker, the post-war Molineux inside-forward who died recently. The publication contained a tribute piece to the 90-year-old Scot, who had just succeeded Bill Slater as Wolves’ oldest surviving former player.

Tuesday, February 12: The rearranging of the second Wolves Fans Parliament meeting of the season for tonight made it two Molineux visits in successive evenings for many members, the day after the Wolves v Newcastle Premier League fixture. No Jeff Shi or Kevin Thelwell on the top table this time but there was still an impressive turn-out of Molineux top brass.

Friday, February 15: Good to receive a phone call out of the blue from Jim McCalliog, asking for a contact phone number for a former Wolves favourite. Jim has had considerable success with putting on fans’ nights north of the border with playing stars as the big attraction and clearly has designs on doing likewise with this Molineux stalwart among the cast. Watch this space……

Friday, February 22: The circle of life can’t be broken, of course, but I couldn’t help but reflect at Ian Ross’s funeral today on the regular losses there seem to be these days to the football family. Ian Callaghan was among the mourners, as I assume he was recently when respects were paid to his long-time former Liverpool team-mate, Peter Thompson, and he will also have been saddened by the passing-away of his England 1966 World Cup colleague Gordon Banks, who we say goodbye to next week.

Thursday, February 28: Yet more upsetting news reaches us, with reports of the passing-away of Graham Newton, a former Molineux youngster we have profiled on this site more than once. Graham, who was in his mid-70s, grew up a Wolves fan and went to have a fine career with Blackpool, Coventry, Bournemouth, Walsall and Atlanta Chiefs. We send our deepest condolences to his family and close friends.