A ‘Sign’ Of The Times

Wednesday, December 4: Enjoyed having a late-afternoon meet-up over coffee with Paul Berry, especially it created the chance to take delivery of extra autographed copies of Why Not Me?, the wonderful Carl Ikeme autobiography that he ghost-wrote. Ian Winter rang him while we were together to say that the piece he had done and recorded with the keeper would be going out this Friday on BBC Midlands Today and not, as first planned, in the build-up to tonight’s home game against West Ham.

Monday, December 9: Pleased to see that Nouha Dicko is doing a tidy job in the latest posting in his varied and well-travelled career. The former Wolves striker is on loan at Vitesse Arnhem and apparently finding the Dutch top flight to his liking. Good luck to him.

Thursday, December 12: Another European night, another brilliant win, this time 4-0 over Besiktas. The lively Costa Coffee ‘pre-match’ on this occasion was spent with Richard Skirrow and John Lalley, then I enjoyed seeing after the game that Ted Farmer had been on corporate duty in the Hayward Suite, using a few left-over copies of his autobiography to raise money for dementia charities.

Saturday, December 14: Had a phone catch-up with Rob Kelly and was surprised to hear that he and Uwe Rosler had left Malmo, who were pipped to the Swedish title on the last day of the season. I had sent a congratulatory text to Rob – and sensed his very buoyant mood – after seeing that the league runners-up had won away to local rivals Copenhagen on Thursday teatime and booked their place in the Europa League knock-out stages. Where will the managerial duo pop up next?

Sunday, December 15: Some game this! Sickening though the final moments were of Wolves’ clash with Tottenham, what an epic battle it was. Hugely intense, magnificent atmosphere, largely high on quality. What a pity Spurs can still be a regular thorn in the side of Wolves – a point no doubt shared by the present Andy Thompson and Mel Eves.

Monday, December 16: Bumped into former Molineux director Doug Hope in what we would both still prefer to call Beatties and agreed how much we had enjoyed yesterday’s match despite the nasty sting in the tail. Left us both longing for much more……with Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool to come to Molineux in the next month.

Wednesday, December 18: Still find myself looking out for Paul Darby on our local streets as he lived here for a while some years back. It was at least good to see the former Molineux physio rushing away from the stadium after the recent home win over West Ham.

Friday, December 27: Talking of epic games, what can we add about Wolves 3 Manchester City 2? Simply stunning! Andy Townsend and Fred Eyre were among the former players attending this time and, along the first-floor Billy Wright Stand corridor, Harry Redknapp was in situ on a rare visit to Molineux in his role as TV studio pundit.

Sunday, December 29: Was flattered to arrive in the media room at Anfield with BBC WM’s Mike Taylor and Mel Eves this afternoon and quickly learn that the Liverpool programme had quoted Wolves Heroes at some length in a super piece about Emlyn Hughes. What an honour! Enjoyed the game, too, despite the narrow defeat but regretted not seeing Matt Murray, who was confined to a Sky Sports studio in the opposite corner of the ground.