Alun Evans, the former Molineux teenage star who Wolves Heroes were delighted to track down last May, is back in the UK.
We were just setting off for a meeting with Frank Munro earlier this week when we bumped into the one-time England under-23 international and his daughter Abbey in Wolverhampton city centre.
His mother still lives close to his roots, in Kidderminster, and he said: “I’m back here for a few weeks, as I usually am at this time of year. But you’re lucky to catch me in Wolverhampton! I don’t spend that much time here.”
Evans, who lives in Melbourne, has turned 60 since we spoke to him at length 12 months ago.
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Malcolm Finlayson is pleased with the outcome of the cataract operation he had earlier this month. “People have been joking that I should have had it done 50 years ago when I was in goal for the Wolves!” he says.
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Jody Craddock has set up a fun day at Kidderminster’s Cookley Playing Fields this Sunday (May 16) in aid of the Foundation for the Study of Instant Deaths.
Molineux Player of the Year has helped organise a barbecue, bouncy castle and other family activities from 12 noon until 3pm, with framed, match-worn and signed Wolves shirts for sale. Further information is available from www.fsid.org.uk
Craddock’s official sponsor, People Plus Recruitment Ltd, will be represented by their managing director Jason Guy in the Lake Vyrnwy half-marathon on Sunday, September 12.
Jason has chosen the Wolverhampton-based charity Promise Dreams as beneficaries of his strenuous efforts and can be sponsored by clicking on www.justgiving.com/jasonguyhalfmarathon
People Plus recently featured in a charity match against Wolves All Stars that raised more than £4,000 for the Haiti Earthquake Appeal. They are based at Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, where they had a visit from Frank Munro for the opening of their office last autumn.
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The prolific former Molineux forward has done considerable work in the past with ex-Aussie batsman Justin Langer and Somerset, where his son Richard is the chief executive.
And word of his popular approach was carried to Lord’s by coach Richard Johnson, a former fast bowler who was capped three times in Tests by England and who moved from Somerset to Middlesex in 2007.
“I think all sportsmen just enjoy a change of face and voice at their sessions every now and again,” Gould said. “I try to put a fun side on what is the important job of keeping fit and in the groove.”