Keepsakes Aplenty Of The Prized Kind

Interested in the famous shirt that Peter Broadbent wore on the afternoon Wolves last lifted the FA Cup?

Or is recent history more your thing, with curiosity directed more, for example, to the design on view in the return to European action against Crusaders at the start of last season?

Whatever your specific area of fascination on Wolves jerseys, a new and fast-expanding website is aiming to further enlighten supporters on the history and whereabouts of such treasured possessions.

And followers are being encouraged to write about the shirt that means most to them – especially if it is one they have.

“I am sure there are a lot of old Wolves shirts out there that people have hidden away in their attics,” said Nick Walters, creator of the www.wolves-shirt-museum.co.uk site.

“I know there is quite a lot on social media about what people find, inherit or buy but they can be drowned out by all the posts that follow, so I am aiming to develop a dedicated digital record of as many different Wolves shirts as we can highlight.

“Steve Plant did a brilliant book on the subject a few years ago and I hope he will be contributing a blog to the site in the near future. He knows so much and has been kind enough to invite me for a look at his own personal museum.

“I work in education in Bristol and this just started as a hobby to help keep us sane during lockdown. But if it can smoke out a few more shirts that are hidden away, I know it will be interesting to a lot of fans.

“The market for shirts has gone mad and there are some serious collectors out there. I have no more than a modest collection, including the prototype of a 1970s shirt, but I love to hear the voices of others with the same interest.”

The Broadbent shirt in question is the no 10 one he wore in Wolves’ 3-0 Wembley victory over Blackburn almost 61 years ago, complete with town crest on the left breast.

It changed hands for substantial money, complete with statement of authenticity from the player’s family, the buyer no doubt leaving a host of other interested parties disappointed.

The site also generated wonderful publicity earlier this season by telling the story of the 1899-1902 gold and black shirt worn by left-winger Rich Gwilliam and unearthed by his Australia-based great-grandson Brad.

It is believed to be the oldest Wolves shirt still in existence and Tettenhall-born Nick added: “He describes the shirt as being made of cotton but of a flannelette quality. And considering its age, it is in fantastic condition.

“Several brilliant photos of it are shown on the site. It would be brilliant if ever an even older Wolves jersey was uncovered somewhere in the future because this goes back to a time when football was in its infancy.”