Cup Clash An Unmissable Double Attraction

“If there’s anything you want me to do while I’m there, just say”…..the words Wolves staff were delighted to hear on Friday afternoon.

“If there’s anyone more in love with football than him, we haven’t found them yet”….the words of Paul Berry in introducing the said individual to diners in the Billy Wright Stand corporate rooms several hours later.

So much has changed but, in terms of the underlying feelings, everything is the same. Paul Cook still adores Wolves, drops in on games played by his beloved Liverpool whenever he can and is compelling listening.

Five minutes on the mic in the International Lounge and the same in the Hayward Suite reminded us exactly why these are the two clubs closest to his heart.

I suspect he’d rather have been among the 4,800-strong Liverpool following than clutching tickets for the Fallowfield Lounge and the posh seats but he seemed genuinely delighted to be back at the club for whom he made 214 appearances from 1989 to 1994.

“When I was here, that huge South Bank was divided with the away fans on the left and Wolves fans on the right,” he told guests. “Keith Pearson and Dot Wooldridge were among the lovely people running the club.

“I absolutely loved it here but my big disappintment was in us not being good enough to win promotion to the top division at that time.

“Look at this place now….it was always a massive club but I hope you are very proud of what has been achieved despite the fact this season has obviously been difficult.”

Cook diplomatically brushed over the subject of the long-range winner he once struck for Stockport at home to Mark McGhee’s Wolves but was happy to open up about the sending-off he suffered on his last playing appearance at Molineux.

The Dave Jones era here was around its mid-point when he lined up in claret and blue early in the second-tier 2002-03 season – in the colours of Burnley, that is, rather than Villa or West Ham.

“We were up against a strong side containing Paul Ince, Alex Rae and Nathan Blake,” he added. “We were told (by manager Stan Ternent) to defend for a point – a low block as it would be called now – which was an order I totally disagreed with.

“As Steve Bull (Cook gestures across the room to a familiar face) would confirm, I hadn’t got a tackle in me but I caught Alex that day with a poor challenge after a minute and was sent off. By two minutes past three, I was stood in the tunnel next to my three kids, who were mascots for the day.”

Shropshire-based son Kieran was in tow three nights ago and Dad couldn’t afford to cut loose…..he had an EFL game to prepare for with Chesterfield hosting Shrewsbury the following afternoon. 

We hope he will return in the coming months and know for sure from past experience that his unshakeable Merseyside roots will see to it that he is back at Anfield for a Champions League or Super Sunday occasion soon. And if Liverpool get to a final, take it as read that he’ll be there.

He spoke of football management being ‘brutal now’ but don’t fret. In the race for a fourth managerial promotion, he added: “I’m still loving it.”

This was the first time I had seen him at the stadium since he called time on a playing career of more than 700 games, our recent meetings having come at Chesterfield or on various away-days at Wrexham, Halifax and Walsall.

And I am reminded of the comment he made on the first of those trips. The Spireites had gone nine National League games without a win when they pitched up at the Racecourse but he still said: “Every day spent working in football is a good day.”