First of all, I would just like to say how chuffed I am to have received the Wolves Blog Postcard!
It came as a bit of a shock to me, when I was thinking about what to write for this blog, that it is coming up to the 45th Anniversary of when I first fell under the spell of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.
April 15th 1969. Wolves at home to Coventry City.
I’ve told the story in a previous blog. It was the day that I had the bizarre photograph taken that appears next to my attempts at wit and wisdom on the blog. The game finished 1-1, it wasn’t a particularly good match. Peter Knowles stood out as a potential George Best impersonator but, that apart, there was not much to report…
Except that a seed had been sown inside the heart of the callow youth that I was then which over the years has grown into a full blown love affair.
Up until then I had watched Birmingham City play a couple of times (Francis, Latchford et al) without really being grabbed by the vitals. And, because I was born and bred there, Oxford United when ‘Big Ron’ was their captain. I think everyone is allowed ‘another team’ and Oxford United is certainly that for me. I admit that I went to Wembley a few years back when they got back into the Football League through the play offs and shouted myself hoarse with the best of them.
But when it all boils down to it, Oxford is like a member of the family. A brother that I was brought up with.
It was there, I was there.
But when you become REALLY involved with a football team, it’s like getting hooked on drugs.
Or falling in love with your mistress – or toyboy.
It’s a decision that you choose to make and, whatever the consequences of that decision, you are stuck with it.
For life!
You’ll have great highs – Stuffing Arsenal 5-1 in the snow, beating Leeds 2-1 when they were odds on to win the double, watching The Doog or Waggy or Johnny Richards or Bully in their pomp.
And you’ll have gut-wrenching lows – we all know what they have been like. I’m not prepared to start listing them here.
But even when your lover – your drug of choice – is treating you like shit…. you still go crawling back.
And, over all these years, that’s the way it’s been for me.
Being a Wolves fan is a difficult business. But some poor sucker has to do it and it might just as well be me.
…And you lot aren’t going to get away with it either!
But even us Wolves fans have a right to be optimistic and right now I certainly am.
I am beginning to think that this time it could be the start of something really good.
As such, I raise a metaphorical glass of alcoholical (?!) Yellow Tail to the man who has been largely responsible for the upturn in our fortunes.
Kenny Jackett!
And another glass – let’s make it real this time – to the members of his ‘Worldwide Barmy Army’.
US!!!!!!
Cheers all!
The pictures show what a beautiful part of the World I live in, steeped in history and with strange, ancient links to The Wolves.
Silbury Hill is one of the enigmas of the ancient World. A vast monolith. Nobody really knows why it’s there or what use it was – a bit like a certain Chief Executive we all know and love.
The stones at Avebury have stood, unmoving, for centuries. Just like The Wolves defence of the last couple of seasons (Not now though).
The White Horse at Alton Barnes overlooks the crop circle centre of (and the best pub in) the Universe and is the highest point in Wiltshire… Top!
Thanks for this Mark, it’s absolutely fantastic, as I said when you sent it me weeks and weeks back.
The video is brilliant. I can’t stop watching the Sako goal. Moments like that never look as good on the TV as they did live, but your viewing angle recreates the moment perfectly.
As for some of the other parts of the video, you are obviously a complete lunatic. God bless you sir.
Finally, apologies it’s taken me so long to put this fine effort up on site.
Cheers mate.
It was a pleasure doing it.
I’m glad my prediction of ending up top of the league turned out well.
Let’s hope my wish for a Golden Future proves equally true.
DoogGooder.
I was a training instructor in my career and the way you have put this together is truly brilliant, love, it loved the Doog, (Got his shirt on end of season pitch invasion) yes they used to happen then also. The book with the press cuttings, tell me you did’ny shed a tear looking at some of the memories, I got one from my son on my 60th, truly the best present he has ever bought me, I love it and pick it up and remember this day or that day. Thank you for this blog it captures what 99% of us bloggers are about, reading between the lines we are not teenagers on this site I think we are similay ages and mindsets.
It’s so strange the paths we travel and the turns we make on that path that forges us shapes our life and puts us on the road to the future. I always tell people that life is about phases and turning corners, you have to go through the phases, learn to walk, swim, drive, marriage, family then babysitting the Grandkids. But, turning corners shape us, we become an olympic swimmer by accident, someone sees potential, has a word with us and we turn that corner from being a leisure swimmer to dedicating our lives for a piece of gold around our neck, and so on with all the other phases.
The time in August I agreed to go to the Molineux with my mates as a 9 year old (54 years ago ) a phase, (going to watch a football match instead of playing on on the local pitcjh.) Stepping out of the tunnel onto the South Bank looking at the pitch, how does it look so green it’s only grass,but this time it burns an image on my brain that is impossible to erase. Then the crowd 45000 in those days, screaming for their heros and shouting at the ref. some things just never change. Now we are on fire again, all because of Kenny Jackett, we don’t feel a tinge of embarrassment at some of the numpties we had to endure in the name of Wolves, but now we have players dying for the fans, kicking each other on the nose just to stop a goal, wanting to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
You brought it out beautifully, sharing it with your wife, girlfreind lover whoever, but most importantly sharing it with her, and then us, good piece of work mate, very good.
Thanks
Yes DOOGooder! Great blog, great video, and now i’m enjoying listening to Jagwar Ma as filmed by yourself while I write this!
Look forward to meeting you on the 3rd, and maybe even again at Jagwar Ma’s Glasto set, that one’s definitely on my list!
UTW
Hi DOOG just watched the vid on my lunch break absolutely great made my day.
Fc*k*ng brilliant
All I can say is I am glad I was the first with the postcard, as that presentation will be hard to beat!!
Extremely well done, must have taken ages.
Looking forward to May 3rd, now unofficially Wolves Bloggers Day !
Great video DOOGooder. So evocative. The Doog was my hero, along with John Lennon and Vincent Van Gogh, when I was a kid in the sixties. Feels like GOODtimes are back with Mr Jackett as well, here’s hoping no one at Old Trafford has been watching our exploits this season.
Well that tops it all !
You have set the bar so high for anyone who follows with a “Postcard” . They will be brave to have a go! I certainly wouldn’t attempt one.
I thoroughly enjoyed your account of your love affair and the video had me chuckling and weeping at the same time.
If ever I needed an aid to “educate” my wife ( non Football fan ) with the Wolverhampton Wanderers passion this is it.
Looking forward to the “Meet” on May 3rd.
My love of the Wolves covers pretty well the same period as StuWolf’s above – the last 53 years for me. But I only came to the Blog last summer and it has really added to the joys of this season. I guess for all of us some individual bloggers stand out and DOOGooder is one of them for me, so it was great to see his blog postcard. And what a stand-out postcard it is! One of my early recollections of the blog was his reference to going to Glasto last summer, which led to my and other questions about the Wolves flag in front of the stage and the blogging around that. I have the news cuttings book too to keep taking me back.
I fell for the Wolves in ’61, due to the fame of the team at that time, a best friend who was a Wolves fan (but then defected to Villa, poor man) and my dad who went to at least one of those famous European nights from our home in Lincolnshire, 80+ miles away. And despite never living in or near Wolverhampton, they have stayed firmly in my blood. The Foxes, Posh and Forest were my nearest teams, but could never match up! Living in Derbyshire now, I can at least get to 6-8 games a season. The Old Gold and Black is an essential part of that love – Wolves are G&B and G&B = Wolves. There’s a blog somewhere in the issue of lilac and other away kits! It has to be the gold and black.
I’m looking forward to the last celebratory home game – but have I missed the final arrangements for the bloggers’ gathering?
Finally, all the best to the DOOGooder, and to ‘Mrs DG’ who plays such a vital part in his postcard and posts!!
Peakwolf.
Talk with Clive, he may give you his e-mail to get the details.
clivethefenceman@yahoo.com
Ask me anything, and for a small fee, you may get a reply!!
The question is……..have I missed anything about details of the 3 May Bloggers’ pre-match beano? The small fee is…….a beer on the day, if I get there. UTWB.
Nice to see you wearing the best football shirt of all time. That alone is enough for a seven year old lad to choose Wolves in 1973. My first game was January 74 and I thought we’d be going to Wembley every year.
This blog is a great read for any fan and all the regular contributers as well as Thomas and Ben should be congratulated. Two more victories and we can all have a good summer
You’re talents are truly boundless DOOGooder. An amazing video summarizing the path that many of us ‘more mature’ bloggers share, from the late fifties to the present day. We all worship our heroes and treasure the moments that stick in our memories. Being a fellow Wolves fan provides common values and dreams.
Look forward to hopefully meeting you on Wolves Bloggers day .. May 03…
Love it at the moment. Baggie fan at work today said he was expecting some banter from me the last few days. Said I am waiting to see where they end up first. I warned em you see at the end of last season. ‘What goes around comes around’ I said (slightly sheepishly). Excellent video above by the way. Some nice clips of Bully and Mutchy which was my era at the 88 SVT final. Right oh, couple of days until Cov away on the 8.59 from Wolvo in time for 10.30 beer at Northampton. Best wishes all. We know what we are, we know what we are !!!
Bostin piece DOOGooder.
Great insight into your personal love affair with all things Old Gold.
Not quite a Camberwell Carrot, but the Doog sounds an enjoyable toke.
Scared to get the post card now, as nobody will be able to match that account.
I have loved your posts since I found the blog, and it was nice to read a little further into how the Doog ticks and some background on your true passion.
Sad I won’t be there on the 3rd May. It would be great to meet yourself and other fellow bloggers at the end of season party.
Maybe next season.
Up the Wolves. Get in Me Babbies. Jackett’s Barmy Army ay stopping yet!!!
Cracking blog doogooder !! Loved every minute if it…amazing memories of our beloved Wolves xxx
Well played that man ! 😉
Loved the write up Mark and the video was excellent.
Born in West Wales it may seem odd to some people that I support the Wolves but my dad was a fan and kept on about them. We went to see the Blackpool illuminations on 19th Septembe 1959 and it just happened that Blackpool were at home to Wolves that day 🙂
I was 6 and my first taste of proper football and although we lost 3-1 I still have memories of that match.
A lot has happened to me since then but Wolves have always been in my heart and always will.
I am looking forward with great optimism and much excitement to the future of this glorious club.
Thanks again for the great blog and video
P.S. as you probably know Katherine has deserted me for some American chap so it’s only myself and Kylie at the moment. It’s a hard life…………
🙂
Great stuff Doog.
Me and auntie Kay have just enjoyed watching you both on the vid.
Absolutely spliffing effort old boy.
When this popped up, no-one had commented, so I was quite chuffed I was the first. Coming back on, I realised that I had not posted it and therefore am not the first!!! That waffle aside, I just say “awesome”, “totally awesome”. As said before, when (hint hint) I get the postcard I will have difficulty following this. Looking forward to the 3rd. I believe that that will be one brilliant day, and cant wait to meet some fellow bloggers. Keep smiling, we are Champions!
UTW/FOWB
Just watched the vid DooGooder,bloody fantastic,class.
Enjoyed looking back on old memories of the wolves past teams,
and now the future.
It would be great if they played the liquidator for the Carisle game.