When the ‘seamless’ video walls resembled a crossword puzzle or the Southbank was awash with Tesco carrier bags, the hierarchy at our club copped some flak. And justly so.
As recently as January 30 they were at it again, charging preposterous prices for an FA Cup tie against Stoke City, including the best part of a tenner for a two-year-old toddler.
On Sunday at 3.55pm however, a team of diligent and quietly efficient workers planned and executed the most emotionally touching, thoughtful and poignant moments I have ever had the pride to witness.
While the passing of Dean Richards has touched us all since hearing the terrible news before the Blackpool game, the sheer gravity of the tragedy had never truly hit home until the moment Deano’s wife and children took to the pitch. Well, not by me at least.
My stiff upper lip softened within a micro second of seeing Deano’s brave wife and two precious boys set off on one of most daunting walks that they will ever have to face together.
Like their heroic father, they accomplished the task with effortless grace and earned the admiration of an extended family of Wolves fans.
It’s not even 24 hours since they stood alongside Don Goodman, Graham Taylor and co, and I can’t stop thinking of the three of them right now. Their journey back home. Their school run at 8am this morning.
Neither can I stop thinking of their Dad, who received his final – and most rousing – tribute from the stadium that sang him a hundred songs before.
Underpinning these emotions, these thoughts, is the club that made Deano a hero. Our club. Our beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers.
So in a message to Jez Moxey, Steve Morgan and every one of your team that was involved in proceedings on Sunday afternoon, thank you so much for putting the puff in my chest and the watery gaze in my eyes – that still refuse to dry.
When our Grandads and fathers tell us about our great, great moments of yesteryear, when old gold glistened under Molineux floodlights, we cherish their stories and tell our own kids. But ultimately, our generation has to take their word for it.
On Sunday afternoon in front of 29,000 fans, tens of millions of television viewers across the globe, Graeme Souness and Ray Wilkins in that little green box under the video wall, a glorious bygone era wasn’t required.
The whole world saw it, and might even have felt it in their throat for a second or two before kick-off.
They saw a class act, which I couldn’t be more bloody grateful to support right now.
Thank you Wolves.
Great blog!
Great tribute!
Great player, great person RIP!
Great tribute ben,It was good to see both fans connect with such a
poignant moment..
As said it was so courageous for deano’s family to appear on the pitch
to a worldwide audience,it made my eyes well up, so sad.
Well-done BEN Fitting tribute.
A guy called Chris sent me this link, which is to a load of video interviews outside Molineux on Sunday, where both sets of fans pay tribute to Deano. Quite nice I thought:
http://www.winkball.com/walls/nKp8B5ybO1TQ/wolves-v-tottenham-hotspur/
This post as with the tribute on Sunday brought that same teary glaze to my eyes.
Your passion and love for wolves makes this blog benny boy 😉
Keep it coming
Thanks Claire bear and johnok. Very kind. Thomas can feel free to blog something else as soon as, because I know we’ve all paid our tributes earlier in the week and want to talk football! I just had to write something to show my appreciation of the events prior to kick off.
I think I may have a little quiz up my sleeve at some point, if you can brace yourself for such excitement!!
Up the Wolves.
A very poignant and moving piece Ben which i hope his family gets to see. Ok, enough already. As for the quiz, could you try to ask some questions this time that someone might know the answers to!!
I thought you got all of those pictures right Martin?! Dazza from Brizza did, so when part 2 of the blog quiz commences, I will factor that in. Come to think of it, only 2 of you lot even bothered with it!!
I have already thought of one. Kevin Doyle scored his second penalty of the season. Which team did he notch his first against?
There you go, easy peezy.
Second question. How many penalties should we have had this season?
Answer: 65.
Enough! I will get working on something!
Or a you are the ref?
A player (james perch), challenges his marker (jarvis) in the area. From the challenge the ball rolls out over the goal line. Do you a) give a penalty, b) give a corner, as if he had won the ball it would be or c) give a goal kick?
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