Five years ago – virtually to the day – I was scurrying along Waterloo Road, desperate not to miss a pre-match tribute to Peter Broadbent in the Football League Trophy.
The smattering of applause in a ghostly stadium for an all-time great made me cry, more for the painful inadequacy of the send-off than the fact the legend had gone. Jake Cassidy, George Elokobi and Bjorn Sigurdarson clapping about a player they’d have never touched back in the day, when floodlights shone for 50,000 against Budapest Honved rather than 7,000 versus Notts County.
‘Damn you Wolves,’ I quivered, as a lone bugler pierced a deathly night – in my mind at least – before the blackening Wolves appalled.
I remember little of the game itself, other than the fact I had to be there. In fact, in over 30 years of supporting Wolves I would seldom miss a match like this. It’s 100% my fare. My meat and drink.
So work this one out then…
…For the first time in 31 years of ravenously devouring such tripe, I completely forgot we had a home match last Tuesday night. Blissfully driving home from Leamington Spa, listening the football phone-in on WM and I nearly crashed my car when Paul Franks went around the grounds for team news, starting at Molineux?! Come again Franksy? You what? Not a clue.
I felt like a fraud. Like one of those fans I’d scale a Sherpa Van to swerve.
Without going all Freudian on my shocking oversight, I have concluded that I am possibly the definition of a ‘glory-dodger’, subliminally circumnavigating the good times after enduring so much dross to finally see them. It probably sums me up well enough; my mind often consumed by the bad times when the good ones are staring me in the mush.
Am I alone here? A wet and wild night at Oakwell as relegation beckons? Count me in! A light show and pyrotechnics at the Golden Palace to greet Nuno’s Premier League heroes? I’m sorry, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.
So many forgettable, inconsequential games have played out to a Last Post soundtrack in my mind for so long that I’m not sure what to do now. So disorientated am I that I don’t even know when we’re playing in the first place.
Where once the blogs would runneth over, the pen now runs dry. In my own mind’s eye, I was Wolves Blog’s self-appointed statesman and investigator rolled into one. Like a mingled Roger Cook and Erin Brockovich, I was the eyes and ears of the brethren once, holding the hierarchy to account when our great club was being corrupted.
The rage that burnt when a legend’s memory was smeared with a tin of Johnstone’s Paint would have prompted me to wage war, yet when the good times finally roll I don’t know where I left my notepad – if I even knew they were happening.
What this makes me I’m not quite sure. A masochist? Most definitely. A pessimist? Maybe.
Like a once-stricken animal being released back into the wild, I’m just relieved that we’re back in our natural habitat, galloping free from pain and constraint.
The cameras have it captured and the world is now watching…
…The fact I didn’t felt utterly ludicrous, but if everyone is happy then that’s good enough for me.
I think you’re too hard on yourself mate. Multiple generations of Wolves supporters are hard wired to always expect the worst after decades of misery, so this is unchartered territory for many of us.
From a blogging perspective it’s certainly more challenging to come up with worthwhile discussion points when the club is running like a well oiled machine, that’s for sure.
But football fans by their very nature are never satisfied for long, so I’m sure even if current standards are maintained there will be mutiny in the years to come if we’re not pushing hard for the top four. It’s all about perspective.
I’m just trying to savour every moment. We all deserve it.
Bang on mate. And I always feel a bit sycophantic jumping on a ‘didn’t they do well’ bandwagon, even when I’m walking in the air at how we’re playing (like Gods) at the moment.
So, it’s not that I or many others enjoy moaning, it’s just a case of letting the good times roll and basking in the pleasure of having Nuno and the boys marmalise the opposition.
Let’s face it, it’s been a bloody lkng time coming.
Ben, you’re as great a supporter of this club pretty much as there is period.
Give yourself a break, in the world we now live in everything is 100mph and with a young family to boot its hardly surprising occasionally things like a Carabou cup game against Leicester at home gets missed.
No doubt you saw Southampton or will be seeing one of the home games that will follow.
Lets keep smiling prior to the 60’s there hasn’t been a better happier more optimistic time to be a Wolves fan.
…and for me setting up this blog gives you a free pass from when it appeared onwards in perpetuity anyway.
It’s old age, Benny Boy, it catches up with all of us eventually, and I am not surprised it has hit you at your tender years.
Having an old man like wot you have would put decades on anyone!!
Us really old farts never thought we would ever see this kind of football in gold and black again, and I for one am rubbing my eyes in disbelief, and enjoying every second.
Talking of really, really old farts, a very Happy 85 th Birthday to our own STUWOLF!
Have a bostin day, ar kid
Marla sends kisses as well.
Message to Martha – Brotherhood Of Man! #gutted
Bloody predictive text!!!
Marla! Message to Marla!!
The Vandellas supported her well.
I went to my first Wolves match and had the best time! Thanks for the hospitality!
STUWOLF
You never said a word this morning at the ticket office, I could have used it as an excuse to give you a big kiss!!
Very many happy returns from the both of us and have a great day.
ps only joking about the kiss!
Lifes a Bitch, if I didn’t have my bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.
Ah well, we can work on the kissing bit later.
Got our tickets for Brighton and Mansfield Checkertrade jobby, talked to you on Saturday about Tuesday’s arrangements.
Enjoy the good times; as this is not a false dawn as promised by our owners. We remember how we had laboured during the low periods of the 80s to 2014 of our beloved wolves. May this new wolves be a revolution that runs and runs till we become great again as in the 50s.
Don’t worry about it Bernard… Brian…. Oh! What’s your name again?
Man was put on this Earth to worry and be depressed. When we haven’t got those things to concentrate our tiny minds we go all to pot.
I, of course, still have loads of things to worry and be depressed about so I’m in no danger of forgetting any matches.
On another note, happy birthday to Stu!
Same age as me according to Clive but then again, he’s got nothing to worry about so what does he know.
Talking about birthdays:-
Me and the PMDG’er were driving back from watching Wolves beat Southampton at the weekend and coming down Rowden Hill out of Chippenham we passed by the spot that is little remembered now, but still marked by a small memorial plaque.
It was the place where Eddie Cochran had his fatal car crash in 1960. There was a gathering of people, a lot wearing Teddy Boy drapes, and several old American cars parked up. We were in traffic so couldn’t really stop or take in the scene properly but I feel it’s good that he’s still remembered.
He was good looking, had a great voice was a multi-talented musician and wrote his own songs (many now classics). He could have been bigger than Elvis but died at the age of 21.
His birthday is on October 3rd.
He would have been 80. Just five years younger than Stu and me.
I shall certainly be raising a glass to him on Wednesday.
‘C’mon Everybody!’
You’re not alone Ben. I think there’s a pessimistic streak in most Wolves fans – and I guess that is not surprising considering what the club has gone through in the last 40 years or so.
There was so much that was good about last season that I’ve still got a warm glow thinking about it (and I’ve even got the book WE ARE WOLVES- CHAMPIONS). This season so far has exceeded all my expectations and I’m just trying to savour each game as it comes. The fact that we have so much quality in the team (and management) fills me with more hope about our future direction than many a season gone.
Haven’t seen that book yet Exiled, but I did buy “Nuno Had a Dream” last week by Dave Harrison. Only had time for a quick flick through so far, but looks a good read and a must have for my expanding Wolves library.
It is £14.99 in the club shop with, I assume, delivery on top.
I got mine from the Book Depository online, £10.29 with free delivery worldwide, I live in Nunoland so it only took 3 days to get it. There’s a brief resume on the site order page for anyone interested.
Sorry Lowves, only just gone back on the Blog.
The book I mentioned is big and glossy and came out in the summer. It has a month by month review of last season. A nice coffee table book.
I dare say I will be further expanding my Wolves collection of books and dvds (much to my wife’s annoyance).
Any tickets going spare for Arsenal away Sunday 11 nov. Need 3 if any chance. Fuckin Wolves ay we
WOLVES AY WE… Doe giv a fuck..
Who would blame anybody of us
to pass over certain fixtures due to nonplussed interest..
I was thinking just how long it’s been to assess the often misery
of a Wolves fan..and now…..
It’s almost too much to comprehend that traditional normality is resumed..
A quantum leap…
I’m repeating this post from the last thread. I know that a lot of people on the way to matches don’t get a chance to watch Football Focus on the Beeb but you have got to watch this one!
Ignore the reference to curry, it’s all gone now:-
I’ve just had my lunch (the leftovers from a takeaway curry from Friday night)
Mmmm! Curry!
and decided to watch Saturday’s Football Focus.
What a brilliant advertisement for Wolves!
I expect most of the people on here have already seen it but, if you haven’t, give it a look.
Mmmm! Wolves!
Totally agree, Mark, a great advert for the club. I watched it again last night and was proudly pointing out bits and pieces to anyone who would listen (in this case my sister in law).
And, while I’m at it, the Wolves Celebratory Exhibition is still on at Wolverhampton Art Gallery until late this month. Worth a visit.
Yes, we saw that the last time we came up.
Certainly worth a look.
Don’t beat yourself up over forgetting about a match being on Ben, I am sure loads of us have done that, I certainly have.
I do recall coming home from work one Tuesday evening, and the wife saying to me “I thought you were going to Molineux tonight?”. My tkt was laid onthe kitchen countertop. As it was 6.30 and it takes me over 3 hours to get there I was a bit peeved.
I do admit to that not being the only time too!
dear ben,
doe worry about missin the game we wor very good anyroadup and i ay bothered cause it was only the poxy caramel cup.
love nuno xxx.
( wolves ay we)
missed a game !!!!!
I packed a rucksack in November 86 and left the English winter for six months Australia, Asia , for the first time in my then short life I tried to convince myself that I wasn’t into football anymore, wolves were shit , the only news coming from the club was of liquidation and misery and I had surf , sea and adventure on my mind
Whilst away I stumbled on a weekly newspaper of British soccer, wolves had just won .. again
A couple of weeks would pass spent in wierd and remote places and I’d then find another copy of said paper
Wolves had won again… and the Same guy had scored again,,, interesting I thought , by the time I’d returned to blighty the whole (to quote Southbank resistance) zeitgeist had changed, Of course I hadn’t fallen out with football, I’d just got all my enthusiasm sucked out of me , I’d gone from a lad who’s almost only interest was wolves to not being too fussed and while I’m at it , I didn’t go to the chorley game either, but I do have masses of respect for all who did
Things have gone full circle though, it would have been impossible for me to not know of a wolves game in the last few years at least as it’s all over my phone and iPad which is checked half a dozen times a day, if only I had one of those in 86
Utw
Ben sums up the eternal misery of being a Wolves fan. Now supplanted by glowing tributes on MOTD to our heroes and easy on the eye footy. I still cor believe it such is the lumpen mediocrity fused in to my brain. At the end of another drab season the conversation with those around me in the NB would be about whether or not to renew for next season. As always the answer was ‘it could be the year next season’ and renew we did. As usual. Never in great hope or expectation. And then came the Revolution from the far East and after a few teething troubles we have never looked back. Even now the anticipation is for more. Ambitions backed by investment. It is all a blur. I kind of miss the 0-0 draw at Grimsby away on a cold Tuesday night in November and a few pints in The Leaking Boot around the corner. With a free juke box. I think I am gonna take some time to adjust to the Molineux Revolution.
Whilst remanicing of the days gone by, some missed matches, some missed days I’d ask you all to spare a thought for the stripy imbreds down the road!
When we last played ‘the shite’ & as a result lost marlevous mick, they were (& it really pains me to say it) overall in a much better place than ourselves.
A decent manager, team & Jeremier Piss in charge.
But then change came about, we finally got rid of big M little organ & Poxey & in rolled Fosun & Jeff on their sturdy white steeds (or Range Rover sports..) uncle Jorge, we then got King Nuno of the Mol, a marvelous team & the most united (& noisiest) of Clubs in the whole of my tenure of being part of the 12th man. We got into & they got proper fecktoff from the Prem
So back to my statement above “spare a thought” today (well yesterday now) The Shite signed Mr B Sako – now I’m not gonna dis Bakery – but it’s great to see their heady ambitions of signing a wanderers reject whilst we’re signing the likes of Joao, Rubes, Et all.
Carma? Not sure but certainly what goes around comes around.
PS couldn’t give a flying fhook about playing um next year – hope they dither in the Chump for many years to come.
Up the Wolves proper FOwb
I have been exiled in London since 1970 but usually get to every London game with an old friend who started watching the Wanderers along with me in the early 1950’s. Getting tickets is usually easy through our Wolves Membership, and if that is sold out before we can purchase tickets it’s usually easy to get tickets from the London club’s ticket office. Until Crystal Palace that is, who won’t sell tickets to ordinary plebs like me and now are completely sold out.
Anyone who has two tickets going begging for the Palace on Saturday I’ll gladly pay for them.
Me too exiled in London since 1969 in my floppy floppy hat…and me too looking to prize 2x tickets from the hand of a very kindifferent wolves fan..
Couple of comments completely off topic.
First, I find it impossible to do anything but laugh uncontrollably at the Old Trafford situation.
All the press and media coverage, ad nauseum, about those poor little 400 grand a week lambs throwing their toys out of their gilded prams, and Maureen crying and blaming everyone and his dog for the plight they are in.
No team has a right to be successful all the time, and if you buy the wrong players and manager, thinking that just throwing money at the so called super stars will bring instant success, then you are delusional.
If, back in the fifties, there was the blanket media coverage of today, then we would have had the same situation, a fading team, eventually, and all the questions as to why being thrown around.
It happens to all the greats, look at the likes of Forest, Leeds and Derby, to name but a few.
It would be great if United got relegated, and watch them play in a half empty stadium week after week, coz I’m sure the prawnies would stay away.
Secondly, I see Bakary Sako has finally given up football.
Not able to cut it with Palace of all teams, in the Prem, he has wandered like Noah in the desert for 40 days ( Probably wrong bloke, but never really read that particular fairy tale book) and has washed up, quite literally, in sandwell.
Still want him back, Steve?
FOwb
No, Noah had lots of water.
The desert has noah water to speak of.
I knowah these things.
Noah it all !!!!!
I see that Villa have sacked Bruce. I guess that cabbage was the last straw.
Ben, returning to your blog, it seems to me that the inadequacy of the Peter Broadbent tribute is a wrong that should be righted. Now that Molineux is sold out for most matches maybe the club could use the halftime break to remember former players, living or passed away. It might go down better than the current ‘entertainment’.
I remember Steve Daley having (an occasional?) slot last season but it could be used also to remember players from earlier times…..a born this week slot, perhaps?
I know we are in forward thinking times right now but I nod to the past is good.
I agree wholeheartedly with that Dougie.
The half time ‘entertainment’ of showing two unfit people running half the length of the pitch and attempting to put on as many shirts as possible in a minute is, admittedly, top rate stuff, but, quite frankly, I’d rather watch paint dry or bang my head against the back wall of The Steve Bull for ten minutes.
A bit of Wolves history would suit me fine.
Breaking news,
Wolves are being featured on MOTD on BBC2 tomorrow night 10pm.
On the subject of Steve Bruce.
C MONN YOU. OWLS !!
And so it begins.
Gutted for Brucie!
I always thought he was the best part of Strictley.
A Brucie training session:-
“I’m in charge! ”
“Over ‘ere my love, over ‘ere!”
“Higher, higher, or is it lower?”
“Give us a twirl Jack. Keeeeeeeep diving”.
And on match days:-
“Good game, good game!”
“Nice to see you. To see you lose”.
“Bad luck my loves. Can you come back next week?”