Was it really twenty years ago?
THESE photographs were taken at Molineux on 8 April 8, 2000 when Wolves beat Blackburn 2-1.
Goals came from a Kevin Muscat penalty and an Alan Nielsen strike. The wonderful Rachel Heyhoe-flint organised it for my daughter’s (Emily in gold shirt) 16th birthday.
Car park
Most of the pictures are taken on what used to be the players’ car park off Waterloo Road. Also in the photos is my son Tom (then aged 12).
In the pictures, spot the players: Andy Sinton, Michael Oakes, Havard Flo (her favourite), Simon Osborn, and Carl Robinson.
IT was celebrations aplenty for all Wolves supporters as they saw their team win the Third Division (N) championship, finishing just one point ahead of runner’s-up Rochdale after a tremendous end to an exciting campaign.
In fact, Wolves lost only three League games all season – all away at Accrington, Grimsby and Black Country neighbours Walsall. They remained unbeaten between 24 November and 6 April (20 matches) and during that superb spell they hammered New Brighton 5-1, Ashington 7-1 and Accrington 5-1.
Meanwhile, nine-and-a-half miles away at The Hawthorns, life wasn’t so good for the Baggies who struggled for long periods, and eventually just edged clear of relegation, thanks to two vital wins from their last three matches over third-placed Sunderland and fifth in the table Sheffield United.
Albion eventually finished seventh from bottom on 38 points with Chelsea and Middlesbrough both going down with 32.
Albion ran in two 5-0 wins – over Everton and Notts County, both at home – but they also crashed to a 5-0 home defeat at the hands of Bolton.
Walsall, on the other hand, also suffered a horrible season, finishing 17th in Division Three (North), 27 points adrift of Wolves.
The Saddlers never really got going despite winning four games in a row in September/ October. Indeed, they only won three of their last sixteen fixtures and at one stage were in deep, deep trouble.
But thankfully, several other clubs were also suffering and as a result the Saddlers just managed to squeeze clear of the drop-zone – helped by a surprise 2-1 home win over the champions Wolves!
Walsall’s biggest win was 5-2 at home to Doncaster while their heaviest defeat came away at Chesterfield where they were hammered 7-0.
In the 1923-24 FA Cup competition, Wolves accounted for Charlton Athletic and Darlington before going out in round three to the Baggies, who ousted Millwall and the Corinthians in rounds one and two. Albion then lost to Midland rivals Aston Villa in round 4.
Out
Walsall went out in the 6th qualifying round, beaten 1-0 at Aberdare.
Other club news … Wolves’ average home League attendance was 14,672 – the secondbest in the club’s history (at that time).
Harry Lees scored Wolves’ first-ever Third Division (N) goal in a 3-0 home win over Rotherham County in match two. Lees went on to become top marksman with 21 goals. Another top goalscorer – Tom Phillipson – joined Wolves for £1,000 in December 1923 and he went on to become a Molineux favourite.
Stars
During the course of the season two star players, both England internationals, left The Hawthorns – Fred Morris went to Coventry City and Sid Bowser moved to Walsall. Morris netted 118 goals for the Baggies while Bowser who played as an inside-forward and also at centre-half, struck 72.
Len Davies of Cardiff City became the first visiting player to score four goals in a game at The Hawthorns, in the Welsh club’s 4-2 win in November. And Albion’s reserves retained the Central League title, scoring 103 goals in their 42 matches.
Walsall, meanwhile, used 25 players in senior matches as manager Joe Burchell struggled to field a settled side, with no ever-presents.
And to add a bit more icing to their cake, Wolves went out and beat Aston Villa 2-1 in Birmingham Senior Cup final.