Wolves’ last Everton double ended up a triple
WE are all well aware that the ‘success’ of our local teams is transient and something that is not measured in trophy laden seasons.
As for the Wolves at the moment, achievement is represented in the guarantee of five successive seasons in the top flight for the first time since 1982, two finishes in the top seven, one FA Cup semifinal, one Europa League quarter-final, and the hope of another continental adventure in 2022-23.
Given the lean nature of the last four decades or so, the Wanderers continue to record ‘firsts’ dating back to the 1970s. The most recent example of this was the completion of the first ‘double’ over Everton since the 1972-73 campaign. But most have forgotten that the Molineux men in fact achieved a treble over the Merseysiders that season.
Build-up
Wolves began their build-up to the new season in Sweden competing in the Sir Stanley Rous Cup. Having overcome local team Gais 4-3 on penalties, they beat Everton 2-1 in the final courtesy of goals from John Richards and Ken Hibbitt, and Frank Munro was voted man of the mini tournament. JR and Kenny would score five more goals against the Toffees that season.
The first league action between the two teams came at Goodison Park on 9th December 1972 in front of 24,170 spectators. On a day of glowering clouds and heavy rain the Wolves defence, with Frank Munro outstanding, soaked up everything that the Toffees could throw at them.
Close
Although both teams found the back of the net (through John Connolly and Derek Dougan) in the first half, neither counted, although the home team had the greater share of the attacking play.
As the second half wore on Wolves came into the ascendancy with John Richards coming close on two occasions, first being denied by goalkeeper David Lawson and then hitting the upright. After 76 minutes Wolves took the lead after Dave Wagstaffe had taken the ball through the Everton defence. His cross was cleared straight to Hibbitt who made no mistake from 15 yards. It proved to be the only goal of the game.
Just before the end of 1972 Tottenham Hotspur eliminated Wolves at the last four stage of the Football League Cup. In the New Year Wolves bounced back to enjoy a thrilling FA Cup run that took them to a semi-final on 7th April with Leeds United at Maine Road. Billy Bremner broke our hearts with the only goal of the game.
Despair
Although surely in the depths of despair after a second semi-final elimination there was still much to play for in the last seven league games with the small matter of European qualification at stake. The following Saturday Everton were the visitors, having recently parted company with their long-standing manager Harry Catterick. John Richards scored a fine
hat-trick in a 4-2 win, taking him to 32 for the season. It was his second of the campaign, having rattled three past Stoke City in a 5-3 victory the previous September.
Three
Towards the end of the 1972-3 season, John hit a purple patch, scoring 12 goals in 13 games. Three of them came in that win over Everton at Molineux. Speaking with me for the book, ‘Golden Balls’, that Steve Gordos and I wrote, John recalls the day:
“I can vividly remember the Everton goals. People often describe the first as my best ever goal – in hindsight it probably was. It was unusual for me because I scored with my left whilst my right has always been my stronger foot.
“It was against a good
Everton side at the time, and Gordon West was in goal, a cracking goalkeeper. We advanced down the left side towards the South Bank and Derek Parkin knocked this cross over, actually it
was behind me just on the edge of the 18-yard box. First of all I had to control it with my left foot and I knocked it a little bit to my right before turning to hit it. It just flew into the top far corner of the net. I
didn’t catch it on the volley, I caressed it to the side, it bounced up and I whacked it. It was one of those that could have knocked somebody out
on the South Bank but it was more memorable to me than the hat-trick against Stoke. It just happened, it was instinctive.
“It was probably the best goal I scored because I struck it so well with my left foot. It surprised a lot of people but just happened. I can always remember a friend of mine, Graham Davies, who was at the match. He always had this banter with a friend of his. He said: ‘He’s all right John Richards, he’s good at scoring goals but he hasn’t got a left foot.’ As the ball flew in, Graham said to him: ‘Hasn’t got a left foot?’
Doog
“For the second goal, again in the first half, the Doog broke away, he was just about to be tackled when he turned it to the side. It was just outside the box and the ball bounced up nicely for me and I whacked it with my right foot.
“Again, it went into the top corner past Gordon West. Those two goals were probably two of the best strikes I had hit and untypical goals for me – both from outside the box. The third came quite late on from a ball over the top from Bernard Shaw. Centre half John Hurst and I sprinted together for it as Gordon West came out. Just inside the box I got to the ball before John, and as Gordon came out I flicked it with the outside of my right foot to the side of him. It trickled into the North Bank net.”
Having the best goalscoring season of his career, John Richards ensured former England goalkeeper Gordon West had a busy day in one of his final games for Everton, this being his first appearance that season. Indeed, such was the striker’s form that his manager Bill Mcgarry, never one to go overboard, suggested it was time Sir Alf Ramsey gave Richards his chance.
Unbeaten
“I believe John is ready to give his country what he gives to Wolves,” said Mcgarry. Victory took Wolves’ unbeaten league run to nine games (five wins and four draws) and it gave most of the 21,775 present something to cheer about after the loss to Leeds a week earlier. Captain supreme Mike Bailey was back and he drove Wolves on to an emphatic win over the Toffees, with Richards showing an eye for goal that would ensure he would eventually become the club’s record scorer.
The opening goal on 22 minutes was something special. Derek Parkin was just inside the Everton half when he lifted the ball on to Richards, and, from the edge of the penalty area and in one splendid move, the young striker breasted the ball down, swivelled round and cracked it past West. In his Sporting Star report, John Dee wrote: “It was as good a goal as anyone will see for many a day.”
Five minutes later and Wolves were two up. Dougan’s speed took him past Roger Kenyon and he passed on to Richards who wasted no time with another beautifully-placed shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Wolves looked well in control but John Connolly reduced the arrears seven minutes before half-time. It was not until six minutes from time that Richards completed his hattrick. He raced on to a through ball from Bernard Shaw but looked to be outnumbered when West left his line and Hurst was in close attention.
Yet somehow Richards slipped the ball between the two of them and it rolled into the net. That goal was the first of three in the space of five minutes with Joe Harper pulling a goal back for Everton after 88 minutes when he stooped low to head in a Gary Jones cross. Kenny Hibbitt restored the twogoal lead within a minute, from a chance laid on by Derek Dougan after a pinpoint pass from leftwinger David Wagstaffe. Everton had three days earlier lost 4-1 at The Hawthorns to relegationbound Albion.
The two hat-tricks helped John total 36 goals in the 1972-3 season and earned him a place in Sir Alf Ramsey’s England squad. The British international championship was still in existence in those days and John was given a cap in the 2-1 win over Northern Ireland. The game was a home fixture for the Irish but the unrest in the province meant the match was played at Goodison Park. John was not played in his usual striking role but out wide on the left.
Fifth
He did not have a bad game but never received a second cap. Players like Martin Chivers of Spurs, Mike Channon of Southampton and Allan Clarke of Leeds were all ahead of him in the pecking order as far as Ramsey was concerned. Wolves’ fans would not agree with Sir Alf’s assessment.
Having completed a double over Everton, Wolves went on to finish in fifth place in the league with 47 points from 42 games (with three points for a win that would be 65). This remains their highest position in the top flight for 49 years ... and counting.