Wolverhampton Wanderers FC - Back to the Big Time!

[lukemeister360]

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Back to the Big Time!






Club Details
Full Name: Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Location: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England
Nicknames: Wolves, The Wanderers
Founded: 1877 (as St. Luke's)
Main Rivals: West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City
Other Rivals: Aston Villa, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Derby County,Coventry City, Leicester City

Stadium: Molineux Stadium (capacity 28,525)
League: Football League Championship
Previous Season: 7th, Football League Championship

Manager: Mick McCarthy
Chief Executive: Jez Moxey
Owner: Steve Morgan

Club Honours
Division One Champions: 1953/54, 1957/58, 1958/59
FA Cup Winners: 1893, 1908, 1949, 1960
(runners up: 1889, 1896, 1921, 1939)
Division Three North Champions: 1923/24
Division Two Champions: 1931/32, 1976/77
Division One Play-off Winners: 2003
Division Four Champions: 1987/88
Division Three Champions: 1988/89
League Cup Winners: 1974, 1980
Sherpa Van Trophy Winners: 1988
Texaco Cup Winners: 1971
UEFA Cup Runners Up: 1972
FA Community Shield Winners: 1949 (shared), 1954 (shared), 1959 (outright), 1960 (shared)
Football League War Cup Winners: 1942

Club Records
Attendance: 63,315 vs. Liverpool 1939 FA Cup Round 5
Gate Receipts: £319, 142 vs. Arsenal 1999 FA Cup Round 4
Best League Win: 10 - 1 vs. Leicester 1938 Division 2
Worst League Loss: 10 - 1 vs. Manchester United 1892 Division 1
Best Cup Win: 14-0 vs. Creswell's Brewery 1886 FA Cup Round 2
Most Capped Player: Billy Wright (England), 105 caps
Most League Appearances: Derek Parkin, 501 appearances
Most League Goals: Steve Bull, 250 goals, 1986-1998
Most Goals in a Season: Dennis Westcott, 38 goals, 1946/47 Division 1


Club History

The team was founded as St. Luke's in 1877 by John Baynton and John Brodie after a group of pupils at St Luke's school in Blakenhall had been presented with a football by their headmaster Harry Barcroft. Two years later, they merged with local cricket and football club The Wanderers, to form Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club was given the use of two fields - John Harper's Field and Windmill Field - both off Lower Villiers Street in Blakenhall in its early years. From there, they moved to a site on the Dudley Road opposite the Fighting ***** Inn in 1881. The club became one of the twelve founders of the English Football League in 1888 and finished the inaugural season in a creditable third place, as well as reaching their first ever FA Cup Final, losing 3-0 to the first "Double" winners, Preston North End.

Wolves' most notable period of success was during the 1950s. In 1947 Wolves just missed out on the 1st Division Championship to Liverpool, and a year later Stan Cullis, who the previous season was on the books as a player, became manager. In his first season, he led Wolves to a first major honour in 41 years as they beat Leicester City 3-1 in the FA Cup Final, and a year later, only the goal average prevented the First Division title being won.








(Stan Cullis' statue outside Molineux Stadium)

Captained by Billy Wright, Wolves finally claimed the league championship for the first time in 1954, overhauling fierce rivals West Bromwich Albion late in the season. In this period, football played under floodlights was still a novelty. The summer of 1953 saw the first set of lights installed at Molineux, which were first tested in a friendly game against a South African XI. Over the next months, Wolves played a series of "floodlit friendlies" against foreign opposition. Beginning with Racing Club of Argentina, they also played Spartak Moscow of the USSR, before meeting Honvéd of Hungary in a game televised live on the BBC. The Honved team included many of the "Magical Magyars" team who had humbled England twice. Wolves won the game 3-2, beating the Hungarian side despite having been 2-0 down at half time, which led many, including Cullis, to proclaim Wolves "Champions of the World"

The 1955/56 season saw the first staging of the European Cup. Spartak Moscow, Dynamo Moscow and Real Madrid all came to Molineux and were beaten. Wolves were also league champions in 1958 and 1959, and in 1960 became the first team to pass the 100 goal mark for three seasons in succession. Coming agonisingly close to a hat-trick of titles and the first "double" of the twentieth century, Wolves finished just one point behind Burnley and had to make do with a fourth FA Cup win, beating Blackburn Rovers 3-0 in the final.

The 1960s saw a decline for Wolves and Cullis was sacked in 1964. Wolves were relegated in the 1964/65 season, but their stint outside the top flight lasted only 2 seasons.








(Andy Gray celebrates with his team-mates after winning the 1980 League Cup Final at Wembley)

The club's return to the English top flight heralded another period of relative success, finishing the 1970–1971 season in 4th place, qualifying them for the newly created UEFA Cup. Stars of this era included Derek Dougan, Kenny Hibbitt and Frank Munro. Wolves reached the UEFA Cup final this season, but lost on aggregate to Tottenham Hotspur over 2 legs. In 1980 Wolves produced one of the shocks of League Cup history, defeating reigning European Champions Nottingham Forest 1-0 at Wembley, with Andy Gray scoring the winner.

Another decline followed in the 1980s, with Wolves slipping all the way down to Division Four after three consecutive relegations. However, Graham Turner was appointed as manager in 1986 and with it came 2 successive promotions as Steve Bull scored 50+ goals in League and Cup competitions in both seasons. This earned him a place in Bobby Robson's England squad for the 1990 World Cup.

In 1990 Wolves were bought by lifelong fan Jack Hayward, who completely redeveloped the club, both on and off the field. Wolves narrowly missed out on the Second Divisions play-offs in 1989/90, which would have meant a third successive promotion. They did not reach the play-offs until 1995, by which time the Premiership had been formed.

With former England coach Graham Taylor at the helm, Wolves looked odds-on for a return to the top flight in 1994 after defeating Bolton 2-1 in the first leg of the play-off semi final, but a 2-0 defeat in the return leg ended such hopes. In 1996/97, Wolves were pipped to automatic promotion and lost to Crystal Palace in the play-offs.

After 3 dismal seasons and mid-table finishes, former Southampton Boss Dave Jones took over managerial duties, and in his first full season in charge Wolves spent much of the year in the automatic promotion places. Unfortunately an awful spell of results saw them finish in 3rd place, where they again lost in the play-offs to Norwich City.








(Dave Jones and Jack Hayward holding the Division One Play-off Trophy - Wolves promoted to the Premiership)

The team finally made their return to the top flight after a fascinating 2002/03 season. Wolves' early season form had seen them slip out of contention for automatic promotion, even with the addition of experienced veterans Paul Ince and Denis Irwin. The season was turned on its head in January after defeating Newcastle 3-2 in the FA Cup and Wolves went on to finish 5th, losing just 2 of their 20 games after this win. Reading were dispatched in the semi-finals, and a 3-0 win over Sheffield United at the Millennium Stadium saw Wolves march into the Premiership.

They came straight back down the following season, finishing bottom on goal difference, level on points with Leeds United and Leicester City.

Dave Jones was sacked early into the 2004/05 season as Wolves slipped as low as 19th in the newly-named Championship. Another former England coach, Glenn Hoddle, was appointed on a month-to-month basis, and Wolves lost only one of their next 25 League games. 15 were draws however, so Wolves finished 7th. The 2005/06 season saw a similarly dull playing style and some odd tactical decisions from Hoddle, such as playing 6'4" forward Carl Cort on the wing. Hoddle decided to part ways with Wolves at the end of the 05/06 season, and 12 senior players left the squad, with the club only receiving transfer fees for 2 of them.








(Kevin Phillips scores a stunner as West Brom win the first leg of the playoff semi-final 3-2 at Molineux)

Former Republic of Ireland and Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy took on the task of rebuilding this famous old club and securing a safe mid-table finish. With a new approach to buying players, the new-look "Young and Hungry" Wolves surpassed all expectations and finished in the playoffs, where they met deadly rivals West Bromwich Albion in the semi-finals. With keeper Matt Murray, player of the season, sidelined, young goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was forced into a premature debut, and Wolves lost 4-2 on aggregate.

After the previous season's high finish, expectations went through the roof for the 2007/08 season. Wolves brought in a plethora of players, including the prolific Southend forward Freddy Eastwood and Matt Jarvis, League One player of the season. Wolves started brightly and were in the automatic promotion spots in the early parts of the season. However both promising right winger Michael Kightly and left winger Jarvis were ruled out for long periods, and the team went through a dysmal spell over the Christmas period, winning just 1 game out of 7.

With the return of the 2 wingers came a late surge, but ultimately it wasn't enough, with Wolves yet again finishing 7th, just outside the playoffs.

Stadium Information






Stadium Name: Molineux Stadium
Built and Opened: 1889
Modern redevelopment: 1991-1993
Capacity: 28,525
Pitch dimensions: 116 x 74 yards

Notable features: Statues of Stan Cullis and Billy Wright outside the ground

Stand names: Billy Wright Stand, Steve Bull Stand (formerly John Ireland Stand), Stan Cullis Stand, Jack Harris Stand

Club Staff

Owner: Steve Morgan
Chief Executive: Jez Moxey

Manager: Mick McCarthy
Assistant Manager: Terry Connor
Fitness Coach: Tony Daley
Development Coach: Steve Weaver
Chief Scout: Dave Bowman
Club Physio: Alan Peacham

Manager Profile









Mick McCarthy
Born February 7th, 1959
Teams managed: Milwall, Republic of Ireland, Sunderland, Wolves

First team squad - 2008/09 season

GOALKEEPERS








(Wayne Hennessey)

1. Wayne Hennessey
20 Matt Murray
30 Carl Ikeme

DEFENDERS

2 Neill Collins (CB)
3 George Elokobi (LB)
5 Richard Stearman (CB)
6 Jody Craddock (CB) (Vice-Captain)
12 George Friend (LB)
21 Daniel Jones (LWB)
22 Jason Shackell (CB)
23 Darren Ward (CB)
26 Matt Hill (CB)
32 Kevin Foley (RB)
33 Michael Gray (LWB)

MIDFIELDERS








(Michael Kightly)

4 David Edwards (CM)
7 Michael Kightly (RW)
8 Karl Henry (CM) (Captain)
14 David Jones (CM, LM)
16 Mark Davies (CM, LM)
17 Matt Jarvis (LW, RW)
25 Darren Potter (CM, RM)
38 Lewis Gobern (CM, RM)

FORWARDS








(Sylvain Ebanks-Blake)

9 Sylvain Ebanks-Blake (CF)
10 Andy Keogh (CF)
11 Stephen Ward (LF, LW, LB)
18 Sam Vokes (CF)
19 Chris Iwelumo (CF)

[lukemeister360]

McCarthy Parades New Signings

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy today unveiled no less than 6 new signings in a transfer explosion, which he believes will "right the wrongs of last season"

Incoming players are as follows:




Jason Shackell (Norwich City Captain) - CB
Fee: £1million

"I've been watching him [Shackell] for a while", McCarthy commented. "He's a great young player, big, tall, strong, bags of talent, captained his side of course, I think he's a brilliant addition to the team".




Richard Stearman - Leicester City - CB
Fee: Undisclosed

"I think Stears and Shacko [Stearman and Shackell] compliment each other wall. One's a big, tall physical presence, the other's good in the tackle, quick and can play the ball", McCarthy said.



David Jones - Derby County - CM/LM
Fee: £1million



Chris Iwelumo - Charlton Athletic - CF
Fee: Undisclosed (£500k - £750k)



George Friend - Exeter City - LB
Fee: £350k (initial fee)



Matt Hill - Preston North End - LB
Fee: Undisclosed

The Wolves manager unveiled his new signings in front of a packed press-conference at the Compton Park training complex.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again - we did underperform last season", the former Sunderland boss stated. "But that's in the past now, we just have to move on; we've let some players go and bought some in, that's how football goes. I'm very happy with the support I've received from the board with regards to transfers and I really think we can perform this season.

After disappointment last year, with Wolves finishing 7th, below the previous season's finish, McCarthy is determined to prove he is the right man to steer the club forward.




"We've got a good young team here, young and hungry, that's what I'm looking for. We've brought some experience in with the likes of Chris Iwelumo, but stuck to our developing youngsters plan with guys like Stears and Shacko [Stearman and Shackell] who are good young players, but have had a few seasons at this level so know what it's all about".

With these new signings, a "young and hungry" team, and new found optimism, will this be the year for Wolves?

[walcott14]

KIU, Great Start

[J-Star]

Weolverhamptooonn

[Tubbsy]

yeh m8 KIU, this should be a good MM if you try

[lukemeister360]

Thanks - I think I'll probably do some "pre-season friendlies" when FIFA 09 comes out just to get used to the game and to give people a flavour of what the match reports will be like.

[TheNewStar]

Good start but i think the font could be smaller

[SAFC_Broady]

Does anyone know if any of this is copied - I think it might be

PS. I just bumped this 130 pages and was the first person to rate it 1*

[Scene Kid Oli]

erm.....why?

[SAFC_Broady]

I was wondering because I am starting a Wolves MM and this is the First I've seen

[Nino]

it is wikipedia it is

[SAFC_Broady]

Blasphemy

[Nino]

t'is

[Chelsea11]

I'm now reporting everyone that just bumped an old thread