Theme: the 1974 League Cup Final.

 London Wolves would like to thank all of our members and guests who combined to make this a most memorable occasion.  Press articles E&S here and Wolves Heroes here

To view Rob Clayton’s pictures - there are many of the tables and individuals with the trophy and to order copies click here.

The Wolf Pack: from the 1974 squad: #9 John Richards, who scored the winner,#7  Kenny Hibbitt who scored the first goal, with #11 Dave Wagstaffe, #12 Barry Powell, #2 Geoff Palmer, and #1 who missed the final through injury Phil “Lofty” Parkes as well as players who also played that season Steve Kindon and Steve Daley as well as a founder member of the Tea Party, John Holsgrove.

Special guest apperance:  Cup winning Captain of Wolves - Mike Bailey who reminisced about the day for us on a unique video, revealing how he slept the the League Cup. To watch Mike’s video click on his picture.

Special surprise guest:  Our thanks to Mick McCarthy manager of Wolves for making the arduous journey from Crewe to Charlton and joining us, saying “it was the first standing ovation he’d ever received at Charlton Athletic!”

Executive guests:  Richard Skirrow, WWFC Club Secretary, Merlyn Humphreys, Executive Producer “Unforgettable Doog”, John Gough, WWFC Director

Absent friends:  two of the Cup winning players had prior family engagements and were unable to come but Frank Munro was unfortunately taken ill and also could not join us.   Frank and Manchester legend Denis Law swapped shirts after the match, and Denis was planning to come to the event, but he also was unable to because of family illness.  We wish both Frank and Denis and his family good health.

Photographs.  Our photos are generally free for others to use, but we would appreciate copyright acknowledgement   We were fortunate to have a member who is a professional photographer for the 45th Anniversary Dinner, Rob Clayton, who donated his time to the event without any charge.   Rob’s complete photo set are on this page click to view in low resolution and not suitable for printing. Members and guests may request Photos on this page from Rob who will send you a high resolution copy (free of charge!!) or you can ask him to prepare high quality prints of any pictures you would like. Prints are £7 up to A4 size.  Rob’s email address is rob@robclayton.co.uk (click to create email) and tell him which picture you would like (there is a picture number revealed when you move your cursor over the picture) and his website is at http://www.robclayton.co.uk/   To view Rob Clayton’s pictures and to order copies click here.   Pictures on this page by Rob are labeled London Wolves 45th pic  nnn where nnn is the picture number needed for ordering.  This is displayed as you pass your cursor over the picture. .  Other pictures are from other WWLSC members

Speeches and the event.

Red and white turns gold and black

Our host and chief organiser - Deputy Chairman Stef Leonard who started the evening by introducing our guests from Wolves and the 1974 League Cup winners and Wolves Legends

Stuart Earl             John Gough WWFC Director         Richard Skirrow WWFC Secretary

Phil “Lofty” Parkes               Geoff Palmer         Kenny Hibbitt scorer of the opening goal

Dave Waggy Wagstaffe       Barry Powell     £1.4 million Steve Daley

Steve Kindon                                                    John Holsgrove                        WWLSC President John Richards

League Cup winning captain Mike Bailey unfortunately made arrangements that meant he couldn’t join us just one week before Stuart asked him!  He very kindly offered to be interviewed to tell us his thoughts on that marvellous day - 2nd March 1974 click on Mike’s picture to be taken to a page which will load the video.

Mike described the goals and told us how proud he was of the team and the strength they showed.  All the pundits thought Manchester City were the favourites but Wolves didn’t feel that way.  He described the goals and then the emotions at the end of the match.  He talked about seeing Bill McGarry run on to the field past Derek Dougan and thought he was going to shake his hand and say ”well done” because “we’d had a  few years together”.  “But, no, he went to Gary Pierce, who probably thought he was going  to get a bollocking. Instead, he gave him a big cuddle, a man hug.”  Mike went on to say  “The thing you think then is what do I do now? I took my time up  those steps because, believe me, when you do what we did, it’s a lifetime  achievement. I absolutely loved it.  Mike also revealed how coach driver Sid Kipping insisted on driving past the Hawthorns on the way back after they had won the cup which brough the house down” He also talked about how the cup was left on its own so he rescued it and let his 6 year old son take it into school!  Finally, after a tribute to John Ireland Chairman of Wolves,  Mike wished us well for a successful evening

greeted here by John Richards at the top table.  Mick McCarthy didn’t talk about Crewe where Wolves had been beaten 2:1 in a pre-season friendly but had witnessed the sort of goal from Doyler that he scores for Ireland (check it out here... http://youtu.be/7hq2nM4lXEM ) Mick (a previous player and manager of Millwall) l said that it was a first for him to get a standing ovation at Charlton Athletic!

Chairman Earl’s speech, where he makes a late run for the Dave Slape “comedian of the century” award by telling everyone he’d seen pilot Jack Leonard at Heathrow in the bar and wondered why it caused chaos when he greeted him by shouting “Hi, Jack”.  Stuart welcomed the guests, thanking the players especially and the event organisers

London Wolves’ President John Richards responded on behalf of the players, thanking London Wolves for the way we look after and show respect to the former players.

Wolves Director and life long fan, John Gough, talked about the continuing ambitious plans at Molineux, including both the North Bank redevelopment and - announced this week, the £15m redevelopment of Compton to match the best Academies in the world.  For more information on the plans click here

A very nice dinner (see the menu below) - we were certainly well looked after by Charlton’s attentive staff

Before festivities got under way again Stuart was non-plussed by a special presentation from Merlyn Humphreys.  Derek Dougan had been unable to attend the 40th anniversary dinner.  Known to Stuart as “My Hero” Doog was told all about the event on the Sunday a week later by Stuart himself.  While on the phone Doog doodled on his writing pad, drawing tears on the image because he had been unable to make it.   Merlyn had the audience enthralled and Stuart silent as she presented Stuart with the original doodle telling the story

Simone Restall videoed the presentation Click on the picture to play.

Music was provided by Dodges Wolf (aka Dave Hodges).  While the table magician was so good he disappeared himself.

The raffle included several copies of the 1974 League Cup final DVD - signed by the finalists present, a history of football, a signed football and several others.  While the table decorations were drawn by the ladies at each table.   

Comedian Rod Peaks, a West Midlander himself, entertained us royally.

Auction:  Several outstanding items were auctioned as  part of the fundraising including one signed Wolves shirt for our sponsored player  the proceeds from which will be donated to the Matt Murray testimonial fund. 

The outstanding item kindly donated by Merlyn Humphreys was the last shirt which Doog ever signed.  Presented to him by Michael Laudrup in the Nou Camp at the European Former Players Association inaugral conference in March 2007 it was a truly unique item. The auction was won by Nobby who also won Paul Ince’s No23 shirt

Another significant donation from Merlyn was the last picture taken of the Doog.  After the conference he took a short holiday in Spain and, unusually walked on the beach, and while there turned and waved.  The pair of pictures, beautifully framed, were bought by Matt Baugh.

Further pictures of members and guests with the League Cup will be added here

To view Rob Clayton’s pictures and to order copies click here.

Souvenir Menu

More pictures - thanks to Waggy & Val and Coleen; others webmaster

I

I’m not touching that until I win it!!!

Stoo with the cup                                Caption competition!

Pre-event information

At the end of the 2010-11 Wolves Premiership Season London Wolves celebrate our 45th Anniversary since our founding in 1966.

We will be doing this in style on Saturday 16th July 2011 in The Millennium Suite, Charlton Athletic Football Club, Floyd Road, London SE7 8BL, venue for our 40th Anniversary in 2006 when Wolves legends from our first match against Plymouth joined in our celebrations (pictures here).  Again we will be hosted by Chairman Stuart Earl and London Wolves President “King” John Richards.

The event is sold out.  No admission without ticket being paid for in advance.

We have block booked a small number of rooms at the Holiday Inn Express, Bugsby Way. Greenwich SE10 0GD (about 2 miles from The Valley).  Reservations with deposits must be made for these rooms and they will be allocated on a first-come first served basis.  Event sold out

Terms & Conditions: Although we aim to keep the price to £50 per ticket (member) and £55 (non-member) this may have to change once we have full pricing from The Valley.  A deposit of £10 (non-refundable after 1/7/11 if the ticket is not resold) is required per ticket and a £30 deposit per room is required with the reservation.  We may have to charge full price (approx £100) for the room if cancelled after 1/7/11 and it is not resold)

Holiday Inn Greenwich (yes! it has a bar, a cosy one) Bugsby Way. Greenwich SE10 0GD website This is 1.9km from the ground.

Other hotels near Charlton - for a good selection visit www.footballhotels.co.uk and select First Division Clubs then Charlton