https://fb.watch/akIn-od9xW/
Just a day after we beat the World's most expected Club side, Manchester United, and in a time when money dictates the outcome more often than not I came across this video.
A memory dedicated to a fan. A fan of some wealth of course, but not the wealth of an oligarch by any means. At the time of Sir Jack's intervention Wolves were just finding their way back from the abyss.
Having missed out of the formation of the Premier League, Wolves had fallen to the near bottom of England's lowest league and forced their way back up to Division One. Molineux was dilapidated, falling apart. Half the ground had been closed, condemned actually. It was a million miles away from when Wolves had dominated, not only English Football but World Football in the 1950's. Then, Wolves were leading the field in the future of the game, with plans for a 75,000 stadium. Yesterday, we played in a 75,000 stadium but it wasn't at Molineux. We were ahead of our time in the sport in those days but the sport wasn't ahead in any terms as it is today. In fact, in the years between 1960 and the early 1970's football was still really a past time for most, 1966 apart. From the 1970's to 1992 it was a Pariah. Infiltrated by hooliganism, partly I suppose because of the times, and hated by the authorities, especially the Government. By the time the FA decided to take it upon themselves to regenerate the game with the formation of the Premier League we were well out of contention.
It's taken nearly 30 years, since Sir Jack took over the club and rebuilt the Stadium, nowhere near the 75000 mind you, to get back to really being amongst the elite. The tragedy is that Sir Jack wanted to buy Wolves in 1982. The bigger tragedy is the Bhattis got it. If only!
For me, Football is a sport I love, and Wolverhampton Wanderers is the club I love. It isn't really about the money. It isn't about just supporting a club for glory. It's about supporting the club you love for the club. It's about the joy when you are successful and the searing pain when you fail. You can't buy that. You can't bottle it. It is what it is.....but you really have to be a fan to feel it.
I'm enjoying the ride again at the moment, but I know it can quickly turn to pain again at any moment. For nearly 50 years I've waited for a generation below mine to feel that elation I felt when I first started watching when Wolves last had a successful side nearly 50 years ago.
I don't suppose it really matters what happens next so long as I have a team to support. That's what's really important. The club doesn't just exist for the supporters, it exists for the town or City it represents. Wolverhampton Wanderers does exactly that. We've had the highs, dropped to the depths and had the resurgence. Sir Jack started this latest, and hopefully Fosun will continue that.
