Our Wolves man Brendan King offers a view from the other side of the fence.
It was never going to be a great, old fashioned, cup-tie when us Wolves fans saw that the home team, were stringing five players across the middle, with a little-known lone ‘striker’ named Rooney (no not that one) up front.
Although Wolves had two experienced front men in Doyle and Blake, the Wolves midfield and front runners were so hapless throughout, that the whole match turned out as turgid as the muddy, sodden, quagmire of a pitch. Not until the last (added) four minutes did this dire performance spring into life, with both reserve goalies pulling off superb last minute saves. Most notable was from a spectacular shot from the by-line by sub Jarvis, deflected onto the post by Blues keeper Doyle, with the ricocheted bullet header, by Jarvis’s team mate sub Fletcher, producing a great double-save by the Blues stopper.
Why, I asked my brother companion, as we trundled out amongst the other 14,000 woebegone fans, do these highly paid young athletes serve us up with dross for 90 minutes, then spring into life in the last few, showing us tantalising glimpses of what they are really capable of? He gave no reply to my rhetoric, of course, just a mystified shake of his head. His head shake was being replicated by most of the other 14,000 football fanatics.
“At least, just back from loan, Kightly, had a trouble-free 90 minute run-out and newly arrived midfield defender Johnnson had a try out” I ventured by way of some positivity. The brother showed no interest, of course, as he’s a dyed in the wool Bluenose.
I enjoyed my first experience, this season, of being closely ensconced with a few thousand other Wolves fans, in the upper tier of the Gil Merrick Stand at St Andrews. At present me and other wheelchair users are separated off from the main body of Wolves fans at Molineux. So I really miss being amongst the chanting and the banter, as the heavy concrete walls that have been erected to surround us have killed off half the roar, noise and immediate fans contact – and thus half of the enjoyment of being a home attending Wolves supporter.
Let’s hope that Wolves’ vague promise to improve matters next season leads to a genuine elimination of the concrete walls that mysteriously surround us. Even in the 30 year old upper tier wheelchair users section at St Andrews (a great overhead view) we’re close in amongst all the other fans as all that’s been done is to leave out a double row of a dozen or so seats, amongst the main seating that’s in place for all fans. No surrounding walls, just the same steel railing in front that guards all fans. A simple, elegant and totally inclusive solution!
I hope, for next season, that I’m lucky enough to get lotteried for a coveted upper tier viewing position that may be more inclusive and less of a sound deadener than the current bottom tier concrete enclosures. I live in hope, as I live in hope that our great team can survive once more within the Premier league. Hope for me, as for all loyal Wolves fans, springs ever eternal.
