GP Books

‘Out Of Darkness’ picks up where ‘Those Were The Days’ left off, starting in 1977 when Wolverhampton Wanderers marked their centenary year with a return to top flight football. Although some of the players remained from the good times of the early seventies former coach Sammy Chung had to struggle hard just to keep the team up. After two years in charge he lost his job and chairman Harry Marshall appointed the new team of John Barnwell and Richie Barker to take the club forward into a new decade. Fans were given a fleeting taste of glory with big money signings, League Cup success and an impressive new stand.

With the exception of an F A Cup semi-final in 1981, things were very soon in a downward spiral that led to relegation the very next year. During the summer the club went into liquidation and almost out of business until former favourite Derek Dougan rode to the rescue at the head of a shady consortium. Although new manager Graham Hawkins led Wolves to promotion at the first attempt they were badly prepared to meet the challenges of such a swift return to the top league.

Between 1984 and 1986 there followed the catastrophic decline of three successive relegations and another flirtation with the receivers as the grip of the infamous Bhattis tightened. But out of darkness came light as Graham Turner assembled a spirited team that had incredible collective purpose. Spearheaded by Steve Bull, Wolves climbed within four years to the verge of a return to Division One. The experience of the seventies and eighties provides a timely warning that no club can survive on its reputation. However, the fact that Wolves lived to fight another day is an inspiration to all who cherish the gold and black. It also proves the truth of the words of the song, ‘We’ll never, we’ll never die, we’ll keep the gold flag flying high’.