GP Books

Liberally illustrated with photographs and keepsakes of the era, ‘Those Were The Days’ covers in fascinating detail the history of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club

from 1964 to 1977. It is based around in-depth face-to-face interviews with a host of players from that period including Phil Parkes, Geoff Palmer, Derek Parkin, Mike Bailey, Frank Munro, John McAlle, John Holsgrove, Terry Wharton, Kenny Hibbitt, Willie Carr, Steve Daley, Barry Powell, John Richards, Derek Dougan, Dave Wagstaffe and Steve Kindon.

The insight provided by these evocative discussions takes the reader back to a long forgotten footballing era that was teeming with characters who played without the financial rewards of those who play the modern game and enjoyed incredibly close relations with their adoring fans. This was a time when players like Gary Pierce took the bus from Codsall to home games, when the Doog arrived at Molineux like a latter day Pied Piper making his way along Waterloo Road, and when Waggy could be seen haring down Molineux Alley to beat the pre match deadline.

The story begins where most previous Wolves books have finished, with the end of the glorious fifties, the sacking of Stan Cullis and the shock of a return to Division Two for the first time in three decades. At this low point along came Ronnie Allen, a West Bromwich Albion favourite who assembled a group of talented and committed players that swiftly returned the Wanderers to the top. By late 1968 Allen had formed the nucleus of a squad that Bill McGarry was to go on to manage during the second most successful period in the club’s history. For most of the seventies Wolves were at last again challenging at the right end of the top-flight table. After a spectacularly successful tour of the continent they reached a European final, and also enjoyed great adventures in F.A. and League Cup competitions before finally winning the latter. Sadly, Wembley 1974 proved to be the height of the team’s glories but true achievement is not always best weighed in gold. The never say die approach, attacking flair and flamboyant personalities will hopefully be revived in the pages of this book. Although over thirty years have passed since their halcyon days the players have retained a great affection for the area and a huge respect for their colleagues that will never fade. For those who experienced it first time around those really were the days.