The Black Country Derby – this day in history
Some decent players there
By Ivybridge Wolf
December 15 2020
Ahead of our Chelsea fixture today, 15th December 1888 actually marks the anniversary (in this case 132 years to the day) Wolves played a league fixture versus West Bromwich Albion for the very first time. We had previously met in the FA Cup, though 1888/89 was the inaugural season of the Football League and this match was contested at our old Dudley Road ground, Wolves winning 2-1 on an apparently very foggy afternoon. We got the winner with 5 minutes to go, our scorers that day were John Brodie and Tom Hunter.
Thought it was a date worthy of highlighting for a dual which means a lot to many of our supporters. For me, especially when young, with one half of my family Baggies and the other half Wolves, it was always special, even though for a few years in the 1970s we dodged each other with relegations and promotions. No change there. One of my personal favourites was December 1990 when Rob Hindmarch scored a scruffy equaliser at the Smethwick End in front of 11,000 Wolves fans. Not a great match at all but a great moment.
We’re not due to meet them this season until the weekend of 16th January 2021 at Molineux and then the return on the weekend of 1st May 2021, nevertheless I’m looking forward to it, as ever. It’ll be our 148th league meeting (previously 160 in total) – here’s hoping we erase the memory of the last match, which incredibly was now nearly 9 years ago.
The picture I’ve selected is from 31st January 1981 when we beat Albion 2-0 at Molineux, Eves and Gray scoring in front of 29,764 Molineux played in another pea-souper of a Black Country fog. Some great Wolves players there, Bradshaw, Berry, McAlle …. Dare I say, Albion weren’t too shabby Robson, Moses (being tackled), Regis all in view.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2021:01:24:14:16:25 by Ivybridge Wolf.
My personal favourite was '89 at The Hawthorns. Robbie Dennison equalized, Mark Kendall saved a penalty and Steve Bull got the winner in the last minute. There were limbs everywhere in the away end, mayhem. Then we went down the road singing "Thankyou very much for Stevie Bull" to the tune of Aintree Iron by The Scaffold.
I was hoarse. Brilliant.