Advertisement

Fights, foul play & tabloid exclusives - long forgotten Wolves controversy

David Dungar from Pattingham has written a book about Wolverhampton Wanderers football club and its role with industry. He is pictured with the book.
-Credit: (Image: BIRMINGHAM MAIL)


Wolves terrace legend in hot water over comments made to Sunday Mercury!

It’s a headline that would sit comfortably on the back pages of today’s edition.

But this “whistle-blowing” exclusive dates back to the 1920s – and involved outspoken wizard of the wing Sammy Brooks.

READ MORE: Former Aston Villa player retires at 22 after three separate knee surgeries

READ MORE: Nick Smith explains Knighthead’s plan for St Andrew’s Main Stand

The long-forgotten controversy was unearthed by Wolves historian David Dungar while researching his book on the famed old gold club, Cometh Light.

Yellowed board meeting minutes revealed top brass were none too pleased with Brooks’ comments, and wanted the FA to take action.

But, to David’s frustration, the footballer’s offending words remain a mystery.

He has failed to track down the article and a trawl of our own archives has drawn a blank.

The row is further proof that the behaviour of players and fans during the game’s infancy was pretty much the same as it is today. There were terrace brawls, foul play and dissent shown to refs.

David, a quantity surveyor from Pattingham, South Staffordshire, says: “It is seen as an era of supreme sportmanship, with goals celebrated by a gentle tap-on-the-back. That is a myth.

Wolves were twice banned from playing at home for crowd violence

As the 1920s picture below shows women were already attending Molineux in numbers and Birmingham had no monopoly on Peaky Blinders headgear.
As the 1920s picture below shows women were already attending Molineux in numbers and Birmingham had no monopoly on Peaky Blinders headgear.

“The reality was that the players celebrated just as exuberantly. They tackled heavily; they pushed and shoved; they argued with referees.

“They were very much the same. Even fans dressed up as they do today. There are pictures of some in rabbit costumes.”

And there were hooligan firms. Wolves were twice banned from playing at home in the 1890s and 1919 for crowd violence and pitch invasions.

Cometh Light, a three-year labour of love for David, is a fascinating insight into a near forgotten Wanderers’ era from 1888 – the year the league was formed – to 1939.

But it is not only a football book. The work chronicles the team’s rise with a detailed study of the town’s industrial growth.

Watch David Dungar has written a book about the Wolves and their role with industry

“I have always thought there has been a lack of coverage of the era when Wolves first started,” says David. “They were one of the ‘12 Apostles’, the 12 clubs that formed the league.

“By chance, on ebay, I came across an 1899 industrial map showing all the works. The surprise was just how big the town was – it was a powerhouse.

“Many have the impression that Wolverhampton was built on ‘metal bashing’ heavy industry, but there was much more. There was clock-making, finely engineered mechanisms for guns, light-metal folding industries. The work was a lot more skilled than many think it was.”

Wolves’ success mirrored the boomtime enjoyed by local companies

Sammy Brooks of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Sammy Brooks of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Wolves’ success mirrored the boomtime enjoyed by local companies. The players were hometown heroes and they gained celebrity status after reaching the FA Cup final in 1888, but the stars were very much at the beck and call of their paymasters. “The manager was all powerful,” says David, “the players were chattels.”

That point is illustrated by details uncovered of a 1930 meeting between centre-forward Frank Green and legendary manager Major Frank Buckley.

“I think he had scored a couple of goals in his last match and thought Buckley wanted to congratulate him,” says David.

“Instead, Buckley told him, ‘Don’t take your coat off, I’ve just sold you to Crewe.”

David, a Wolves fan since the age of three, is enjoying his team’s current rich run of form in the Premiership.

“We’ve waited a long time,” he says, “and I’m pleased it’s our turn. It’s pleasing to see us competing with the bigger clubs because we once were one of the bigger clubs.”