England boss thanks Molineux fans

Stuart Pearce today thanked Molineux and the region’s football fans for playing a key role in the education of the country’s next generation of Three Lions contenders.

The region responded to Molineux’s third England under-21 game by filling the ground to capacity with an official attendance of 28,178 and providing a bouyant atmosphere for the friendly against Poland.

The match finished goalless and, incredibly, Wolves’ stadium is still waiting to celebrate its first under-21 goal after stalemates in the previous two matches against Poland and Wales, stretching back 32 years.

But Pearce was delighted with the visit to the city.

He said: “We are trying to replicate the pressures of international football for these players and get them used to what they will be facing in the future and a packed house played a big part in that.

“There’s a lot of interest in the under-21s at the moment and it’s been a great occasion for them, as I always thought it would be.

“I always enjoy coming to watch games at Molineux and when we came here a week earlier to do a press conference we had 18,000 tickets sold. 

“To have then sold the place out within a week represents a great response from the local football fans and I’m grateful to them for responding like that.”

The attendance was all the more impressive in the absence of injured Wolves star Michael Kightly, whose exciting progress on to the under-21 stage would have undoubtedly been a factor in tempting the FA to bring the friendly to Molineux.

But although Albion striker Ishmael Miller missed his chance of a cap because of injury, current Baggies striker Luke Moore led the attack alongside debutant Cameron Jerome.

Ex-Walsall duo Daniel Fox and Scott Dann also took their first England under-21 steps.

Pearce added: “I would have loved to have won the game for the supporters and scored a couple of goals to reward them. But a full house was a fantastic achievement and great experience for the players.”

Matt Grayson, Wolves new Head of Communications, said: “We’re thrilled with how it all went and the response from the public has been terrific.

“We tapped into kids football teams, schools, after school clubs and even office staff around the area and they have all come and enjoyed the experience.

“We also made sure we reached the Polish community and I am told by the FA that their numbers represented the biggest ‘away’ following ever seen at an England Under 21 game.

“It made for a great atmosphere.”