Wolves hero Gerry Harris a great man with heart of gold – Ted Farmer

Harris – the former left-back who helped Wolves win two First Division titles and the FA Cup in 1960 – has passed away, aged 84.

An ever-so dependable figure during the club’s greatest era under Stan Cullis, he made a total of 270 appearances in gold and black.

Farmer, who scored 44 goals in 66 games for the club, played with Harris when he was at his pomp and the pair remained close friends until his death, following a long battle with illness.

“Gerry, a heart of gold and a man of steel,” said ex-striker Farmer.

“He was part of the engine room of the greatest Wolves squad ever.

“As well as a football colleague, he was a loyal friend to our family throughout his life.

“He was a good bloke, and we shall greatly miss his love and compassion.”

In total, Claverley-born Harris spent 13 years at Wolves – after being spotted by club scout George Noakes while playing for Bobbington in the Wolverhampton Amateur League.

He broke into the first-team during the 1956/57 season – after initially finding himself as cover for Bill Shorthouse – making his senior debut in a 5-4 win over Luton Town.

The tough-tackling full-back then helped Wolves to successive top-flight triumphs, in 57/58 and 58/59, before lifting the Cup at Wembley in 60.

“I played with him for 10 years, and when I say the engine room, I mean the defenders who were there when Peter Broadbent and Norman Deeley – the great players of that era – failed,” said Farmer.

“When they failed, these were the people who took over.

“They looked after the star players, as it were.

“They didn’t get all that much credit but, for me, having played with them and especially Gerry, I realised what a great job he did.”

Harris went on to play 15 times for Walsall and also earned four England under-23 caps.

He spent most of his life in Claverley and his last years in Alveley.

“Him, George Showell and Eddie Clamp, they were the blokes that came up with the goods when the others misfired,” added Farmer.

“It was a great Wolves squad – the greatest squad ever, no doubt about that.

“He’s a Claverley lad, a local lad, and he played like it. And he was just a great bloke.”