Wolves fans dreams lie with Jarvis
Friday 25th March 2011, 9:10AM GMT.
Wolves blogger Tim Spiers has waited a lifetime to see a player from his club in an England shirt – will Matt Jarvis make his dream come true?
Watching one of your team’s players line up for your country is probably one of the proudest emotions a football supporter can experience. I say probably, because I’ve yet to have the pleasure.
Steve Bull’s last cap came in 1991 when I was still a wee nipper so, although I may have witnessed the man I would come to call God play for England on a grainy television screen, I certainly don’t remember it.
It’s been 20 barren years since then, with no Wolves player really coming close to earning full England honours.
Instead us Wolves fans have resorted to taking an unhealthy interest in the fortunes of the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Romania, South Korea, Algeria, Serbia and even Saudi Arabia, thanks to the long-forgotten Sami Al-Jaber.
I remember getting particularly excited about David Kelly played for the Republic at the 1994 World Cup, marvelling at one of our own appearing on the biggest stage of all.
A year later ‘Ned’ scored against England but what should have been a glorious moment for him was completely overshadowed by rioting in the stands and a subsequent abandonment of the game.
I was gutted the next day when of course the newspapers mentioned nothing of Kelly’s goal.
And that’s one of the best things about international football – justifying to your non Wolves-supporting mates that the player you keep insisting is absolutely brilliant must be alright as he actually plays for his country.
In fact, we have had a few Irish internationals over the years, the most successful by a mile being Robbie Keane.
Watching Robbie score that last-minute equaliser against Germany in the 2002 World Cup was an utterly spine-tingling moment – I went absolutely berserk.
A truly fantastic feeling, so what must it have been like for Wolves fans who went to watch Steve Bull score at Hampden Park or Wembley?
Seeing videos online of the four goals Bully notched for England is exciting enough – if you have got memories of actually being there I would love to read them in the comments section below.
But yes, England-wise there hasn’t been much to write home about since Bully was overlooked by Graham Taylor.
Dean Richards was certainly good enough, but was unfortunate in that England had a wealth of excellent centre halves in the late 1990s, plus we were in the second tier at the time.
Steve Froggatt earned a surprise call-up a year after departing Molineux for Coventry, but didn’t win a cap.
Matt Murray had all the attributes required to become a world class goalkeeper, if he wasn’t one already in the 2006-07 season when he gave dozens of breathtaking performances, but we all know what happened next.
And although Michael Mancienne was technically plying his trade at Molineux when Fabio Capello named him as an unused substitute against Germany in 2008, he’d only been with us for a few weeks so we couldn’t claim any credit.
I suppose watching academy graduate Joleon Lescott make his England debut at Wembley is about as good as it’s been in my lifetime.
Sadly, Joleon had to leave Wolves to realise his international ambitions, but it was still a tremendously proud moment to see him line up for the Three Lions.
Pride was the overriding emotion again last Sunday night when news filtered through that our very own Matt Jarvis had been called up for England’s games against Wales and Ghana.
Personally I was absolutely buzzing when I heard – I’m absolutely chuffed to bits for ‘Jarvo.’
He earned his call-up completely on merit and, as many people have said this week, it’s a victory for the so-called journeymen footballers who make their way up through the divisions and work hard on improving their games.
That he won’t look out of place alongside the superstars of Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and John Terry is a testament to what he has achieved at Molineux, particularly in the past two seasons.
Jarvis made seasoned internationals Ashley Cole, Micah Richards and Wes Brown look like lost schoolboys at times in successive blistering displays earlier this season.
If you watched our game with Aston Villa last Saturday and were asked to spot the England internationals on show, any neutrals would surely suggest Jarvis and Adam Hammill over the lifeless Stewart Downing and Ashley Young.
His game has improved tenfold since our promotion in 2008, particularly his variety when taking players on, his final ball into the box and, this season, his finishing in front of goal.
In fact if he manages to get on the pitch in either game and impresses Capello then he could become a regular fixture in the squad, with England not overly blessed in the left-wing department.
One thing’s for certain though, Jarvis won’t let it go to his head. He comes across as an honest, level-headed, well-grounded man, not motivated by money or personal glory.
It may be that he wants to test himself at a higher level or in the Champions League, but hopefully we can fulfil his ambitions for now. And, of course, if he were to move on the international recognition will have done wonders for his value.
A couple of years ago, it was Michael Kightly and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake who were the potential England internationals, but Jarvis has overtaken them both and could be the first of many to get the call.
There’s certainly scope for players such as Richard Stearman, Jamie O’Hara, Karl Henry, Kightly, Ebanks-Blake and Adam Hammill, should we stay in the Premier League for the next few seasons.
If a couple of those seem like unlikely candidates, then imagine how far-fetched a Jarvis call-up would have been if mooted in 2008.
Hopefully, O’Hara and Stearman will be inspired by Jarvis’ success and resist the temptation to play for Ireland, who they’re both apparently being courted by.
Too often these days players switch allegiances because their great-grandfather’s uncle’s best mate once went on a three-day fishing trip to Galway.
No, playing for the country of your birth is surely one of the peaks of any footballers’ career and if Matt Jarvis does so this weekend, or on Tuesday, he’ll remember it forever.
As will I. Do yourself proud, Jarvo.
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It is good for Matt,but the most important thing is that he comes back injury free and full of confidence for the battle ahead.I am an England fan.I can remember that ‘some people are on the pitch.they think it is all over’ quote when it was live on TV.I was at Wembley when Shearer scored his hat trick against the Dutch in Euro ’96 and yes Bully scoring against Scotland was a very proud moment.BUT the club comes first and nothing compares to winning the League Cup in’74 and ’80.I am pleased for Matt but as far as being proud is concerned,it pales into insignificance compared to those victories against Chelsea and Man Utd.
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Great blog Tim.
Couldn’t agree more – well done to Jarvis and good luck to him for the games (and whatever part he plays in them!!) and the rest of the boys.
WE ARE WOLVES!!!
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i watched on tv all of Bullys goals – truly amazing – will never forget them
Hopefully i can recreate that feeling this weekend or on Tuesday
Imagine the day Kightly and Jarvis are on the wings for England ? Dream ? Maybe not…..
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Great blog, vaguely remember bully for England but as you said Jarvis playing for England will reLly make me so proud to be a wolves fan, hopefully he will get his chance and performe as well as we all know he can! Do us proud jarvis! Up the wolves!
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“Watching Robbie score that last-minute equaliser against Germany in the 2002 World Cup was an utterly spine-tingling moment – I went absolutely berserk.”
ME TOO :) And I thought I was the only one, maybe it helped it was against zee Germans too
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It will certainly be a great moment for not only the player to step onto the pitch in an England shirt, but for all the coaching staff at Molineux. I wish him well.
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i am as thrilled as everyone else that Jarvo is finally getting the recognition that he deserves. i hope he gets a chance against Wales or Ghana to prove to the rest of the country what us Wolves fans already know & see on a weekly basis.
however, I would have to say that, proud as i am, my priority is, and always will be Wolverhampton Wanderers. If Jarvo comes on, assists or scores but then is injured & cant help us in the fight to stay up then pride for Jarvos personal achievements goes out the window. of course i want to see all of our lads do well, but not at Wolves expense!!!
here’s to a good weekend for all our international lads flying the Wolves flag (apart from maybe Wayne if he could let a couple in hehe) but more importantly, here’s to the fight that we have coming up after this – we are in with a good chance of staying up, have a decent run of games, and we are approaching finally having a full strength squad!!
Wolves till i die!!!!
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Enjoyed your blog, Tim. Of course, you knew some of us oldies would then go on to reminisce about the days when Wolves provided the complete England half back line – Slater, Wright, Flowers/Clamp – plus forwards like Wilshaw and Broadbent. We dominated in so many ways in those days. England captaincy? Billy endowed it with dignity, on and off the field.
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I will not be happy until we see Big George in a Cameroon shirt. What has the man got to do, Javier Clemente*!
* apparently he’s the manager of Cameroon according to Wikipedia
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Saw Bully play for England twice at Wembley and it really was an unbeleivable feeling. I think the first game I saw him in was against Yugoslavia when he came on as a sub and half of the very sparce crowd must have been Wolves !!! Anyone else there that day? I might have to stand corrected on a couple of the facts above?
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I remember the day of Bullys first England trip to Wembley,I arrived at Wembley on my own in my Wolves shirt as proud as punch,and so so excited. It must of been about five hours early, the car/coach parks were deserted I wondered if I got the day wrong.Then over the next hour or more a few more Wolves fans came up to me and we chatted.Then the first coach arrived then another and a few more,and as I recall the first five coaches were ALL full of Wolves fans, and did it feel great ! Yep it did! After alot more chatting and the car parks starting to fill up the doors opened and the excitment grew. As I was walking around to my entrance I noticed a young lady I had met once before and decided to have a chat as it was none other than Julie, Bullys old partner, she told me how excited he was hoping to be playing at Wembley for England. Julie was waiting to see the coach arrive but we never saw him as the coach went in.I took my seat in the North East corner and was please that a couple of blocks away were the Wolves contingency. The chants of “Bully Bully” rang out so loud and clear I thought for a moment I was at the mol,and Wolves shirts could be seen all over the stadium. As we all know the game ended 4-2 to England with GOD scoring TWO, and Paul Gazza getting the national adulation but we did’nt care the thousands of Wolves fans leaving Wembley that night held their heads very high and we celebrated long into the night.
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I have been predicting Jarvo’s England call up for 6 months at least. My facebook account has “JarvoforEngland” as my middle name and I even created a shirt in england away colours with his name and number on.
I have no doubt he will play some part in either game and will show his worth.
All the best Jarvo UTW!!
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As one of the 400 or so England fans who were in Hampden on that magic day in ’89, I reckon 200 or so were Wolves fans.
Setting off in the early hours, getting in Glasgow around lunch time. Being 15, my first England game, and having a season ticket I was anticipating (hoping) that Bully may get on the pitch.
We met some friends who arranged the tickets for us. On collecting the tickets we found to our horror we were in the wrong end! However, having managed to change our tickets we found ourselves with the other England fans in a corner of the ground……….. i remember the pitch being miles away.
The joy felt when Bully came on the replace Fashanu was enough to make the trip worthwhile. How proud did I feel to be a wolves supporter…….. you can only imagine how I felt when he slammed the ball into the back of the net..
In the car on the way home, all I could think was “I hope the timer worked on the video recorder”……. so arriving back home on went the video to watch the whole match again.
I still have the video (somewhere), also got Bully to sign my programme & ticket……..
Memories……..
And now living in Italy, I again have that feeling of pride that a player from my club is representing my country.
Can’t beat it !!
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I went to Wembley to see Bully against the czechs, must have been around 1190, bumped into Andy Mutch getting himself a cup of tea, he’d come to cheer his mate on ! I remember the chorus of ” give the ball to Stevie Bull” ringing round the stadium. Bully scored twice , one a blistring strike from a superb through ball from Gazza. I bought myself a Raging Bull T. Shirt from a seller outside the ground , which I still have although it does seem to be getting a little tighter! Bully never won the amount of England caps he deserved
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wolves till i die hit the nail on zee head
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For what would normally be a dubbed a fairly drab and unispiring fixture (with Wales being bottom of the table and all), the Jarvis situation, Henno in goal and the Ramsey vs Wilshire scenario has certainly made this game one which I won’t be missing.
All the best lads.
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He runs down the left he runs down the riiiiiiiighhhht that boy Matt Jarvis looks messi look …..
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Saw Bully play for England at Wembley with what seemed like thousands of Wolves fans everywhere. Wolves songs being song and brief scuffles with Hammers and Chelsea fans.
Good luck to Jarvis, lets hope he gets some playing time.
Charlie
ATLANTA WOLVES
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Oh dear, Posters on here who don’t remember Bully playing for England. How old does that make you feel !
I’m with 8) SolentWolves. I remember the 1958 World Cup squad when we had Slater, Wright, Flowers and Clamp selected for the half-back line (which only accomodated 3)Completely unprecedented in those days. Plus we had Broadbent and Deeley in the squad (Should’ve been Murray in there too, but that’s another story)
Anyway this is about Jarvis. He’s ideal to play against Wales, but, I think his best chance is off the bench. In reality Ghana is the game Fabio Capello will give him a run out. We shall see.
Good luck Matt just come back fit and well !
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If you can remember/imagine…
A derelict Molineux.
Consecutive relegation
Being at the wrong end of 4th div.
No money
No training ground
Albion in div 1
About 75 away fans (at Aldershot)
Steve Bull signs from Albion
Bull Scores over 100 goals in two seasons.
Then two years later, a 3rd division Bully comes on at Hampden and scores on his England debut!
Still the best day of my life by a long way.
I was fighting back the tears when the ball hit the net and I my eyes well up now just thinking about it.
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I remember, Scotland vs England, it was on Grandstand, yes, Grandstand! When Bully scored. Straight into the garden to practice my back control and shot, round a static Alex Mcleish (aka Space Hopper).
I hope Matt gets on, the derth of left sided players helps his chances of a long run.
But back to business;
Blues, Villa, Albion to go down.
Call me small minded, and tell me its not good for midlands football, but that would be just great with me. Particularly Villa. That would make my year.
COME ON YOU WOLVES
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I was at Wembley for the Yugoslavia game and remember at half time following an Arsenal fan who was moaning to his mate that that it was all Wolves fans and how he was getting racked off and going to kick off. He headed into the toilets to be greeted by a mass of gold and black supporters. He shut up instantly but his face was a picture.
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Firstly, great blog Tim, I think you’ve summed up how most Wolves fans have been feeling this week.
I was only 2 when Bully had his last call up so I’m in the same boat as you really, I really hope Jarvo can get on the pitch Saturday or Tuesday and if/when he does I know that I will be bursting with pride.
I’ve found myself recording the sports news just to see if I can get a glimpse of our player in his England training kit, reading every article about his much deserved call up and texting every Sandwell Town supporter I know to gloat (Sandwell fans please don’t compare Calamity Carson’s call up as you’ll only embarrass yourselves).
The pride has just been oozing out of me this week, the fact that a player from the club I love is (hopefully) going to play for England is fantastic news, yes obviously we hope and pray he comes back injury free but whatever spin you put on it this is great news for everyone involved.
I really do believe that if we can stay up this season then maybe next season we will have 2 or 3 players in the England squad as we have some fantastic young players at our club at the min.
Watching Jarvo this season has been great, yes his final ball has not always been the best but he has improved it immensely over the past few months and now he is banging the goals in right when we need them too!!! He has tore strips off the likes of Wes Brown, Alan Hutton, Stephen Warnock and many more established full backs this season and long may it continue.
Come on Jarvis, come on England and most importantly come on you Wolves!!!
Yours sincerely,
A tremendously proud Wolves fan
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Wolverhampton Wanderers and England, just has a ring to it. Here’s hoping that Jarvo will have his name added to the great names which have gone before him in achieving this accolade. I will be watching out and hoping for this, and I’m Irish!
Talking of which, Timothy, that lad of the O’Hara’s could well be due a three-day fishing trip to Galway soon. Any excuse mind, smooth cool pints of Guinness, easy flowing Corrib river and the May fly dancing …take me there now on the sunny spring afternoon.
come on you jarvos
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steve bull’s debut at hampden was one of the highlights of my footballing life.
having moved to scotland as a young boy i still continued to support wolves and when i was old enough drove to games on a regular basis.
when we were rock bottom steve bull came along and in my mind helped save the club.
many of my scottish mates had gone to games with me and all liked what they saw in steve bull.
i always went with the guys to scotland v england games and i had to keep quiet in the scotland support so i didn’t get lynched.
steve bull being in the squad was great and when he came on i was so chuffed, my mates all feared the worst. he flicked it past colin henry i think turned shot and scored i went nuts and grudingly was told was a good finish. i survived and can’t wait to see jarvis do the same.
come on the wolves!!
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Solentwolves -i thought I was getting on but I don’t remember those players only what I heard from my Dad..
Really happy for Matt, great player-perhaps some people will give Mick some praise now.
I too remember Bully playing for England so proud which I am of Matt.
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I know i’m getting old but I find it really weird that everyone doesn’t remember Bully playing for England!
I can remember waiting for the Town Final of the E&S to see photos of him in action for the U21′s against Albania! So proud was I that I went and bought the photo the next day! Can’t believe that was over 20 years ago!!!
I also remember wearing the heads down on my VHS watching that goal at Hampden over and over again
Wasn’t it something like “…….Bull and again ohhh!” must get that out of the attic!
Legend! More of the same please Jarvo!
Good Luck Matt the city is soooooo proud of you!
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Similiar story from me. Missed the Scotland game but was at Wembley for the great man’s home debut. Over half the crowd were Wolfies and the chants of “give the ball to Stevie Bull” went on all night. Was most annoyed when he scored 2 and Gazza got all the headlines in another game.
Wasn’t there but remembered too all the Wolves players in 1958.
Went to Wembley to cheer the Doog and on another day to support Frank Munro.
Goodison for JR’s only cap and an Under 23 game at Wrexham cheering on the most wonderful Peter Knowles.
Such happy memories, always proud to be a Wolves fan.
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Good luck today Matt, but, you may have to wait for the Ghana match for that first cap.
It’s been said that Alan Hinton was the last Wolves winger to be capped by England.
Not so !
Alf Ramsey selected the most lethal striker of his day…John Richards…and then played him on the right wing.
I know he won us the World Cup, but, Alf, come on……!
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