Express & Star

Wolves: A return to glory?

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As Wolves revel in nine consecutive wins, Steve Bull recalls a connection with the Class of 1988.

moreKenny Jackett's players are so caught up in this moment that they probably don't realise what they have done.

Let me try and tell them.

There's something extra special about making your mark at a club like Wolves. The fans never forget you and never tire of thanking you for the memories.

I know this because I was lucky enough to break a record or two, and play my part in some success, during my career there. And now, no matter where I go – to a club, a pub, or a restaurant – anywhere, I am stopped by football fans and asked for a photograph or an autograph.

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I find it a little bit embarrassing. But I would be lying if I didn't say I also love it. It's nice to be remembered and to know you have had some small part in giving people a happy memory.

So to the Class of 2014, a big 'well done' for entering the history books because you just got your membership card to a very special club.

You are all a long way from retirement and I hope you have got so much more to achieve with Wolves. But there are thousands of fans who were there to see some or even all of these nine consecutive victories – and it will stay with them.

In the future, when your playing days are long gone, you will understand what I'm talking about.

I hope this is not the end of anything. I don't see why it should be. This Wolves team have established themselves as the top dogs in their division and should not stop – go on and make it 10 in a row, 11, 12. Keep going.

We all know that eventually we will fall off the horse because football is like that. But these situations come along rarely in a career as Kenny will be telling the players.

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The chance is there to achieve something extra special – why shouldn't they dream of breaking the all-time English record of 14 – and nothing should be spared trying to do it.

You will see that I have offered my own comparisons of the current side and the 1988 team who were one of the four Wolves outfits to reach the previous best of eight successive wins.

I've done my best to call it as I see it and you will note that I put Kenny's lads a few points ahead of my old team.

Of course, the world has changed since then and so has the club. We all know the stories about Wolves when me and Andy Thompson turned up from Albion.

The unpaid bills, the rats and cockroaches in the corridors, training on the car park. Wolves were at the bottom of the Football League and none of us could have guessed what was to come.

The 1988 team who were one of the four Wolves outfits to reach the previous best of eight successive wins– team spirit was at its peak and the side was hungry for glory

You can't compare that to what the fellas have now. As Kenny has said, the facilities at the training ground are like a five-star luxury hotel. I'm not envious – we had our time and it was brilliant. Now it is their time and good luck to them.

But when the result came through from Swindon I couldn't help but think of some of the old characters who played their own roles in connecting 1988 to 2014. I remember the directors, Jack Harris and Dick Homden, who put their hands in their own pockets to pay for the two urchins from Albion that Graham Turner wanted to buy.

The team of 1988 had people like my old partner Andy Thompson, who was a 100 per cent club man. At the back was my favourite Scotsman Ally Robertson.

Alongside him was Floyd Streete, the first player I would pick if I got to be captain in training so I didn't have to play against him.

Andy Mutch and I had a great partnership up front. And the gaffer Graham Turner was the best I played under.

Of the current side, Sam Ricketts seems a great leader. He is so calm in everything he does on the pitch and has got hold of the team, who clearly all respect him.

Unless something unexpected happens over the final couple of months then I expect Danny Batth to be Player of the Season. He has a big future ahead of him.

But one of my favourite players in the side is Kevin McDonald, because he is instrumental in so much of what Wolves do. When he plays well, so does the team.

When I met Nouha Dicko after he signed I couldn't see how he was going to damage teams, he seemed too small. Shows you what I know! He has surprising strength and great sharpness around the box.

That was a great bit of business from Kenny, and the boss has shown his managerial skill by getting the best out of Bakary Sako.

There was a time when we wouldn't know which Sako would turn up, but at the moment he's never played better for us. And of course Sir Jack.

He was at Swindon on Tuesday night and how much he would have relished seeing history made. I don't think he has ever visited before and seen his team score quite so many goals.

It must have been great, too, for the man he sold the club to. We all know Steve Morgan went through hell last year and before, having to listen to critics telling him he should sell the club and get out of the city; that he wasn't wanted any more.

They do not know this man or what he is about. I have spent a lot of time with him and have never doubted just how much he bleeds for Wolves.

He knows he made some mistakes but he is absolutely determined that, just like those players, 20 years from now, Wolves fans will stop him and thank him for everything he has done for the club

On Saturday, the club are organising a mini-reunion of my old team – Andy Mutch is coming down, Tommo will be there, Robbie Dennison and Graham, especially important as the match is against Shrewsbury. The plan is for a half-time appearance on the pitch.

But it's not about us anymore; it's about the new history makers. They have got the chance to reach for something that will stay with them forever and add promotion to the record run of victories.

I am sure Kenny will make sure they keep their minds on the job in hand – the next game – and not get carried away. That's for us fans to do.

My old club has taken a hell of tumble in the last couple of years and it's just great to see so many fans smiling again and holding up their heads in pride at wearing the gold and black.

It feels like we're on the way back thanks to a fantastic young team that's packed with talent.

Bully's 2014 scores:

Team spirit: Looks great to me. When we score, they all join in with celebrations which is a good sign 10

Overall ability: This time is packed with skill – better than my old side 10

Entertainment: When we've got the ball we're very entertaining and now the goals are flowing as well 8

Playing style: It's all about keeping the ball – which they do better than the 1988 vintage 9

Total: 37

Bully's 1988 scores:

Team Spirit: Couldn't be better. We worked together, trained together, partied together 10

Overall ability: We were not the best but we were the most hard working 8

Entertainment: Off the pitch it would be a definite 10. But on it, maybe a shade under 9

Playing style: We were hungry, fast and direct but not the best passing team 7

Total: 34