Six new away days for Wolves fans to plan

The fixtures are out and Wolves fans are plotting 23 away day trips, following their beloved team up and down the country.

Some fanatics will travel 5,138 miles attending every game, going as far afield as Brighton and Middlesbrough or popping just down the road to Birmingham.

And with Bournemouth, Watford, Norwich, Millwall, Wigan and Blackpool off the sat navs after being promoted or relegated from the Championship, Tim Spiers looks at the six destinations back on Wolves fans' radars in 2015/16.

Preston North End, Deepdale, September 26

Last visit: Wolves began life in League One with a goalless draw at Deepdale in August 2013. Not the most thrilling of encounters - in fact it was absolutely dire - but it was a steady start as Kenny Jackett's boys found their feet.

Best memory: A few to choose from but it's hard to look past George Ndah's solo wondergoal in a 2-0 win back in February 2003. Ndah picked the ball up just outside his own box and raced all of 70 yards before squeezing the most precise of shots past three players and the goalkeeper. This was Ndah at the height of his Wolves powers, his eighth goal in just nine games.

One to forget: Paul McKenna hypnotised the Wolves defence in March 2001 in a meek defeat in the early Dave Jones days. Former Wolves man Mark 'Shabba' Rankine set up McKenna's opener and Richard Cresswell added a second as David Moyes' Preston triumphed 2-0.

Trivia: Deepdale is thought to be the oldest professional football ground in the world.

For the fans: Usually a friendly encounter - back in 1989 fans chanted the names of each other's teams at full time with Preston in the play-offs and Wolves promoted from the Third Division. Away-friendly pubs near the ground include The Sumners. Wolves took around 5,000 to Deepdale in 2013.

Bristol City, Aston Gate, November 3

Last visit: A 2-1 win in League One back in August 2013 when surprise hero Matt Doherty volleyed a later winner. Bakary Sako had earlier opened the scoring, with the victory continuing Wolves' unbeaten start to the season.

Best memory: Wolves are unbeaten in six trips to Ashton Gate and have handed out some thrashings in that run - 6-1 in 1998 (when David Connolly scored four), 5-1 in 1994 (David Kelly nabbed a hat-trick) and 4-1 in 2012 (two for Kevin Doyle). Great memories. But nothing beats big bad Wolfie having a half time scrap with three pigs.

One to forget: A surprisingly drab 0-0 draw when both clubs had promotion in mind in April 2008. The highlight of an instantly forgettable game was George Elokobi's name being incessantly sung in the away end.

Trivia: As of last season Ashton Gate is now also home to Bristol Rugby, who have Welsh poser Gavin Henson in their ranks.

For the fans: Ashton Gate will look a little different to when Wolves were last there. A £45m makeover is underway with two stands being demolished and the other two refurbished. The result will be a 27,000 capacity stadium. Away fans used to be housed in the tiny shed-like Wedlock Stand, now a 6,000 stand complete with megastore, museum and bar.

[related_posts title="More on Wolves and fixtures"]

Queens Park Rangers, Loftus Road, January 23

Last visit: Wolves' last win in the top flight, February 2012. They were without a win in nine games when Kevin Doyle came off the bench to set up Matt Jarvis' equaliser and then score the winner in a 2-1 win against 10-man QPR. Djibril Cisse had earlier seen red for violently grabbing Roger Johnson - something thousands of Wolves fans would want to do a few months later.

Best memory: A tempestuous affair in 1999 saw both sides reduced to 10 men. Karl Ready nailed Havard Flo and was sent off for QPR, Simon Osborn tried to take the shirt off Gavin Peacock's back but got away with a yellow, and then Mark Atkins kicked Leon Jeanne for an early bath in the 83rd minute. Just a minute later Steve Sedgley met Michael Gilkes' cross with a bullet head and the points were Wolves'. Marvellous.

One to forget: A dire 0-0 draw at a freezing cold Loftus Road in December 2007. Stephen Elliott missed from six yards when it was easier to score.

Trivia: Loftus Road hosted one of the most celebrated boxing bouts ever seen on these shores, when Barry McGuigan defeated Eusebio Pedroza for the world featherweight title in 1985.

For the fans: A tight, compact stadium, worlds away from the soulless retail park warehouses most clubs opt for these days. Wherever you sit at Loftus Road you feel close to the action. Pubs nearby are problematic but you won't be short of a kebab on Uxbridge Road. Or any other food for that matter - as cosmopolitan a street as you'll find.

Burnley, Turf Moor, March 19

Last visit: A 2-0 defeat in November 2012, with Charlie Austin among the home goalscorers. Burnley did the double over Wolves, famously putting a nail in their relegation coffin in the reverse fixture.

Best memory: Wolves fans were starting to fall in love with their new-look team after a 5-2 Valentine's Day massacre in February 1987. Amazingly Steve Bull wasn't on target, but David Barnes, Andy Thompson, Jon Purdie, Micky Holmes and Andy Mutch were in the early days of Bully and Graham Turner. Just 2,904 witnessed it and sadly no pictures from the game exist in the E&S archive.

One to forget: An opening day 4-1 defeat in 1953/54 didn't bode well for the season ahead for Stan Cullis' charges, despite Roy Swinbourne's second minute opener. However it was all a smokescreen - Wolves scored 96 goals and won their first ever First Division title, pipping Albion to the post for good measure. More recently, a 2-1 Boxing Day defeat in 2002 was another to forget.

Trivia: Turf Moor houses the country's first football university.

For the fans: A proper football ground and town. Some friendly pubs nearby where ale and pies are staples, although the town centre should probably be avoided. Wooden seats and pillars greet you in the away end and the atmosphere is usually rowdy. With a few ex-Wolves players in Burnley's ranks and the two teams expected to both be promotion challengers, many fans will have a red circle around March 19.

[comments_cta header="What do you think?" text="Which away days are you most looking forward to?" button="Log in and start commenting"]

MK Dons, Stadium mk, April 5

Last (and only) visit: March 29, 2014. A date etched on the memories of at least 8,8000 Wolves fans (and a few more who sat in the home end).

Best memory: Liam McAlinden scoring his first Wolves league goal in front of an ecstatic sea of gold (and purple). An internet campaign to get '10K2MK' resulted in Wolves taking over Milton Keynes for one of the most memorable away days in recent decades. Unforgettable. They took so many they helped set a stadium record.

One to forget: The 81 minutes before McAlinden's winner could probably be forgotten from a footballing point of view. But Wolves fans' memories of their only trip to Stadium mk will long be cherished.

Trivia: Has a capacity of 30,500 and is ready-made to expand to 45,000. MK Dons average attendance last season - 9,452.

For the fans: One of the most impressive newly-built stadiums out there with top-notch facilities. It's as corporate as it gets though with fast food chains, hotels and a cinema next door. Decent pubs are about a mile away from the ground.

Hull City, KC Stadium, April 16

Last visit: A tame 2-1 Championship defeat under Stale Solbakken's stewardship in November 2012. James Chester's own goal was all Wolves could muster as their winless run extended to five matches.

Best memory: Wolves have only played at the KC Stadium five times so undoubtedly their only victory - a 3-2 win in February 2006 - is the highlight Goals from Jeremie Aliadiere and Kenny Miller were both cancelled out but Glenn Hoddle's Wolves dug in and up popped Carl Cort with an 89th minute winner.

One to forget: A 2-0 defeat in November 2007 was a low point as Mick McCarthy suffered from difficult second season syndrome. The blank extended Wolves' goalless away run to 555 minutes. McCarthy's said Wolves were outplayed 'in every department'. His thoughts on Freddy Eastwood - subbed after 67 minutes - were kept to himself.

Trivia: There are 22 miles of undersoil heating pipes underneath the pitch.

For the fans: Away fans have moved since Wolves were last there, now in the north east corner of the ground as opposed to just behind the goal. Plenty of pubs nearby for what is a decent away day.