Express & Star

The ex-Wolf - Robbie Dennison

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In our new weekly feature we bring you an interview with an ex-Wolves player every Friday. First up - wing wizard Robbie Dennison.

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How did you join Wolves?

It was March 1987, on what was the old transfer deadline day.

It was just a case of being told by West Bromwich Albion manager Ron Saunders that Wolves wanted to speak to me and off I went.

I got there at 2pm and was done in about 10 minutes.

It was a new start to me, I was coming to the end of my contract at Albion and for me it wasn't a problem to drop down the leagues.

To be honest I didn't know much about Wolves, other than their financial struggles from what was in the press, but my priority was playing football.

I wasn't getting football at Albion and I needed to move to get that football. The move suited me.

Tell us a bit about your Wolves manager(s).

A youthful Dennison after joining Wolves from Albion in 1987

He brought in the team he wanted, it took a bit of sorting out but he got it right.

Then Graham Taylor came in and I really enjoyed working under him.

He came on the back of the England job where he was portrayed as something he wasn't.

He took a lot of stick and I think Wolves fans weren't particularly happy he got the job, but he didn't get enough time to do what he wanted to do.

If Taylor had the three years that Mark McGhee got he would have got Wolves in the Premier League.

I loved my time under Graham – he simplified things for me and wanted to get his wide men involved.

I probably didn't play as many games under Mark McGhee. You want to be playing and of course that was a problem, but relationship wise it wasn't a problem between me and Mark.

Best memory at the club?

Those first few years with Graham Turner moving up the leagues, that was the most enjoyable part of my career.

In those first three or four seasons, we played at Wembley twice, in the Football League Centenary Tournament and the Sherpa Van Trophy.

Scoring at Wembley was obviously great, that period of time was the most enjoyable.

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Worst memory at the club?

Celebrating the Sherpa Van Trophy success at Wembley with fellow goalscorer Andy Mutch

There were times my form wasn't the best but it's all part of the job.

The play-off defeat to Bolton was obviously one of the low points.

But the other one that was hard to take was when we played Torquay in a two-legged regional final of the Sherpa Van, a year after we'd won it.

We beat them at Torquay 2-1 and I think everyone was looking at it as a formality and we lost 2-0 at Molineux.

That took a while to get over. To have got there the year before and enjoyed it so much, it would have been great to do it again.

Most talented player you played with at Wolves?

There was different ones for different reasons.

Bully was the best of the lot for pure determination, single-mindedness, strength and ability – around that time there was no-one better outside the top league.

Gordon Cowans joined Wolves late in his career and was just a fantastic footballer. Sid made everything look very, very easy.

Kevin Keen was another great player. And Dean Richards was absolutely amazing, he had everything.

Favourite goal in a Wolves shirt?

Most of mine were outside the box – but that was just because I didn't get in the box very much!

There were a few, my last goal for Wolves against Manchester City, there was one against Stoke under Graham Taylor at Molineux from a long way out.

And obviously the two Wembley ones, against Burnley in the Sherpa Van Trophy and against Everton in the Centenary tournament.

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Did you get on well with the fans?

Hopefully they appreciate what I achieved. The club was on its knees when I joined and to have it on its feet again with the ground sorted out was a huge thing for everyone.

To be part of the club when it was struggling and still be there years later, hopefully the fans appreciated what we all achieved together.

It was a great time to be involved.

To get 10 years there doesn't really happen these days. I obviously did something right.

How did you end up leaving Wolves? Any regrets?

Dennison and mini Dennisons before his testimonial against Blackburn in 1998

With Wolves I'd done my 10 years and it was just a case of moving on.

Did I have enough ability to play another season at Wolves? I'd say yes, I had a bit more to offer, but I had to look elsewhere.

Thoughts on the current Wolves team?

I got down about three or four times last season. I think Kenny Jackett has done a great job.

To get relegated twice on the trot and be in freefall, he had to rescue it and steady the ship and he's done fantastic.

They're heading back in the right direction and I thought they played some great stuff last year too.

They're losing Bakary Sako, but Benik Afobe and Nouha Dicko will be a threat in that league.

That's where their goals will come from and it's a good start.

What are you up to now?

I'm involved in a company which works on commercial buildings. I also do a bit of radio commentary and property funding.

I'm also doing the Birmingham Irish Cycle Appeal later this month.

It's a 565-mile cycle over six days along the West Coast of Ireland, raising money for Diabetes UK.

It's a great cause and hopefully we can raise a lot of money.

* Donate to the appeal here www.justgiving.com/Robbie-Dennison/

* Dennison played for Wolves from March 1987 to May 1997. He made 353 appearances and scored 49 goals.

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