From the archive - a legend says goodbye
A true hero's farewell isn't afforded to many Wolves players, but Derek Dougan certainly got that after his testimonial in 1975.
The Doog was chaired off the field by hundreds who had gleefully invaded the pitch.
Belfast-born Dougan had officially departed a few months earlier at the end of the 1974/75 season.
But fans had one more chance to say goodbye when an International XI was assembled by England manager Don Revie to take on Wolves at Molineux.
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More than 25,000 turned up – but if it was goals they were after they were to be disappointed as both sides drew a blank.
It was felt that the potential England stars on show took the game too seriously, with Revie watching on.
Brian Clifford wrote in the Express & Star: "Fast-talking, long-striding, goal-scoring Doog took the centre of the stage. But what a pity the final curtain came down on Doog's career without a goal from the array of talent provided by Wolves and an International XI.
"There was one moment of near-hysteria when a Doog header in the first half looked a goal all the way, until Stoke's Micky Pejic forgot himself long enough to clear off the line – the bounder!
"But the night still belonged to Doog and his 25,658 admirers, who were delighted to say farewell in style to a man who has graced the game with his own particular brand of magic."
Dougan, 37, lost a boot and his Wolves number 10 jersey in the melee at full time, with souvenir hunters showing no mercy.
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But he cared not a jot and, as he told the paper the next day, emotions were running high.
"When I woke up this morning it was difficult to believe time has passed by so quickly with a club who are the greatest of those I have been associated with.
"It is possible I could go into management and on the other hand there is the administrative side of football to think about."
Dougan had scored 123 goals in 323 games for Wolves. After retiring he continued in his role as chairman of the PFA, playing a key role in the freedom of movement for out-of-contract players in 1978, which was a forerunner to the Bosman.
And of course he returned to Wolves both as chief executive and chairman in the early 1980s.
He died in 2007, aged 69.
WOLVES: Pierce, Palmer, Parkin, Bailey, Munro, McAlle, Hibbitt, Carr, Richards, Dougan, Daley (Farley)
INTERNATIONAL XI: Shilton (Parkes), Gidman (Whitworth), Pejic, Thomas, Watson, Dodd, Worthington, Bell, Gerry Francis, Bowles, Hudson (Kendall)
