Classic match - Wolves 2 Ferencvaros 1, 1972

It's not often your team wins through to the final of a major European competition.

In fact in Wolves' case it's happened just once - in 1972.

It was the inaugural Uefa Cup and Wolves had earned their place in the competition after finishing fourth in 1970/71 under Bill McGarry.

They breezed through the opening rounds, with big aggregate victories over Portuguese side Academica (7-1), Dutch outfit Den Haag (7-1) and East German team Carl Zeiss (4-0).

Next up were Italian giants Juventus in the quarter finals and Wolves edged a memorable tie 3-2, winning the second leg 2-1 at Molineux.

That landed them a semi final against Ferencvaros from Hungary. A 2-2 draw in the first leg in Hungary perfectly set up the return game.

And on a famous night at Molineux two young lads by the names of Steve Daley and Alan Sunderland played crucial roles in a superb victory.

Wolves would of course lose out to Spurs in the final. But the memories of that fabulous European campaign endure.

'Big Phil' sees Wolves through

Wolves 2 Ferencvaros 1 (Wolves won 4-3 on aggregate), April 19, 1972

By Phil Morgan

After their succession of league disappointments, Wolves pulled themselves together in the best Molineux traditions last night and determinedly and deservedly won themselves a place in the first Uefa Cup final.

And if there is one man they can thank more than any other for this it must be giant goalkeeper Phil Parkes.

Just as he did in the first leg in Budapest he saved a penalty by Istvan Szoke and then, in almost the last minute, dived outward to catch a right wing cross that had danger written all over it.

To credit big Phil, however, is not to forget the splendid contribution of two babes of the side, Alan Sunderland and Steve Daley, drafted in for this most vital of games, because the regulars, Bernard Shaw and Dave Wagstaffe, were banned on a two-booking basis.

The final against Spurs will be played on Wednesday, May 3 and Wednesday May 17.

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Daley perhaps came out of the game with the greatest satisfaction because it was he who made the dream-come-true start by scoring before the game was a minute old.

It was the third time in successive Molineux games a goal had been scored in the first 60 seconds, but the first time it had been in Wolves' favour.

And what a boost this was for the team, who needed so badly to restore their confidence in themselves.

It all happened so suddenly. The kick off, from the hotel end, was followed by a long pass from Frank Munro into the Hungarians' penalty area.

It was partially cleared but only as far as Sunderland, who swung the ball back across goal.

Goalkeeper Varos jumped and missed and there was Daley driving it as cool as you please into the net.

The ground erupted as much in tribute to the two young'uns as to the realisation Wolves were 3-2 up on aggregate.

Gallant visitors

But it was not all over bar the shouting by any means, although Munro went up to head through, unmarked, from a return by Jim McCalliog, almost on the interval.

Some of the better scoring chances were missed and Ferencvaros showed they were not only prepared but well capable of making a game of it.

This they did to some purpose during the second half, encouraged by a gem of a goal - a typical Hungarian style attacking effort - by their most dangerous striker Lahos Ku, barely two minutes after the break.

And when, in the later stages the Hungarians, with everything to gain and nothing to lose, really pushed forward, it was the turn of Wolves to feel apprehension and of Parkes to make a couple of master saves.

No wonder Wolves manager Bill McGarry, delighted with the ultimate success, was ready to admit the Hungarians were by far the best team the competition had brought to Wolverhampton - "especially when it came to going forward".

At the same time he was also quick to acknowledge the part played by the two youngsters, there by force of circumstance.

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If the Hungarians looked dangerous, however, so did Wolves, for whom Derek Dougan, in a great battle with the redoubtable and hefty Miklos Pancsics, headed against the bar, while Daley and Ken Hibbitt sent hot shots screaming on or around the target.

Still, one of the most spectacular shots came from young Sunderland, whose shock 30-yarder had the astounded Voros deciding to risk a fly kick.

So it was Wolves having the greater part of the play, but the extremely skilful visitors organising raid after raid through Ku, Istvan Juhasz, and once or twice nearly catching the Wolves defenders on the wrong foot.

Thrill-packed

Indeed, on one occasion, Gerry Taylor hooked a prod from Jozsef Mucha off the line and, of course, Parkes kept out with the same trusty left foot the penalty conceded by Sunderland for hands at 49 minutes.

It all added up to a tremendously entertaining game, played at a fast pace, and in a generally fine spirit, with Greek referee Christo Michas showing just the right amount of tolerance to keep the game moving.

He stood no nonsense, however, and was quick to produce the yellow card, first to tireless Laszlo Balint after a foul, and later to Frank Munro, following a scuffle.

The crowd gave the skilful Hungarians a standing ovation as they left the pitch - and they were certainly well worth it.

WOLVES: Parkes, Sunderland, Taylor, Hegan, Munro, McAlle, McCalliog, Hibbitt, Richards, Dougan, Daley. Subs: Arnold, Eastoe, Curran, Rutter, Stephens.

FERENCVAROS: Voros, Horvath (Novak 45), Pancsics, Vepi, Juhasz, Balint, Szoke (Fusi 72), Branikovits, Albert, Mucha.

Attendance: 28,662