From the archive - Bully and Thommo sign

It was 29 years ago today that Wolves made arguably the most important double-signing in their history.

Stephen George Bull and Andrew George Thompson made the short journey from the Hawthorns to Molineux on November 20, 1986.

Albion, then in the old Second Division, let them go for a combined sum of £70,000 (Bull was £50,000, Thompson £20,000).

Between them the pair, along with the likes of Mark Kendall, Keith Downing, Robbie Dennison and Andy Mutch, would help transform Wolves' fortunes as they rose from the Fourth Division to the Second, winning the Sherpa Van Trophy along the way and restoring pride back in a club that had so nearly ceased to exist.

You could probably call it a bargain, then.

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"They're two bright young players with a lot of potential," Graham Turner said.

"They'll prove a wise investment. The deals will also prove to supporters that the people who have taken over the club, mean business."

Of the two, it was more of a surprise that Thompson was allowed to leave Albion, having played in 12 of their 13 games so far that season.

Featherstone-born Thompson was classed as a midfielder at that time, but would in the long term grace Wolves' team as a full back for more than 10 years.

"I reported for training first thing in the morning and Ron Saunders told me Wolves would like to see me, it was as sudden as that," Thompson said upon signing.

"If you're a goalscorer with a record like that, you like to think you'll get a proper run," he said of his Albion snub.

Two days after signing the pair made their debuts away at Wrexham. Wolves lost 3-0.

Then two days later Bull and Thompson, ineligible as they hadn't played in the first tie (or the first replay) watched on horrified as Wolves suffered the most ignominious defeat in their history, 3-0 away at Chorley in the FA Cup first round.

As Bull later admitted, they were both wondering what they'd let themselves in for.

Not to worry though, under Turner's tutelage the team soon began to turn things around, winning 11 of their last 12 games to reach the play-offs.

And Bull and Thompson, 1,012 games, 351 goals and countless memories later, would become bona fide Wolves legends.

"It's a big investment, but we'll get a long-term return - there's no doubt about that," Turner said

Never a truer word spoken, Graham.

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