Blog: Remembering my first Wolves game

Saturday 10 November 1990 - To most Wolves fans this date will mean very little, but not to me.

For one, it was my sixth birthday. But more importantly, it was the day of my first Wolves game,

Looking back at the teamsheet, there were quite a few familiar faces playing that. Former Wolves goalkeeper John Burridge started for the visitors.

But the most notable player in the Newcastle line up that day was striker Mark McGhee – who would become the home side's manager just five years later.

In the Wolves side were the likes of Mike Stowell, Andy Thompson, Keith Downing and Robbie Dennison, but most importantly for me, one Stephen George Bull; the only player 6-year-old me was really bothered about seeing.

Some of my earliest childhood memories include listening to the radio on a Saturday afternoon, waiting to hear the infamous goal klaxon go off. If it was for a Wolves goal, I would be elated. But if it wasn't scored by Bully, I would be disappointed.

In my early years, my father would frequently attend Wolves matches. When he returned home from the match, I would ask him the same two questions – 1) Did Wolves win? and 2) Did Bully score? I didn't need to know anything else.

Then after what seemed like an eternity, finally my Dad promised to take me to my first football match. With me being so young, there are only a few things I remember about that day vividly enough to recount.

Firstly, Bully didn't score – no matter how much I shouted for him to do so – but then again, I think he'd probably scored enough goals against Newcastle that year. One more would have been a bit greedy!

Secondly, I couldn't understand why the seats in the John Ireland stand were red when Wolves didn't play in red – not to mention why there were two empty stands without anybody in them!

I also remember the sudden realisation that football was a lot more difficult to watch live than it was on television.

You couldn't keep your eyes fixated in one place like you could at home and keeping up with play was bloody hard work at times, but it was something I eventually got used to.

I don't remember much about the game itself. Tim Steele opened the scoring for Wolves just after kick-off and roar of the crowd was phenomenal.

But there were a few groans around the ground when Lee Clark equalised midway through the first-half.

Then 10 minutes into the second half, Gary Bellamy scored the winning goal and Molineux erupted again.

I left Molineux feeling elated, my first visit had been a success and I couldn't wait to go again.

Unfortunately, one of my subsequent visits included a 5-0 hammering by Barnsley and I left the ground in tears, but this still wasn't enough to deter me.

My dad had opened my eyes to all things Wolves, and I was hooked.

As I got a bit older, I had mates who were supporting the likes Manchester United and Liverpool, but I made the decision to stick with Wolves because it was the only chance I had of watching live football on a regular basis.

Well, that, and the fact my Dad had admonished me, aged 7, for asking him to buy me a replica shirt of one of the aforementioned teams – I'm too ashamed to admit which one!

He also promised me that supporting Wolves would get easier and one day I would be able to see them on Match of the Day. Well, Dad, at least you got the second part of that right!

Graham's website Old Gold Glory is looking for fellow supporters to email stories of their first Wolves game for publication in a future issue of their magazine.

You can send your story to info@oldgoldglory.co.uk.