Bill Guttridge's grandsons to lead out Wolves and Walsall for derby game
The grandsons of the late Walsall captain and Wolves player Bill Guttridge are set to play their own special part in tomorrow's derby as club mascots.
Great Wyrley brothers Lucas and Elliot Tibbs, aged nine and 10 respectively, will walk out of the tunnel and take their place on the pitch before the game in front of a packed out Banks's Stadium.
Both are mascots for the hosts for who their grandfather, nicknamed 'Chopper', made 210 appearances after moving from Molineux in the mid-1950s and captained the club to two successive promotions.
The pair are already looking to follow in his footsteps and forge a career in the professional game, but while Lucas is part of the Saddlers under-9s side, older brother Elliot could be forgiven for having divided loyalties tomorrow.
Though he will wear the Saddlers shirt, he is actually part of the Wolves young academy, where he plays for the under-11s.
"I think it's going to be an interesting one for Elliot," said mother Karen, who is Bill's daughter.
"There are going to be a few people there who know who he is, though he was only saying to me the other day how much he likes the Walsall kit. We decided to make them mascots as a Christmas present and I know they are both very excited."
Karen revealed Bill, who died last April aged 82, took a great interest in his grandsons' early forays into the game – while they have begun to take an interest in his achievements.
"Elliot had to do a school project about someone from history and decided to do it on his grandad," she said.
