Express & Star

Wolves fans can grab one of Jody Craddock's programme designs

The timing could not have been more perfect.

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Just 48 hours after Wolves secured their place in football's top flight, former captain Jody Craddock held an art exhibition of his spectacular designs for the 2017-18 season's programme covers.

The popular former centre-back showcased the original artworks at a special event at Molineux on Monday.

He said: "I feel very proud to have produced these covers in what has been an historic season with how well the team have done in achieving promotion to the Premier League."

The 42-year-old started work on the programmes early last year and after five months' solid work, spending around five hours a day on the project, he completed 24 programme covers featuring Wolves legends. And he admitted he was delighted with the outcome.

A special Carl Ikeme design was created for the first game of the season, replacing a planned image of another former skipper Paul Ince. But both the club and artist decided it would be fitting to show their support to the Wolves shot-stopper who had just been diagnosed with leukaemia.

Scores of fans visited the exhibition at the stadium's WV1 bar.

Jody, who skippered the club in the Premier League, was with wife Shelley, and they were joined by former players Mel Eves and Robbie Dennison.

He said: "It's been brilliant to get involved with the club again and do the programme covers this season.

"To still be involved with Wolves in one way or another is great, especially when it is something I love doing such as painting. It was a great honour to be asked to do it and I hope fans have enjoyed seeing them.

"We had a nice steady stream of people for three hours which was perfect because you never want too many people there cramming around the paintings and everyone was able to spend some time taking a good look."

The fans' favourite, who started painting during his playing days, said there were still one or two originals available to buy.