Book reveals 'the Cat's' secrets

Treasured memories and never before seen photographs of one of Wolverhampton Wanderers' all-time greatest players will be available in full colour this week in a new book.

Bert Williams's memoirs The Cat in Wolf's Clothing goes on sale on Friday.

The book by the former Wolves and England goalkeeper brings together photographs, press cuttings, programmes and even letters concerning payment for newspaper articles he wrote.

It took the 87-year-old, who lives in Shifnal, eight weeks to compile with help from friend Neil Beddows, who searched through boxes of Bert's scrapbooks, and Cheslyn Hay-based designer Melvynne Wetton.

He said: "I first got the idea for a book when I was moving house.

"The furniture movers saw some of the scrapbooks and said they would have been very interested to know about everything. It's given me a great deal of pleasure."

Proceeds from the book will go to The Alzheimers Society, the charity which helps people suffering from the condition which claimed the life of Bert's wife Evelyn in 2002.

The book chronicles Bert's school days, his time with Walsall FC, serving in the RAF in the Second World War, his Wolves career and his legendary saves for England. His agility in goal earned him the nickname The Cat from the Italian press.

lA series of signings by Bert Williams of his book The Cat in Wolf's Clothing will be held at: December 14 – Springvale Sports & Social Club, Millfields Road, Bilston, 7-9pm; Dec 15 – Butlers Bar & Bistro, Codsall Square, midday-4pm; Dec 17 – Hollybush Garden Centre, Warstones Road, 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30-3.45pm; Dec 19 – Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club, Newbridge Crescent, 6-8pm; Dec 23 – Shifnal War Memorial Club, Five Ways, Shifnal, midday-4pm.

The book will be available for £14.99 at West Midlands Collectors Centre, Salop Street, tel 01902 772570.