Wolves fans keep the faith

Lifelong Wolves fans Stuart Davis and brothers John and Peter Bates are blessed with a little more faith than most.

The trio, nicknamed The Holy Trinity, are all methodist ministers who have been religiously visiting Molineux for decades.

Yesterday, after winning a charity auction, they ventured on to the hallowed pitch before watching the clash against Sheffield United from the directors' box.

Rev Davis, aged 60, leads four churches in and around Stourbridge – Wollaston, Gigmill, Kingswinford and New Road, where former player Roy Swinbourne is a member of his congregation. He said: "We've been praying for Wolverhampton Wanderers for more than 30 years. We are the shepherds among the Wolves."

John and Peter, aged 63 and 58 respectively, have season tickets in the Billy Wright stand and are based at methodist churches in Stoke and Birmingham.

The auction was organised by Keith Berry, who Rev Davis met while he was based at Beckminster Church in Birches Barn Road, Wolverhampton, and who has been fundraising in aid of Gelliwig Residential Centre for more than 25 years.