'This is our love and it knows no division': Why 17,000 chose Molineux on Valentine's Day

It's an old gag but it's always worth re-telling.

The fed-up wife looks at her Wolves-mad husband as he heads out of the door for another freezing fun night at Molineux and moans: "Sometimes, I think you love the Wolves more than you love me."

The hen-pecked hubby replies: "My dear... I love the Albion more than I love you!"

Boom Boom! As Basil Brush would say.

The sides can be switched as applicable but you get the point – don't come between a football fan and true love - his team.

Not even on Valentine's day which saw more than 17,000 hardy souls spurn the offer of a candle-lit ready-meal from Asda for another night of frustration at Molineux.

Admittedly, this was down on normal Wolves attendances this season and pie-eating Wigan Athletic weren't exactly the most glamorous opponents.

But still, fans had needed to make a choice – and for most, their team came first. Even if they did lose 1-0 with a heartbreaking late goal. Typical.

Matt Baker went to Molineux rather than spend the evening with his wife Emma and children Lewis, two, and Brook, one.

The 34-year-old from Penn, said: "We had a chat about Valentine's a few weeks ago and decided we didn't really want to bother with it.

"It's all marketing and getting people to spend money they don't need to.

"She was quite good with me really. I don't think she realised it was Valentine's when I asked if I could go but she was fine really. We've got two young kids so she bathed them on her own and had an early night.

"Towards the end of the month we'll go out as a thank you for letting me go.

"I don't think she realised they lost though! There's probably plenty of wives and girlfriends who think it's karma. There will be a few blokes going home to their wives having a laugh."

Not every red-blooded male was on his own though, with some seeing a trip to Molineux as a great Valentine's night out.

John Evans, 69, and his wife Maggie, 71, regularly travel from their home in Cannock to the Molineux.

They have been married for 38 years and have three grown up children and two grandchildren.

Mr Evans believes Maggie is great company at the football, and says more blokes should take their better half along.

He said: "We are season ticket holders and have been for about 25 years.

"Originally I went with my son, but he got a job where he had to work Saturdays so Maggie started coming along.

"Now she's just as enthusiastic as me.

"I would definitely recommend going with your partner. We often see a different game to one another and have a different man of the match. It's great."

And last night's verdict?

"Unfortunately this time it was a terrible game, it was too much up in the air."

Josh Bowater, from Great Wyrley, puts up with Mickey-taking from his girlfriend Amy when he goes to see Wolves lose instead of seeing her.

The 21-year-old, who has been with his childhood sweetheart for five years, said: "We've never really done the traditional Valentine's Day thing. You get a lot of people buying expensive gifts and going out for posh meals but that's never really been us.

"While I was at football she just finished work and went to the gym.

"We're going to have our Valentine's the next day. She's going to cook a nice meal. I kind of wish I hadn't gone to the football in the end.

"Whenever I go instead of seeing her and they lose she always says 'well, you shouldn't have gone should you?' But it's not all about the winning, especially when you support Wolves."

Karen Griffin, 49, went along with her daughters Chloe, 21, and Amy, 16, for a girls' night at the football.

Her husband Peter, who she met on the terraces supporting Wolves, would also have been there but he got delayed with work.

She said: "We're very football-orientated in this house. Me and my husband actually met on the terraces at Luton.

"We're both Wolves fans but I lived in Bedford so that was the nearest game I could go and see them.

"My family knew his family and we just got chatting one day at the match. I thought he can't be bad, he's a Wolves fan!

"He was going to come with us this time but got caught up with work."

She added: "The girls are big fans, Chloe is a season ticket holder and has a Wolves badge tattoo so that's with her for life.

"Mine and Peter's Valentine's will be at the Chelsea game on Saturday. A win will be all we need!"

As for the Express & Star's Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers, Tuesday night was just another day at the office.

"I'm all for a romantic night out," said super-smooth Tim, "But I'm Wolves daft, so this is a labour of love for me anyway.

"I think it would be a brave woman to come between a proper fan and his team – whatever team it is.

"But for Wolves fans there is a banner across the North Bank that spells it out loud and clear: This is our love and it knows no division.

"Valentine's Day or not, I think that says it all."