Mad Brit Diary

Wolves celebrate return to the big time.

(Friday, May 30, 2003) -- Let's hear it for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Finally, after a 19-year absence, Wolves are back in the big-time.

The boys in the gold-and-black shirts are celebrating promotion to the English Premier League after beating Sheffield United 3-0 with three first-half goals before 69,473 fans at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Monday. After 19 years, 13 days, 23 hours and 50 minutes in purgatory, Wolves are back where they should be, ready to do battle with the giants of English soccer next season.

Raise your glasses for a toast. Sip your Newcastle Brown or gulp down your Bass Ale, the Mad Brit will put the kettle on and celebrate. Now if only Americans could understand the excitement that comes with relegation and promotion at the end of each soccer season in leagues across the globe. Alas, it will never happen in the States.

Over 17 million people in England tuned in to watch the game on Monday as Wolves finally put the bogeyman behind them and said goodbye to life in the First Division. When the Mad Brit ran around in short pants, with scabs on his knees, Wolverhampton was a powerful club with a rich history. (The team is located in what is known as the Black Country -- referring to the pollution-blackened industrial landscapes of the region of the West Midlands -- just a little north-west of Birmingham. )

Wolverhampton is one most famous and oldest clubs in the land, winning the league championship four times, the FA Cup three times and the League Cup twice. The greatest Wolves legend must be Stan Cullis, a former defender for the club who became coach and led Wolves to win the league in 1953-54, 1957-58 and 1958-59.Then there was Billy Wright, who played for England 105 times; Derek Dougan who scored 24 goals in 1971-72 season and Steve Bull, a local lad who scored a record 250 goals in 461 games from 1986-1999.

Still, for the MB, the most the stunning news about Wolves came in 1970 when Peter Knowles, one of the most promising midfielders of his time, retired from the game to devote himself to full-time ministry work with the Jehovah's Witness. He was only 24 at the time and had scored 64 goals in 91 games. His older brother Cyril played over 400 games for Tottenham Hotspur and died in 1991 at the age of 47.

Then, in the 1983-84 season, the nightmare began. On May 12, 1984, Wolves played their last game in Division One -- a 4-0 thumping by Stoke City. After three consecutive relegations, the club found itself bankrupt and at the bottom of the Football League in Division Four. By this time, the mysterious Bhatti brothers, from a powerful family in Saudi Arabia, had taken over the club and things had gone from bad to worse.

The decaying stadium was infested with rats and was condemned by the local council. The Bhattis left town with the team in even worse trouble.

Then began the road to salvation. In 1990, Jack Hayward, a Bahamas-based multi-millionaire, took over the team and in the next 13 years pumped an estimated $99.2 million into his hometown team, including building a new stadium. The 79-year-old Hayward, who calls himself the "golden tit," always believed his dream would come true.

After going through 10 different coaches since the 1983-84 season with still no sight of the promise land, along came Dave Jones in 2001. It seemed like a strange choice. Jones arrived at the team after a stint at Southampton in the Premier League where he was released under the cloud of child abuse charges.

Jones was down, but he wasn't out. The prosecution fell apart and at trial, he was later cleared of all allegations. After losing in three semifinals for promotion to the Premiership, including last season, Wolves, under Jones, finally got it right.

The long suffering Wolverhampton fans will welcome the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal to the club's Molineux Stadium with a capacity of 28,500. To stay in Promised Land, Wolves will no doubt need new blood. Two of the key players in the team's success are aging veterans -- Dennis Irwin is 38 and Paul Ince is 36.

It seems Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips and Tottenham's Teddy Sheringham may be in the club's sights. Wolves' motto is "Out of Darkness Cometh Light." Enough of the darkness, Wolves have brighter days ahead.

Terry McCann takes the Mad Brit to task: "I just read your comments about the lack of British players in Bolton's line-up in the match against Arsenal. As with most articles I read about Bolton, it was inaccurate, lacking in any thought and a testament to narrow-mindedness. . . I am from Bolton and I love it. Plenty of visitors come to the town to enjoy its beautiful moorland countryside, its modern leisure facilities and pleasant retail developments. A warm welcome is given to all who visit our town. Maybe that's why the European players who come to our club on short-term contracts and loan deals are eager to remain here for years.

Knapp says: "(Tim) Howard is already much better than (Fabian) Barthez. That is fact."

DC Sullivan agrees: "I disagree with you regarding Tim Howard. I think Manchester United will take him. He is the most talented keeper the U.S., has produced for years and the club probably thinks they will get a good deal for him because he would be coming out of MLS."

Paul Lorinci says: "I do not think he is too young. He is going to need one season to get used to the Premier League, but I think he has what it takes to be a winner with Man. United. He is not going to be the impact player from the beginning.

Andre Purdey says the MB overdid it on Ruud van Nistelrooy: "Not a contest. Van Nistelrooy 25 goals (eight from the spot), four assists. Thierry Henry 24 goals (three from the spot) 23 assists. Van Nistelrooy should send referee Mike Reily a nice thank you card since he directly led to six of van Nistelrooy's goals by awarding some very iffy pens. Henry's assist total is a new record. Van Nistelrooy is a black hole, ball goes in and doesn't come back. Henry makes the whole team better.

Peter Schmidt says: "I watched the USA and Wales last evening and was disappointed in the performance of (Landon) Donovan. He seems a bit too casual in his finishing during international matches."

Heard a rumor, have a gripe or a tip? Feeling lonely? E-mail the Mad Brit at themadbrit3@aol.com.