Fitting send off for Sir Jack

Wolves 2 v Blackpool 0

I blame Sir Jack. It’s an odds on bet that I would not be sitting here writing this if the man affectionately known as “Union Jack” Hayward had not put his hand into a fairly deep pocket and taken a punt on a sure fire investment known as Wolverhampton Wanderers. I sense it would have been 1993 when my father returned to the office following a lunchtime tour of the new Billy Wright stand, waxing lyrical about an Executive Club where you could have a meal before the game, a coffee at half time and seats in a prime spot on the half way line. “What do you think?” he asked with a mischievous glint in the eye. “How much?“ I asked somewhat incredulously "we can’t afford it”, which only served to spur him on in entirely the opposite direction. He bought two tickets and I’ve not left since.

It’s probably fair to say that given how much Sir Jack put into his hometown Club he didn’t quite get a return commensurate with the sums he would eventually invest – by which I mean a team sufficiently established in the Premier League to be spared the yo yo moniker. That said he would have been long enough in the tooth to recognise that it’s not all about success and that by returning Wolverhampton Wanderers to a position financial security and rebuilding the Molineux he restored a sense of belief to a town blighted by industrial decline. And as a by product of that he would have taken great satisfaction from the knowledge of giving thousands a local folk something in which to take great pride. His gentlemanly persona meant that he was always held in the highest regard and he leaves this earth with the gratitude of every loyal Wolves supporter. RIP Sir Jack.

A rousing pre-match tribute to the Wolves’ benefactor stirred the soul and the one question remaining was whether it would have a similar effect on the team. Forty five soporific minutes later one might suggest not, since for all that they dominated possession Wolves failed to make it pay. Their one real chance in the 44th minute resulted, not from a defence splitting move, but from simple harrying when Nouha Dicko dispossessed Grant Hall on the half way line. The ball fell to David Edwards who set off, keeper Joe Lewis the only barrier between him and the goal. We needed Ian Rush but what we got was Bambi as the Wolves’ midfielder failed to get the ball from under his feet, eventually scuffing his shot wide. The groan from the stands was still echoing around the stadium as the players went in for their half time break.

Manager Jackett, clearly sensing that Sir Jack was looking down with a disapproving eye, issued a bollocking. From the restart the tempo was duly raised aided by the introduction on the hour of new signing Benik Afobe who showed signs of being able to carry the ball at pace and with purpose. However for all that Wolves huffed and puffed opportunities were limited to half chances and with Blackpool sensing that a well earned draw was in their grasp they resorted to playing with eleven men behind the ball.

Wolves however remained patient and in the 84th minute finally broke the deadlock when a beautifully threaded pass from Jack Price picked out Rajiv van la Parra on the right wing. For once the Dutchman took the correct option driving the ball low and hard across the box where somewhat fittingly it reached David Edwards who bundled it over the line. Two minutes later Benik Afobe was gifted a chance when Joe Lewis and Peter Clark collided allowing Afobe a clear run on an open goal. As Geoff Boycott might say “My grandmother could have scored that one”.

28,000 folk cheered and as minute 91 arrived (Sir Jack’s age) all stood to applaud him. It was indeed a fitting send off.

Wolves: Ikeme 6, Iorfa 7, Batth 6, Stearman 6, Hause 6 Sub Docherty , Henry 5 Sub Afobe 7, MacDonald 6, Price 7, Edwards 7, van la Parra 7, Dicko 6 Sub Ebanks Landell

Blackpool: Lewis 5, McMahon 6, Hall 6 Sub O’Dea, Clarke 5, Dunne 6, Oliver 5 Sub Henshall, O’Hara 6, Perkins 6, Orlandi 5, Delfouneso 5, Davies 5 Sub Feruz

Attendance: 28,132

Referee: Kevin Johnson 9

MB