A Cup Night Catch-Up With Keith
Derby coach Keith Downing consoles beaten Albion players at The Hawthorns.
Tuesday, August 12: Had a brief pre-match meet-up with Keith Downing at tonight’s Albion v Derby Carabao Cup tie. He was by no means the only Wolves connection either, with Dion Sanderson, Andreas Weimann and the newly-signed Danny Batth in the Rams ranks and Jed Wallace going on as one of the Baggies’ substitutes.
Wednesday, August 13: Took part this morning in a special Zoom link-up that was proposed and set up by John Richards. So impressed was he by the online work of Mark Povah and Scott Pritchard, the two fans we profiled on here in a story in mid-March, that he set about scheduling the four-way chat that finally went ahead this morning. It’s wonderful how the Internet can connect different individuals in Wolverhampton, Shropshire, Blackpool and Melbourne, in pictures as well as audio.
Saturday, August 16: Saw two former Wolves strikers – seriously tall ones at that! – in the press room at the Wrexham v Albion game this lunchtime before doubling back to Molineux for the visit of Manchester City. Chris Iwelumo is well into his media career and a familiar voice on our TV screens but where next for Steven Fletcher? The former Scotland forward was released by Wrexham at the end of last season and, at 38, answered my enquiry as to whether he had a new club by saying: “No, I think I’m done.”
Monday, August 18: Caught up, via the ITV highlights, with the highly eventful afternoon Blackpool’s Niall Ennis had at home to Huddersfield a few days ago. The Wolverhampton-born forward, who made his senior debut for Wolves in an FA Cup replay win over Shrewsbury in 2019, was sent off after scoring twice for the Seasiders. They also had Lee Evans on the score-sheet and have now seen Ennis net three times in four games this season.
Sunday, August 24: Good luck to Andy Sinton as he recovers in hospital (apparently well) after suffering a heart attack. We trust the former Wolves midfielder will continue on the right path and be back at work in his ambassadorial role with QPR in the coming weeks.
Tuesday, August 26: Good to see David Kelly, Lee Naylor, Andy Thompson and Steve Froggatt working in the broadcast area at tonight’s Carabao Cup victory over West Ham – and together in the media room pre-match. As if we weren’t well enough covered for left-backs, we also had Stuart Pearce among us.
Steve Froggatt in the media room at Molineux.
Wednesday, August 27: Sat next to Mel Eves and former Express & Star sports-writer David Harrison at the funeral of our mutual friend, Leon Hickman, this afternoon. The 84-year-old, who died on August 3, was born and raised in Wolverhampton, went to the town’s grammar school (as Mel did many years later) and remained a Wolves fan through his decades in journalism, notably when proving an extremely powerful voice and writer as head of sports across the patch at the Evening Mail.
Saturday, August 30: Another good former player turn-out on the first floor of the Billy Wright Stand at this afternoon’s game against Everton, with those on media duty – Dave Edwards, Andy Thompson and Steve Froggatt – joined a couple of rooms away by Derek Mountfield. Steve Bull and John Richards were present, too, of course, and Edwards is working tomorrow as well – at Nottingham Forest’s home match against West Ham.